In a lively evening that brought together the past and future of CC’s business community, the Career Center hosted Business Careers Night on Oct. 3, 2024. This event, an expansion of the previously held Finance Symposium, expanded its scope to encompass a broader range of business fields, offering students a broader perspective of potential career paths.
Over 100 students sat at tables with alumni whose career paths aligned with their interests, facilitating meaningful connections over dinner and dessert. This format created an intimate setting for students to gain insights from those who once walked the same campus and now navigate diverse business landscapes.
Emma Fairburn, career consultant at the CC Career Center and the event’s organizer, shared her vision: “We wanted to expand the scope of alumni and the event, connecting students with each other and with alumni who have walked this path before.” This sentiment echoes the Career Center’s commitment to bridging the gap between academic pursuits and professional aspirations.
Brett Woodard, Director at the Career Center, emphasized the event’s success and impact: “We’re encouraged that so many students recognized the value of participating, and are thankful for our alumni guests who were eager to share insights and advice while helping students’ expand their network of support from our CC community.” This sentiment underscores the mutual benefit of such events, where alumni enthusiasm meets student eagerness to learn and connect.
The diversity of alumni present at the event highlighted the myriad paths a CC education can pave. From finance and consulting to sports management and tech, the range of industries represented offered students a broader perspective on potential career trajectories.
Jason Bogardus ’93, Managing Director at Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management, highlighted the unique strengths CC graduates bring to the financial sector: “A finely tuned moral compass. CC fosters a distinctive level of personal growth and a sense of right and wrong.” He emphasized the importance of communication skills and the ability to breakdown complex data to tell a story – attributes honed through CC’s liberal arts curriculum. Highly proficient writing and communication skills are strengths that enable CC students to set themselves apart in the business world.
Chris Haymons ’92, Co-Founder at Industria Partners, echoed this sentiment, noting the critical thinking and communication skills that set CC graduates apart. “What is impressing me most is just the quality of student body at CC. Students that CC is attracting are incredibly intelligent. They are very creative and highly differentiated.” This differentiation, Haymons argues, is crucial in a competitive business world where standing out is key to success.
For current students, the event provided a wealth of insights. The diversity of alumni experiences and career paths broadened their perspective on the adaptability of a CC education in the ever-evolving business landscape.
The event also showcased the evolution of career preparation at CC. Lora Brody ’83, one of the College’s Executive in Residence Professors, reflected on this transformation. “I don’t remember being that prepared. Careers and work were not really discussed.” She noted a “drastic shift in career preparedness” over the years, highlighting the college’s increased focus on equipping students for the professional world. She incorporates career-oriented projects in her class curriculum as well as facilitating dialogue with alumni by inviting them to share their valuable insights and experiences with her students.
As part of their introductions for the evening, alumni shared small tidbits of advice with eager students. Jason Owens ’06 emphasized the importance of developing communication skills across diverse groups, advising students to, “figure how to work and communicate with as many people as possible.” Abby Holtz ’17 encouraged students to dive into opportunities, while Haymons ’92 stressed the importance of punctuality with his mantra, “Don’t be late. If you’re not early, you’re late.”
The event also highlighted the strength of CC’s alumni network. Bogardus, who co-founded the CC Finance Symposium, stressed the importance of leveraging these connections: “CC students must know how to effectively use that network.” This network, he noted, is crucial for students looking to transition from Colorado Springs to financial hubs.
The Business Careers Night embodies a very important idea shared by Haymons ’92. “There is no substitute for playing the game. Practice is helpful, but playing the game is absolutely key.” The night allowed students to do exactly that – play the game of networking and forming meaningful connections that will help them achieve momentum in their career paths.
As the evening wound down, the buzz of conversation and exchange of contact information signaled the beginning of many potential mentorship relationships and career opportunities. The Business Careers Night not only provided valuable insights and networking opportunities but also reinforced the strong, supportive community that sets CC apart in preparing its students for success in the vast business world and beyond.
The next Careers Night event hosted by CC’s Career Center will be Government Careers Night on Tuesday, April 8. For more information on this and other upcoming events, please contact Emma Fairburn at efairburn@coloradocollege.edu