More than 30 experts from industries of sports, hospitality, will be on hand on Tuesday, Feb. 28 from 6-8 p.m. in Patrick T. Ferry Hall to chat with students about their careers.
How often do you get to say that you were in a room with 30-plus experts in the sports and hospitality industry and beyond?
Well, that is exactly what the Concordia University Wisconsin Sport and Hospitality Round Table is all about. More than 30 experts from top names in the industry will be on hand on Tuesday, Feb. 28 from 6-8 p.m. in Concordia’s pharmacy building to chat with students about their careers.
These experts are from all over the area with diverse career fields and major backgrounds. This large networking experience is organized to help students make connections and aid them in finding internships and careers during and after their college experience.
CUW 2020 Sport and Entertainment Business alum Samantha Dunn said, “Networking events gave me the confidence to have conversations with people I didn’t know, which allowed me to get my job at Good Karma Brands! It’s all about who you know. Like Dr. Barnhill always said, ‘If you know 200 people, they know 200 people.’”
The University provides students with professors, mentors, and opportunities that are a step above any other college in the area. They also provide detailed instruction on how to network effectively, how to build a resume to impress employers, and how to engage with peers and clients in a professional environment.
CUW Alumni can say from their experience over the years – both from being at the Round Table as a student, as well as a professional – that this opportunity is beneficial and a large factor as to why they are where they are today.
Year after year, alumni come back and offer advice to students exploring different career paths. While the event brings in experts from many different organizations, a large sum of those experts are Concordia alumni, and they can speak straight from their college experience that this is worth it.
CUW 2021 Sport and Entertainment Business alum Katarina Oryszczyn said, “My advice to students who are looking to work in sports business is to intern and network while you are still in school as much as possible. You never know who you might connect with that could lead you to a job or opportunity in the future.”
The programs at CUW are built to assist students looking to jump start their career and land that “dream job” right out of college.
CUW 2022 MBA Strategic Marketing alum Clara Chambers said, “The biggest tool that Concordia gave me to land my job with the Harlem Globetrotters as the Promotions Marketing Coordinator was strong communication skills. CUW taught me how to communicate with industry professionals in a way that I was able to sell myself confidently and build my network in the sports business before graduating.”
The Concordia University Wisconsin Sport and Hospitality Round Table has proved to be successful to those who put the work in and follow up after the event concludes. The overall success has been credited to the mentors and professors that make this event possible.
“The biggest tool that CUW gave me to land my job was Dan Underberg. His knowledge of the industry and connections were essential; he truly sets his students up for success,” said Oryszccyn.
With the event just days away, the biggest piece of motivation and advice to be given is: “Talk to everyone. First of all, it is great to network and hear from people who work in the real world. It also may spark your interest in unique fields. I personally never thought I would be working in sales, but now I get to work in sales AND for a sports-related company based in Wisconsin,” said Dunn.
—Morgan Bolz is writer for The Beacon, the official student newspaper of Concordia University Wisconsin. She is pursuing her bachelor’s degree in sports and entertainment business and plans to graduate in May of 2023.