The All-Access Business Series is a weekly informational session held six to eight times a semester by the Coles College of Business on Wednesday afternoons.
This semester’s event kicked off on Wednesday, Jan. 15, in the Burruss building with senior executive representatives from Northwestern Mutual, a financial services mutual organization headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
During the events, businesses were invited to present an overview of the company culture and more. Business majors earned credit for attending and learning from professionals in the industry. The event was open to all majors, and anyone in attendance had the advantage of applying to the visiting companies.
Face-to-face time with executives and the opportunity to network with human resources representatives is invaluable for students whose main objective is to land full-time positions.
Caroline Click, a campus recruiter at Northwestern Mutual, shared the internship program logistics and invited prospective students to learn more about the company through open dialog.
“What I liked the most about today’s session was how openly the executives talked about their diverse career paths and what it took to get there,” junior management major Emily Madsen said. “They encouraged us to apply for jobs. It was a great motivator listening to their personal stories. They also discussed current issues in managing personal finances without proper advice. It was an eye-opener.”
Shanon Wiley, the chief recruiting officer at Northwestern Mutual, shared insights about her work with both traditional employees as well as career changers. Interns are constantly given feedback and coaching to help them succeed in their chosen paths.
“I have been attending these sessions regularly and am actively seeking a job after I graduate,” senior marketing major Laura Stallings said. “So, these sessions are very worthwhile and helpful in getting a feel for what the companies are looking for in potential employees,”
Brandon Porter, a financial representative and college unit director at Northwestern Mutual, talked about internship opportunities for KSU students and how leadership and being the best version of oneself is an important part of the company culture.
“This is my first time attending the all-access series. I wanted to learn about the company and see if it would be a good fit for me,” sophomore accounting major Kaia Ellis said. “I took a look at the spring schedule for the next few companies and it seems interesting. I am looking forward to attending them,”
Dwaan Black, a managing partner at Northwestern Mutual, said understanding the DNA of a company’s culture is imperative before applying. He said that students should ask interviewers about the company’s values. This helps evaluate whether it is a fit or not.
The company lineup is not limited by industry or major. For the Spring 2020 semester, the schedule includes Target, Travelport, Mohawk, Fresenius Medical Care and others.
The next all-access business event is hosting company representatives from Target on Jan. 22 at 3:30 p.m. in Room 151 Burruss building. To learn more, find the All-Access page on Owllife.
