School of Business Professors, Clubs Host Life Skills Workshop

On Saturday, Nov. 16, the School of Business hosted its first ever Life Skills Workshop, providing an opportunity for students to learn critical life skills, prepare to enter the workforce, and differentiate themselves in today’s fast paced global economy.

Students involved in Fisher’s chapter of the American Marketing Association (AMA), Investment Club, Accounting Club, Millennial Action Council, and Delta Sigma Pi, collaborated with Adam Crandall ’09, ’12 (MBA), adjunct professor, and Ron Sicker, visiting assistant professor of practice, to host the event. It builds on the popularity of AMA’s Marketing Week workshop on LinkedIn.

“We’ve been looking for ways to bring business students together to benefit and I think we’ve found it,” said Emily Risch, a senior marketing major, who also serves as co-president of AMA. “I hope School of Business student leaders can continue to put on events like this to benefit the business school as a whole.”

Throughout the day, dozens of Fisher students gathered with faculty, executives, professionals, and alumni to learn the skills needed to be successful in today’s business world. The event included a table hosted by Worldleaders Inc., keynote speaker, skills workshop, and executive business panel.

Dee Kerr, general manager at Carbon 3D printing, a digital manufacturing company based in Silicon Valley, delivered the keynote address. Kerr shared stories about her experiences in Silicon Valley, saying that each new career step helped expand her skillset. She also stressed the importance of networking and relationship-building.

“Our keynote speaker was able to provide our students with true ‘real world experience’ as it relates to career development and life skills,” says Crandall.

Following the keynote address, Crandall delivered a presentation on LinkedIn alongside Sicker and Karen Benjamin, owner of World Leaders Sales Recruiting. The presentation focused on professional skills, interview advice, and provided insight into what employers look for in a LinkedIn profile, including how to elevate a profile in recruiters’ searches.

Benjamin, Sicker, and Kerr were also participants on the panel of professionals who answered questions from students about topics like interviewing and making valuable connections with colleagues. Fisher business alumni Luke Zulauf ’17 and Danielle Riegel ’18, along with Tony Ciero, an independent consultant at Amcor International, rounded out the panel.

During the event, the Alpha pledge class of Delta Sigma Pi held a headshot fundraiser for event attendees. This was just one of numerous activities that the pledge class and overall chapter has done so far this semester.

“The students learned life skills at the workshop such as networking, connecting, interviewing skills, and job searching skills.  All of these are vital to the students as they apply concepts from the classroom and translate those into career opportunities,” explained Sicker.

Organizers hope to offer a second Life Skills Workshop in the spring semester.