Thunder, Salesforce, and USC Marshall Launch Agentic AI Research Lab to Prepare the Next Generation of Business Leaders

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Thunder, in collaboration with Salesforce and USC Marshall School of Business, announced the launch of the USC Agentic AI Research Lab — a first-of-its-kind initiative dedicated to equipping students, researchers, and businesses with the tools to thrive in an agentic AI-–enabled world.

The USC Agentic AI Research Lab will serve as a hub where students, industry leaders, and innovators collaborate to address how agentic AI will transform business strategy, organizational design, workforce skills, and investment priorities. It will also create pathways for students to work on real-world projects with Fortune 500 companies, gain access to internships and career opportunities, and engage with global executives shaping the future of AI.

The lab will research how AI is shaping four separate areas of development: healthcare, led by Kimon Drakopoulos, associate professor of data sciences and operations; corporate applications, led by Nathanael Fast, associate professor of management and organization and director of the Neely Center for Ethical Leadership and Decision Making; high-tech industries, led by Charlie Hannigan, academic director of the AI for Business (BUAI) program at USC Marshall; and public sector initiatives, led by Carter Wigell, CEO of Thunder, and Jerad Speigel, chief strategy and corporate development officer at Washington Harbour.

Carter Wigell, founder and CEO of Thunder, underscored the transformative importance of this initiative: "Agentic AI represents the most significant business shift of our lifetimes. By combining the academic strength of USC Marshall, the global innovation engine of Salesforce, and Thunder's expertise in driving AI business change, we're creating a launchpad for the next generation of business leaders to thrive in this era of transformation."

For USC Marshall, the lab builds on the school's legacy of preparing students to lead in times of disruption. "By engaging directly with companies in real time and working on real problems, our students can apply and extend their knowledge and skills in real-world contexts. It's a win for our corporate partners, but a bigger win for our students," said Geoff Garrett, dean of USC Marshall School of Business. "Nothing is more important than helping our students both understand and contribute to the AI revolution by working with cutting-edge companies like Thunder."

"Time and again, when our students engage with leading firms, executives are impressed by their intelligence, thoughtfulness, and ambition," Hannigan said. "The fact that organizations like Thunder are eager to work with us demonstrates the value they see in the BUAI program — not only as a source of top talent but as a partner in thinking critically about AI's role in business and society."

This initiative brings together three best-of-breed organizations:

• USC Marshall School of Business, a top-ranked business school driving academic rigor, cutting-edge research, and cultivating the next generation of talent.
  
  
• Salesforce, the world's #1 AI CRM and innovator behind Agentforce.
  
  
• Thunder, a Salesforce Ventures–backed consulting leader pioneering agentic AI business transformation.

About Thunder

Thunder is a Salesforce Ventures–backed consulting leader helping enterprises accelerate business transformation in the era of agentic AI. With multi-cloud and multi-platform expertise, Thunder designs and implements AI-powered solutions that deliver speed, flexibility, and measurable outcomes. The firm has deep specialization in the Contact Center and serves leading companies across technology, manufacturing, media, business services, travel & hospitality, and the federal sector. By combining innovation with execution, Thunder enables organizations to thrive in an increasingly automated and intelligent world.

About USC Marshall School of Business

Consistently ranked among the nation's premier business schools, USC Marshall is internationally recognized for its emphasis on academic research, global perspective on entrepreneurship and innovation, and its powerful alumni network. Marshall prepares students to lead with purpose and impact in an ever-changing business environment.

SOURCE Thunder, Inc