Professional Development through Leadership and Networking Conferences
To equip students with the values
and skills they will need to contribute immediately once they start their first
post-graduation job, the college arranges and supports a wide range of
professional-development activities.
These activities include leadership training, case competitions, a
networking event, job-shadow opportunities, and a mentoring program. Some of the events are planned and carried
out by students, and others are carried out by departments within the college.
Leadership
Conference
Sara
Foster, a senior VP of Commerce Bancshares, Inc., presents the keynote
address, discussing the importance of clear communication.
 |
The College
of Business Student Council
brought together more than 130 student leaders for the 10th Annual
Leadership Conference. The day-long
event continued the Council’s tradition of supporting fellow student leaders in
developing leadership skills.
This year, eight representatives from Commerce Bank
facilitated the conference, which focused on communication and its importance
in any leadership situation. Keynote
speaker Sara Foster, a senior VP of Commerce Bancshares, Inc, discussed
communication with individuals who may have different communication styles and
personality types.
Corporate representatives from more than 20 other companies
also attended. The participation of
business people allowed the students to network, learn more about potential
future employers, and hear from experienced executives and managers about
leadership in various industries.
Corporate facilitator Jami Bloesser leads a small group discussion among Leadership Conference participants. |
Janell Soucie-Pittman (BS BA ’98), a corporate
representative from Nestle Purina at this year’s leadership conference, was a
co-founder of the college’s Leadership Conference 10 years ago. She says it was an amazing experience to
see what the conference has become as a result of the involvement of corporate
sponsors.
“Being a recruiter at this
event is great because you get to talk with students who are focused and
dedicated to having a successful career. These are exactly the students whom
you want to meet,” says Soucie-Pittman. “It makes me proud to be associated
with the college when I see what the students have done with the program.”
Making
Me Marketable
Student participation in Making Me Marketable has grown from
about 25 students in its inaugural year of 2001 to 130 students this fall. The career counseling event is presented
annually by the Department of Marketing in conjunction with the department’s
Advisory Board.
The event drew representatives from 26 companies, including
Target, Procter & Gamble, Anheuser-Busch, Hallmark, and Boeing. During the morning sessions, students heard
about what career opportunities the various participating companies offer. In the afternoon, the industry professionals
hosted various skill-based sessions to provide real-world examples and
practical information for students.
These sessions included Making a Positive Initial Impression,
Researching Jobs, Companies and Careers, and Building Your Portfolio of
Experiences.
John Bennett, adjunct assistant professor of marketing and
faculty advisor to the event, says that the opportunity to network with
business professionals is extremely valuable. “Many students have secured job interviews and
made good contacts as a result of the conference,” says Bennett. “I’m pleased that the college is able to
provide such a worthwhile professional development event for our students.”
Companies in attendance:
Anheuser
Busch
Awareness
Management Systems
Boeing
Company
Burr
& Temkin
Cerner
Colliers
Turley Martin Tucker
Dell,
Inc.
Edward
Jones
General
Growth Properties
Glaceau
Vitaminwater
Hallmark
Jackson/Johnson
County Parks & Recreation
Leggett
& Platt
Macy’s
Merck
Northwestern
Mutual
Procter
& Gamble
Philip
Morris USA
Rich
Products
Shelter
Insurance Companies
Sprint
State
Farm Insurance Companies
St.
Jude Children’s Research
Hospital
St.
Luke’s Cancer Institute
Talisen
Technologies
Target
Last Edited: 12/5/2006