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Networking has become a powerful tool in the workplace.

By Ted Pasquette ’24

When I first received the email about the HD program, I wasn’t sure what to expect. The email entailed me to attend a dinner with Dean McCrae and other Davidson students, whom I wasn’t familiar with. Upon consideration, I said why not. I mean, who could resist a free dinner right? Well during the dinner, I had the pleasure of meeting many young men of color who were desirous of undertaking various career paths in life. I heard many different passions from healthcare, environmental advocacy, computer science, social justice, banking, English and even aerospace engineering. This single dinner would embark the series of networking events that HD would host for us. The group and I met once more to discuss our next step in traveling to Washington D.C. There, we would expand on our network and potentially make a lasting impression on companies that we might be interested in working for.

Networking. Networking has become a powerful tool in the workplace. Today, many jobs are obtained by merely knowing an insider who can put in a good word for you. The HD program highlighted this notion in their career workshop. You never really know who you meet and what connections they may have. You might encounter someone who is outside your field of interest who can link you with someone that is, which is why it’s very important to leave a lasting impression on anyone that you meet. I am thankful for HD to have incorporated a presentation on how to conduct ourselves in a professional space and key points for success in networking events.

Furthermore, we had a strength session where we defined and elaborated on our top 5 talents and how we can utilize them to achieve our goals. Everybody is different and we each possess our unique skills to traverse our endeavors in life. If we can become aware of those skills and realize their feasibility, we can further cultivate and build upon them to maximize our potential for success.

Let me emphasize that the trip to Washington D.C. was FREE. In 3 days, we indulged in a networking event with Davidson Alumni, we engaged with HR&A Advisors Inc., Deloitte, and Virginia Union University, and we also had the opportunity to tour the National Museum of African American History and Culture. On top of all that, we had extra time to explore what the capital of Washington D.C. had to offer!

I met an array of wonderful people during the HD program. The program Directors, Ashley Bodie, Raquel Dailey, Joy Massenberg and Nadia Campbell are some of the most amazing individuals you will ever meet. They entrusted us with all the tools necessary to engage in our visits. They also took the initiative to make sure everyone was always all right. I encourage anyone who can take part in the program to take full advantage of this opportunity! You’ll leave the program with valuable skills that will benefit you in the professional world!

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Don’t Count Tech Sales Out

Nicole Krykanov (’21) and her Manager at Meltwater

My name is Nicole and I’m a recent Davidson grad (c/o 2021)! I’ve been a Sales Consultant at Meltwater for about 8 months now, and I could not have found a better first job right out of college. All throughout my time at Davidson, I found myself searching so hard for what I wanted to do with my future. Being at such a prestigious school, you find yourself around so many goal-oriented peers that have an exact vision of what their future looks like, and I wanted to have everything figured out just like them. So, I found myself bouncing from major to major, hoping so badly that I would find my passion. Well, I did. Originally wanting to be pre-med when I came to Davidson, I found my passion in the study of psychology during my sophomore year. However, one of the beautiful things about liberal arts is that your major does not dictate your career. My passion for psychology in the classroom did not have to translate into practice or post-grad research, but instead could be a passion that I can have outside of a career. All of this being said, come senior spring I still had no idea what I wanted to do with my career. And it turns out I didn’t have to. The day before graduation, I accepted a tech sales position at Meltwater, a media intelligence software company. When I was applying for jobs, I never ever wanted to apply to a sales role. I looked down upon the idea of being a “salesperson,” and felt that there was a stigma around a type of job like this. Little did I know, accepting this sales position would be the best career decision for me. Being an athlete all four years at Davidson, I needed a role that kept me motivated and on my toes. Not only does the role excite me, but every day I learn something new about different industries and job markets, pushing me one step closer to finding the career I’ve been spending so much time worrying about. At the end of the day, sales isn’t a good fit for everyone. But, I would be amiss if I didn’t share my great experience at my company and in this industry, especially for those seniors who are in the same position as I was. For the seniors searching for jobs – good luck & don’t stress!! Please reach out if you want to learn more about Meltwater/tech sales… or just to chat – my cell is (757) 635-6521 and my email is nkrykanov@gmail.com 🙂 

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Learning how to think like a scientist and grieve like a human being: my research experience at the Gates Center

By: Ellie Mackintosh

When I arrived at the Gates Center, I was at a personal inflection point. Academically, I had just finished my first year at Davidson and was beginning to entertain the idea that I wanted to be a professor. My biology and chemistry classes had affirmed my love for science, and I was ready to gain experience in a laboratory setting.

