Building Bridges ...


A quick report from the front line as a number of first and second-year CBPM students attended the National Black MBA Conference in Washington, DC, this past Thursday and Friday, September 18 and 19 (including me).

The event was a great opportunity to connect with employers that aren't 'regulars' on-campus for the brand center. Although we get a great cross-section of leading CPGs that participate on our board and that come to campus, events such as the Career Fair at this conference are a critical platform for making additional connections in other industries -- especially for full-time marketing/brand opportunities in areas such as automobiles, beverages, entertainment, hospitality and technology.

A number of second-year students interviewed on-site for full-time marketing, brand management and merchandising management positions with companies ranging from 3M to Pepsi to Target. And many more connections were made, meeting with companies directly at their booths.

Below are four CBPM second-years that attended (from left to right): Sennai Atsbeha, Adam Needles (me), Elena Taylor and Rebecca Bishop.

The event was also a great opportunity to 'evangelize' about the brand-focused program at Wisconsin, and Blair Sanford, who directs career services at Wisconsin and who helped to sponsor our DC trip, really partnered with us to help build contacts with recruiters who are really excited to hear more about our program.

As a final comment on the conference, I have to say how impressed I was with what a professional job the organizers have done. I've attended other MBA conferences, and the National Black MBA Association really runs a top-notch diversity conference. I was really excited to participate not only to network with employers and to promote our program, but also to support the diversity initiatives of the organization and for Wisconsin.

On Wisconsin!!