By Satyne Doner, Co-Editor-in-Chief
Saint Leo University came alive with over 800 new students this semester, most of whom were stepping onto a college campus for the first time.
While receiving a degree is the pinnacle of a student’s fledgling career, a launching pad into the workforce, there is a secondary activity that is often overlooked: networking.
The crux of the college experience is networking, where students make valuable connections that will last them a lifetime. However, in a post-pandemic society, those handshake connection skills have all but disappeared.
“I have reaped the benefits of networking as a college student, and it’s something I am very passionate about,” says Tayhana Taylor, a senior studying accounting. “I would love to see every Saint Leo student master the art of networking.”
Taylor is an ambassador of The Collegiate Networker, a concept that hosts workshops and features online courses teaching students the art of networking and shaping their professional future.
On August 26, business partners and best friends Diego Rojas and James-Evan Gagliano met with over 100 first-year students during orientation to formally introduce their organization. Together with Dr. Jen Shaw, vice president of student affairs, they hope to make a positive difference in the community.
Growing up, Gagliano experienced bouts of bullying due to a speech impediment that pushedhim to move outside of his comfort zone and craft an outer shell of confidence, something which has influenced him to this day and allows him to connect with students who might be struggling.
Now, he is a junior in cybersecurity, realtor, president of the Saint Leo hockey team, and treasurer for Sigma Alpha Epsilon. He is also an SGU senator.
Rojas, Gagliano’s partner on this joint venture, is the youngest elected official in Washington D.C., a two-time published author, and a junior at the Catholic University of America where he is pursuing a degree in finance.
“[Rojas] came to me with the idea for The Collegiate Networker, and we found a soft spot where networking wasn’t being talked about,” says Gagliano. “[Students] don’t even know what networking is, or what they can actually do with it.”
The period from conception to launch was almost two years, from 2021 to June 2023. Rojas and Gagliano combined extensive research with personal experience, compiling it into a two-hour online course with five steps to success.
“We live in a very competitive world, especially being so close to Tampa,” adds Gagliano. “There’s so much competition, and we want [students]to learn how to stand out.”
From creating a personal brand story to learning how to perfect a LinkedIn, students are guided through the process of not just learning skills but also applying them. According to The Collegiate Networker’s website, the course is designed to help students build a network and take control of their future.
Under Dr. Shaw’s guidance, Gagliano and Rojas branched out into the direction of in-person workshops.
“It opened a new door for us which we didn’t even know existed, and that lead us to getting into freshman orientation,” comments Gagliano. “It was a great kick starter for us and showed people what we’re about.”
He commended the first-year students on their levels of engagement at orientation and deduces the success of the workshop to his deep connection with the Saint Leo community.
“We wanted to start [The Collegiate Networker] at Saint Leo because I knew how to translate our message to students,” says Gagliano. “When you’re hearing it from someone who is living in the same hall as you, a fellow student who is networking successfully, it carries so much more weight.”
He is looking forward to a workshop with the accounting club on October 11, with more in the pipeline with other organizations such as the marketing club. The future of The Collegiate Networker will place an emphasis on workshops, online courses, YouTube videos, and collaborations with local high schools.
Students interested in joining The Collegiate Networker as an ambassador or taking part in the course can learn more at https://www.collegiatenetworker.com/ or reach out via Instagram at @thecollegiatenetworkerofficial. Gagliano also urges students to say hello if they see him on campus.
“Your golden ticket is the acceptance letter into this university,” says Gagliano. “I cannot stress that enough. Use your resources and get involved… you cannot do anything in this life alone.”
