BMCC Hosts Future Leaders Conference for Students

Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC/CUNY) hosted a Future Leaders conference for students that included professional development panels, workshops and breakout sessions on September 18 in the Fiterman Hall Conference Center. The conference was sponsored by the Center for Career Development, the Office of New Student Programs, Office of Student Affairs, ASAP, the BMCC Learning Academy and the business department.

Volunteers from Goldman Sachs Group Inc., IBM, The Grio, Spotify, In-Source, Workforce 1 Healthcare Career Center, and WitNY participated in the conference. Students networked and made professional contacts during lunch and at breakout sessions throughout the afternoon.

Workshops focused on personal branding, the transition from college to career life and how personal values can help identify and select a career an individual enjoys. Breakout sessions included a healthcare career center, women in technology and entrepreneurship in New York City as well as personal branding.

These types of programs are great opportunities for BMCC students to get real-world insights and perspectives from successful professionals as well as networking opportunities, according to Christopher Thunberg, director Center for Career Development.

“Students have the chance to hear the stories of these speakers, gain helpful takeaways from the professional lives of our industry partners, and have moments of ‘micro-mentorship’ where they can see new professional pathways and opportunities for themselves in the future; we are always excited to see new horizons opening up to our students,” he said.

Joseph Ginese, manager of BMCC’s New and First Year Student Programs said the forum was an initiative that demonstrates BMCC’s commitment to serving the community with opportunities to connect with career resources that enable success.

“The theme of conference is ‘momentum,’ which was chosen to signify that participating in an event like this would give attending students a spark to fuel their engagement in their academic and career path as well as their student life here at BMCC,” said Ginese.

Art Foundations major Fernanda Carvalao said she attended the conference and took part in workshop “how your personal values can help you identify a job you’ll love.”

“I’m trying to better understand my own values and what is motivating me to reach success in life,” said Carvalao.

Michael Dadzie, a Business Administration major, said it’s important to meet industry professional and learn how they got where they are in their career. He said the networking had been rewarding for him.

“I feel like they have the experience, and can map out the pathway we might need to take. I’ve met a lot of people here who told me to keep in touch with them, even though I don’t have my bachelor’s degree yet,” said Dadzie, who plans to attend Baruch College and pursue a career in data analytics.

Thunberg says employers such as the ones who participated in the Future Leaders Conference often express gratification about the level of engagement among BMCC students.

“Events like these are a great way to deepen our employer relationships. Our partners from today’s event have already expressed a strong interest in doing this kind of event again,” said Thunberg.