At the same time, I was processing the sudden and tragic loss of my godfather to a heart attack. I share this because it provides important context to my research experience. I didn’t begin my internship with dogged ambition or assuredness. Rather, I showed up adrift in the tumult, fragility, and devastation of an all-encompassing grief.

My time at the Gates Center, therefore, became the stage for both professional and personal development. I learned how to articulate my emotional challenges to the PI (Principal Investigator, or the scientist in charge of the lab). She worked with me to set a new schedule, adjust our research expectations, and provide the flexibility I needed.

Simultaneously, I gained exposure to a wide range of exciting research techniques. PCR, gel electrophoresis, necropsies, and western blots became physical practices instead of simply theories in a textbook. I observed surgeries and attended weekly seminars where research scientists presented their work. Because I was considering a career in medicine, the internship arranged for me to shadow a physician at the Anschutz Medical Campus. The directors of the program also organized group outings and projects that grounded us in the wider Denver community.

While I expected the Gates Center Summer Internship Program to change the way I look at research, I did not anticipate how it would impact my self-perception. From the moment I started in the lab, I felt like a scientist. My curiosity was valued, my contributions were validated, and my presence, especially as a young person navigating grief, was affirmed. The program helped me find the confidence I needed to continue pursuing a career in research, confidence upon which I’m currently drawing as I apply to chemistry PhD programs.

I will always be grateful for my time at the Gates Center. I’m thrilled that more Davidson students will have the chance to benefit from such an extraordinary opportunity.

CLICK HERE, to learn more about about the Gates Center Summer Internship Program.

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Consulting Close to Home with Point B

Following graduation, Davidson alumni Laura Hiatt ‘18 and Henry Flores ‘21 found careers in consulting at Point B, an employee-owned consulting firm with 13 locations across the United States, including Charlotte, North Carolina. Hear from Laura and Henry about their experiences as consulting Analysts, and why Point B stood out to them among other opportunities afterlife at Davidson.

Why did you choose Point B?

Laura: Point B’s culture! Our values and actions aim to always do the right thing, which I find reminiscent of Davidson’s Honor Code. Here, I feel at home. Further, I am able to have a career where I work on a variety of consulting projects while maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

Henry: The people and the size. I interned at a larger firm and a boutique consulting firm before interning at Point B. I really enjoyed that there wasn’t a strict hierarchy and protocol (which is custom at bigger companies) and yet I still had many resources at my disposal at smaller firms. Everyone here is willing to help and genuinely get to know you outside of work no matter how senior!

What kinds of projects and clients are you working with?

Laura: I am currently working with a Utilities client on a data centralization and analytics project. So far I’ve worked in nine different industries on projects ranging from strategy to process optimization over the past two and a half years.

Henry: I’m working on a supply chain strategy and operations project for a multi-national electrical manufacturing company. This is my first full-time project and I’ve already learned so much. Constantly learning was something I valued at Davidson and I’m glad I can continue to do so here at Point B.

How has Point B maintained its culture with the shift to remote work?

 Laura: Our culture has continued via virtual happy hours, lunches, and coffees where we can connect with our coworkers. However, we are starting to have outdoor in-person gatherings to maintain our sense of community. We also have a quarterly stipend where we can take our family out to a meal on Point B to extend our culture to the communities we have outside of our Point B team.

Henry: Point B continues to support both virtual and in-person events. Some of the virtual events I’ve attended have been coffee chats and lunch & learns. I’ve also participated in the Point B Getaway Weekend in Las Vegas to catch up with company-wide members. These have been my favorite memories by far.

What kind of early-career support does Point B provide Analysts?

Laura: Point B provides internal professional development opportunities as well as an external training stipend. During your first year, you complete the Foundations Program where one of your peers works through lessons with you about Point B’s culture, our Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), etc. and answers any questions you may have. Experienced leaders on your project or in your local office are always willing to provide guidance as well.

