At 5:45 p.m. on Tuesday, February 23, in a State Farm Hall of Business (SFHB) classroom, marketing and professional sales sequence majors Connor Achim and Shannon Killian will be all smiles and handshakes. Anyone who has met Achim and Killian can attest to their genuine and friendly demeanor, but this occasion is unique. This occasion will be more. For these smiles will represent months of preparation and collaborative efforts in coordinating this year’s Business Week Transition Seminars. The College of Business will host its Business Week Transition Seminars from 5:45–7:50 p.m. with a networking reception afterward.
“We think students who attend are looking to better themselves professionally and we want to provide that.”
— Connor Achim
Although Achim and Killian’s course work and various campus activities, including membership in the professional business fraternity Delta Sigma Pi make for hectic schedules, the coordinators have taken the better part of a year to prepare for these seminars to ensure the topics and speakers are relevant for this big occasion. “It was necessary to figure out what 40 students at a given time want to hear about instead of what speakers just want to address,” Achim said. “We think students who attend are looking to better themselves professionally and we want to provide that—it isn’t just students looking to get extra credit here.”
According to the coordinators, the 18 alumni seminar speakers share similar sentiments with the students. “These are not business professionals who are looking out for a company; they are alumni and aim to share their personal business experiences (with fellow Redbirds),” Achim said.
Session 1 and 2 will contain 25-minute minisessions with advice and different perspectives to be followed by 25-minute Q&A sessions. Students will also have the opportunity to engage in one-on-one discussions during the networking reception.
Listed below are specific times and locations of the events:
- 5:45–6 p.m. Check-in, SFHB
- 6–6:50 p.m. Session 1, various classrooms in the SFHB
- 7–7:50 p.m. Session 2, various classrooms in the SFHB
- 8–8:30 p.m. Networking reception, lower-level Atrium in the SFHB
When asked what their favorite experience has been while coordinating this event, Achim and Killian agreed that seeing their ideas for sessions, like “Making Your Dream Job a Reality” and “Your Online Resume,” in print around campus was exciting, but that connecting with the speakers has been a most pleasant experience.
Seating is limited to 40 attendees in each seminar. Preregistration is encouraged. Learn more about the Business Week Transition Seminars and register at the Business Week website.
