By Polina Zadirey, Staff Writer
On Wednesday, March 6, Saint Leo University hosted its second annual Business Day in partnership with the Donald R. Tapia School of Business and Career Services. On this day, students had an opportunity to listen to experts from different industries and attend networking sessions.
Kicking off the morning was keynote speaker Brittany Greene, a double Saint Leo alumni and CEO of Crowned Financials. She talked about how to unleash authenticity in the AI era. The turnout was so huge that attendees were listening and watching her speech from several different classrooms!
“I got a chance to listen to Brittany Greene, an incredibly inspirational speaker, whose character lights up the room,” said Manuela Henao Coca, a sophomore studying international studies and minoring in business management.
Students were highly engaged in Greene’s keynote. They were sharing their life goals and dreams, learning from their ideas, and they even made a TikTok clip!
There were several concurrent speaking sessions that students could attend throughout the morning and early afternoon. There was Justin Henderson with Enterprise Mobility who talked about networking, personal brand, and professionalism. Michelle Griffin with Griffin Resources shared values of experience in HR. Nicholas Montero with Truist focused on investing in the future career, and Aaron Crall with CliftonLarsonAllen had an interaction presentation on defining personal brand.
“The biggest value of Business Day is listening to real-life testimonials and credibility from people already out there living [in their careers]. I am, honestly, very jealous. I wish I had an opportunity like that,” remarked Montero.
After the sessions, attendees could rest and enjoy the food at the Networking Luncheon. Students, professors, and representatives from local companies got to know each other better. Each table held a company representative that students could potentially connect with, depending on their major and desired industry of work. Additionally, some professors helped students keep the conversation flowing.
On top of that, there was a Luncheon Keynote, helmed by Stacy Raske, the founder and CEO of InFLOWential Agency. She talked about the secrets of success that students do not learn in school.
“Business Day was an absolute success, and I had such a wonderful time meeting so many new people. I had the chance to take in a ton of inspiring information from multiple speakers including Brittany Greene, Nicholas Montero, Aaron Crall, and Morgan Tomlinson, as well as Stacy Raske,” shared Taylor Gray, senior majoring in business management.
The most awaited part of the day started at 2:00 p.m., where there was a Career Fair. Over 25 companies came to share their goals and missions and hire Saint Leo students! This fair took over the whole first floor of Tapia.
Students from all majors were participating, making connections with the invited companies. They were very welcoming, talking about their companies’ plans, taking photos with students, and they even brought some little presents for Saint Leo students. Furthermore, there was a headshot studio where students could take professional headshots for their social media profiles and resumes.
For the second year in a row, Business Day was a hit, proving itself dynamic and diverse. It included a blend of academic learnings, practical experiences, and networking opportunities that helped Saint Leo students to prepare for success in the business world.
“Business Day was a wonderful and beneficial experience for all who attended, Brittany Greene did a great job energizing the crowd and setting the mood for a successful event. There were many opportunities to network and discover new career avenues for students,” concluded Eva Gasowski, a senior majoring in accounting.