Henry: In addition to Foundations, each employee is assigned a 1-on-1 partner who serves as a guide to help answer any questions and a coach to help you reach your long-term goals. The Analyst Accelerator is also a valuable development experience. During this first week, members of your new hire cohort come together to form connections, meet with directors and company leaders to learn about Point B as a whole, and practice the skills you will use on the job!

How can Point B Analysts shape their career outside of just client projects?

Laura: Point B Analysts can shape their career by participating in a variety of internal roles in addition to client service delivery. For example, I am a Foundations Partner (a peer support to those completing their first year at Point B), a Campus Ambassador (help with campus recruiting in our Charlotte market), and I run our Charlotte Geo biweekly calls (hooray for PowerPoint and public speaking).

Henry: While there is a lot of support for new analysts, you are also given a lot of autonomy to pursue your passions and grow. There are groups you can get involved with such as communities of interest (e.g. Financial Services, Nextcontinent) and communities of practice (e.g. change management, data, and analytics). Personally, I’ve been involved in formalizing and growing the employee-led Hispanic & LatinX at Point B Business Resource Group (BRG) which seeks to create a space for Hispanic & LatinX Point B’ers to foster personal and professional growth, empowerment, and inclusion which are all very important to me.

To learn more about Point B and explore entry-level positions, visit the Students and Graduates section at careers.pointb.com

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Learning The Value of Networking & Professional Development Throughout My DIF Experience

By Emily Roebuck ’20, Davidson Impact Fellow with Atrium Health/McKay Urology

The last few months have been full of networking and professional development, as well as understanding the major operational considerations behind systemic change. In December, we completed our Social Determinants of Health Screening (SDOH) Pilot in the urology department, which demonstrated a high level of unmet social need among our patient population and the feasibility of developing workflow around SDOH. Time since then has involved extensive data review, literature dives, and evaluation of next steps from which I am coming away with several important lessons learned.

First, I am continually amazed by the amount of knowledge that already exists around addressing SDOH and understanding their impact on health outcomes. This reminds me that while my first reaction upon seeing a problem might be to find a way to solve it, it is important to first evaluate if someone has already done that work before you, because oftentimes, they have. In my literature dive, I see that many clinicians, public health workers, and policy makers have been shouting from the rooftops about the impact of SDOH on patient and population health for years—specifically since the 1980s from what I see. So, as we figure out our next steps in implementing more permanent change around addressing SDOH in urology, we do not necessarily need to reinvent the wheel or create any novel intervention. Rather, we need to open our eyes and ears to learn from those who have been participating and leading in this work before us.

This brings me to my next learning point, which is the great value in networking. I was apprehensive to ask too many questions when I first arrived for fear of bothering those with already-busy schedules and in my mind, more important tasks to attend. Yet having now seen the wealth of work already being done in healthcare around SDOH, I have been compelled to seek out conversations within and outside of Atrium to explore opportunities for learning and when possible, system alignment. From each of these contacts, I have left with a deeper understanding of their current efforts, as well as seen how many people in this space are also eager for knowledge sharing and initiative overlap. For instance, I reached out to Health Leads, a community service organization, after reading about their program in a review. From there, I have been connected with several folks over at Duke who have implemented an SDOH screening and patient navigation model which would greatly benefit our practice here. In addition to learning things that work well, I can also see previous barriers based on their experience that I might not have otherwise considered.

While I might have known these lessons before, seeing their importance in real-time has certainly cemented their value —and above all, patients and communities will be better helped as a result of this collaborative learning.

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How We Became Entrepreneurs in Just Three Weeks

By Kendall Bushick ’22 and Sam Cascio ’22

Like many Davidson students, our summer plans were canceled after the COVID-19 pandemic sent us home for quarantine. We didn’t know what we were going to do with all our extra time this summer until the Center for Career Development sent out an email about a 3-week virtual Business Bootcamp through Furman University. With this newly discovered chance to make our summer count, we attended one of the program’s information sessions, which ultimately persuaded us to apply for the Bootcamp. We also applied for the 2020 Summer Professional Development/Internship Grant, which we were both grateful to receive. We would like to give a special thanks to the Career Center and donors who made this opportunity possible! 

