I recently attended the Global Leadership Networking event put on by the Moran Center for Global Leadership at the Villanova School of Business. This event, hosted in the Curley Exchange of Bartley Hall, was operated with multiple hosts who happily introduced themselves and how the raffle for the event worked. Every student who attended this event was presented with an empty, wallet-sized booklet for the purpose of recording which booths you had visited as you made traveled through the event. I found this aspect of the event to be very interesting and innovative, as it motivated me to approach as many of the stands I could, even if I was not initially intrigued by what they were offering. Along with this motivation, the physical layout of the event also promoted engagement with representatives from each organization offered. It was set up like a convention, with the stands lined against walls of the room and a large area of free space occupying the middle of the room, allowing guests to flow to and from different booths as they wanted. This set up allowed me to speak with almost every group present. In doing so I quickly realized the diverse nature of organizations within the business school and their collective efforts to promote inclusion and equality between students and productive relationships between the different organizations the business school has to offer.
As I made my way around the room, learning about the ideas of many different clubs, I also learned a lot about the students who run these organizations. Almost every upper-classmen I spoke with addressed me with a friendly attitude and a seemingly genuine care for my intentions with the group. This was one of my first networking experiences at Villanova because I had missed the first semester last year. Attending this event helped me make connections and discuss other materials such as what classes to take and what professors I should try to register for.
In addition to the welcoming atmosphere the event possessed, there were additional benefits for those who chose to attend. The hosts offered a variety of food from different regions of the world including Italian, Greek, and Chinese cuisine. If you came to the event for the information, you would have definitely stayed for the delicious meals they had to offer. On top of the food and beverages, there was an added entertainment aspect of the event. Dancers from different cultures showed off their skills in an impressive expression of their region’s customs. Not only did the food and entertainment add to the overall experience of attending this event, but it furthered the notion that the Villanova School of Business is an inclusive, diverse community looking to provide all of its members with a comfortable place to learn. I would highly advise anyone who reads this to check out the Moran Center for Global Leadership at the following link and get involved!
Christian's Blog 