Diversity Business Summit to support enterprising business leaders of the future

Diversity Business Summit to support enterprising business leaders of the futureSeptember 19, 2007Matthew R. Snydermrsnyder@syr.edu

Syracuse University will host the Sixth Annual Diversity Business Summit on Sept. 25, creating a unique opportunity for students from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds to network with their peers and prospective employers including, JPMorganChase, Morgan Stanley and Deloitte. More than 35 employers are scheduled to participate — a record high number in the history of this event at SU.

JPMorganChase, Morgan Stanley and Deloitte are among the key corporate sponsors of this year’s Diversity Business Summit, which is a partnership between the Center for Career Services and the Office of Multicultural Affairs, both principal units of the Division of Student Affairs. The event will be held at the Sheraton Syracuse University Hotel & Conference Center and is open to registered students only. For more information or to register, students should visit http://students.syr.edu/careerservices/news/dbs-studentinfo.htm.

“The Syracuse University experience is transformative for the student leaders of today, many of whom will be the business leaders of tomorrow,” says Barry L. Wells, senior vice president and dean of student affairs. “Connecting these students with the proper support, such as the Diversity Business Summit, helps them do much more than just go through the motions of internships and job searches, and fosters a shared sense of ethical enterprise that will help them lead the rapidly evolving global economy.”

Developed in 2001 in collaboration with the African American Male Congress, the Diversity Business Summit has become one of the University’s signature career exploration and networking events for students from diverse backgrounds. “The Diversity Business Summit is a powerful example of the University’s passionate commitment to providing access and support to students from all backgrounds,” says Gregory J. Victory, associate director for campus and employer engagement in the Center for Career Services. “It’s much more than a job fair or recruitment opportunity — it’s a chance for students to showcase their creativity and leadership ability in close partnership with a network of potential employers.”

The Diversity Summit begins with the Morgan Stanley Case Study Competition at 4:30 p.m. Teams of four students have been given a week’s time to study and offer solutions regarding a diversity-related issue prevalent in today’s workplace; during the competition, students will present their work to a panel of employers for judging. The winning team’s members will receive engraved iPod Nano video/music players; the 2006 competition was won by a team made up of four WellsLink Leadership Program participants.

At 6 p.m., students will have the opportunity to sit down to dinner with the prospective employer of their choice for an opportunity to network and discuss issues and trends in today’s highly competitive global marketplace. Students have the opportunity to select the employer of their choice for the Diversity at the Dinner Table portion of the program, which is sponsored by JPMorgan Chase. The dinner will conclude with readings from “Soul Talk: Urban Youth Poetry” (2007, New City Community Press), a compilation of Syracuse-area students’ poems edited by School of Education assistant professor Kristiina Montero. Three contributors — an OCC student, a Syracuse City School District (SCSD) senior and a recent SCSD graduate — will read their poems from the book, which will be distributed to employers to help them better understand and connect with Syracuse.

The reading will lead into the 7:30 p.m. dessert networking reception, sponsored by Deloitte. Here, students will have the chance to interact with one another and will all the employers present at the event, while recognized student organizations showcase their work and community engagement before an audience of potential employers.

“The world economy is global. Diverse perspectives, ideas, approaches and talent are all part of our blueprint for success as a financial services organization,” says Anish Bhimani, JPMorgan Chase managing director with responsibility for technology infrastructure security, risk, and resiliency, about his employer’s participation in the summit. “We measure diversity, hire it and reward it. Even better, we try to improve how we capitalize on the diversity we value every single day.”

For more information about the Diversity Business Summit, contact Victory at the Center for Career Services, Room 235 of the Hildegarde and J. Myer Schine Student Center; or by e-mail at gjvictor@syr.edu.