L. Robert Payne Series

The L. Robert Payne Lecture Series

Bringing Outstanding Entrepreneurs to SDSU

John Wilson Stance Talk

Not many people give back to their alma mater as generously as L. Robert Payne has. The successful SDSU alumnus built his career in real estate and development and now has been able to impact the campus through his philanthropy. The L. Robert Payne Lecture series has brought a dynamic range of entrepreneurs and guest speakers to help inspire the next generation of Aztecs. From Tony Hawk to Ralph Rubio, the lecture series’ high profile guests provide impactful experiences and sage advice, helping build an entrepreneurial community around SDSU.

2021 Speakers: Zeynep Ilgaz and Serhat Pala

SDSU Alumni and Co-Founders to Speak at SDSU

The L Robert Payne Lecture Series featured an amazing journey for two co-founders Zeynep Ilgaz and Serhat Pala, SDSU alumni. They relocated to the United States from a small village in Turkey in 1998. After graduating from SDSU, they eventually co-founded Confirm Biosciences, a health and wellness test provider, which turned into a multi-million dollar company that Zeynep and Serhat have recently sold. However, their journey from a small village to entrepreneurship as international students brought many obstacles and challenges for them to overcome. The couple shared their story of triumph and struggles with students from across campus.