Stony Brook in Washington, D.C.: Forté Networking Event Brings Together Women of Color  | | SBU News

The Stony Brook College Profession Heart and Faculty of Enterprise partnered along with the help of Chief Variety Officer Judith Brown Clarke, from the Workplace of Variety, Inclusion and Intercultural Initiatives, to ship 29 undergraduate college students to Washington, D.C., for a networking occasion for underrepresented communities this previous October. 

The Forté Undergraduate Ladies of Coloration Management Symposium hosted college students within the nation’s capital for a nationwide convention. Forté was designed for girls to have a supportive setting the place they’ll study and share their experiences from their skilled world; this occasion centered on younger girls of colour. The occasion linked friends from different establishments and dealing professionals that discovered success throughout quite a lot of industries.

There are numerous challenges that ladies of colour face which make it tough to navigate by way of the working world. Forté created a secure area for girls to share their experiences and struggles. 

“The Forté Ladies of Coloration Management Symposium was designed to showcase influential girls of colour in enterprise, join college students throughout the nation, and introduce viable internship and full-time alternatives with our company companions,” mentioned Leah Lattimore, director of Undergraduate Packages at Forté. 

“College students have been in a position to study numerous profession paths and apply others’ life classes to their very own journeys. We’re grateful to our educational and company companions, particularly Deloitte who hosted the occasion, and stay up for participating extra of our college students this yr. Stony Brook’s illustration on the symposium was outstanding; the establishment’s dedication to supporting extra girls main was definitely inspiring and the attendees have been extremely spectacular,” mentioned Lattimore.  

Stony Brook College had the most important illustration on the symposium. Of the 29 college students who went, six have been worldwide college students and 4 have been freshmen. Stony Brook’s attendees’ suggestions confirmed their favourite a part of this system was the networking alternatives supplied by this system. The primary subjects of dialogue on the panels have been about manifesting a significant profession path, strategic networking, authenticity, and intentionality. Greater than 95 % of the scholars who attended shared that they have been in a position to join with two or extra employers on the occasion.  

“This occasion was an incredible alternative to community and meet new folks,” mentioned Tiye Grant, a enterprise administration main and advertising and marketing intern on the Profession Heart. “As a Black girl, it was extraordinarily necessary for me to go to the occasion — not just for the expertise and information, but additionally for the reminiscences. I made so many new buddies and linked with so {many professional} girls of colour; I’m so glad I went!” 

Variety is a particularly necessary matter at Stony Brook College and their Partnership Council firms. Specializing in variety within the office will increase creativity, encourages totally different views and results in higher problem-solving capabilities. Valuing variety means offering those that are underrepresented a platform to talk on, and opening extra doorways so that every one folks have an opportunity to succeed irrespective of their race or gender.  

“Listening to Black girls taking up companies is so empowering,” mentioned Anne Decossard, a enterprise administration main at Stony Brook College. “Every one of many tales was distinctive and actually wonderful. I’m now, greater than ever, extra assured about my potential to succeed.”

Attending this occasion offered college students with the chance to study totally different profession choices that they had not beforehand explored. Melissa Perez, a third-year biology main shared, “It was wonderful! As a STEM main stepping into, I had felt I in all probability wouldn’t have had a lot to say within the dialog or a seat on the desk to debate something that pertains to enterprise contemplating my background. Nonetheless, upon listening to the panelists and experiencing your entire convention, I had realized beneficial life recommendation and walked away figuring out that I’d come again to Stony Brook and alter my main. Attending the convention allowed me to see, there have been locations for me and folks like me who had pursuits like me in these highly effective positions, particularly as a lady of colour. I’m perpetually grateful!”

To study extra about future occasions, please go to the Profession Heart and verify Handshake for extra data. Stony Brook College college students have entry to occasions and assets from the Forté Basis by way of the Profession Heart and Faculty of Enterprise.

Study extra about Forté

— Joseph D’Alessandro and Tiye Grant