One of the program’s most appealing factors was that it’s designed for non-business majors. Both of us had little knowledge of the industry being Psychology and Economics majors. Coming from a liberal arts school with no business-specific courses, this program seemed like the perfect opportunity to begin educating ourselves.

Because this was a virtual experience, we were on Zoom from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm. The typical schedule was two sessions in the morning, lunch break with a guest speaker, two more sessions, and a quick debriefing session to end the day. Throughout the first two weeks, we experienced a variety of professors teaching us business fundamentals like accounting, finance, marketing, and business analytics. We also learned special topics like Professional Development, Excel Modeling, Career Planning, Productivity in a Remote World, and Photoshop and Presentation Skills. With such a wide range of coverage, we truly felt like we learned at least one completely new thing in each session. Not only did the variety help foster our learning, but each session was very interactive. Students were constantly encouraged to participate in group discussions throughout the sessions, whether it be in a large group or breakout rooms, which helped us learn from both the professors and one another. 

During the final week of the program, we were encouraged to apply all the skills and knowledge we gained from the first two weeks in order to create a pitch deck, a brief presentation describing our business plan. We were broken into teams to work as entrepreneurs creating our own unique and innovative service or product. This was a great opportunity to collaborate with a group of 5-6 students from other colleges and universities. In just 3.5 days, we went from ideation to presentation. It was very rewarding to see how we applied the knowledge learned in the previous weeks to collaborative problem solving in our 5-minute pitch deck and business model canvas. Once all the pitches were successfully delivered and we had completed the program, we were all encouraged to say, “I’m an Entrepreneur,” because now we are!

We both found the Bootcamp’s mentorship program to be a special part of the experience. Furman had reached out to 42 different professionals and matched each bootcamp participant to one mentor based on career interests. This was a great opportunity to learn the value of connections and also be able to learn from an individual currently working in the business world. Creating these personal and professional connections furthered our educational experience within the program, and we are now fortunate enough to have these everlasting bonds.

Not only did we learn from our personal mentors, we also learned from the daily guest speakers. We had the opportunity to hear from business professionals in other industries that may not have matched our career interests, or that we had no previous knowledge of.  We were able to further extend our network and learn about the different career paths.

The Program directors and professors commonly exclaimed “This is like drinking from a firehose!” Some days definitely felt this way. We never imagined we could learn so much and also apply our newfound knowledge in only 3 weeks! At the end of the program there was a virtual graduation, where we received our official business and entrepreneurship certificates.  This experience has opened our eyes to all the possible careers in the business world. Being rising juniors and not knowing exactly what we want to do after graduation, this program helped us learn more about all the opportunities out there. It helped each of us find new interests and directions with what we each potentially may want to do with our lives in the future. 

We also learned many skills that we plan to, and already have, applied in our lives. One of the biggest takeaways was the importance of reaching out to people and making meaningful and lasting connections. We have taken advantage of the many great and insightful professors and guest speakers from the program and have already reached out and connected with some. It is amazing how much you can learn from others and how willing people are to take the time to help you.

We would definitely recommend this program to any Davidson student who is not only interested in building on the foundations of business and entrepreneurship, but also looking for an unforgettable and rewarding educational experience!

Kendall Bushick ’22 (left) and Sam Cascio ’22 (right)

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My Unforgettable Experience at the Furman Business and Entrepreneurship Bootcamp

By Tanya Nair ’19

My experience at the Furman Business and Entrepreneurship Bootcamp was unforgettable. I had no background in finance, business, or accounting and was quite intimidated about how I would be able to take in new “businessy” information in a short, three-week period. I was surprised to see that every session was designed thoughtfully and built on the previous session. The sessions ensured that novel business, accounting, leadership, and marketing concepts are introduced and explained in a way that they were easily understood by all students regardless of their majors. The program also had a pitch competition at the end, which required the students to work in teams on a business idea and present it to a group of potential investors at the end of the program. This part of the program enabled us to apply the information we gathered during our sessions to real life problems. It also trained us on how to give a business pitch.

The most unique part about the boot camp was that we had a new guest speaker, almost every day. The speakers were amazing entrepreneurs or what we called disruptors that were changing the game in their fields. It was deeply inspiring to get to meet these entrepreneurs and learn about their lives and their struggles. It was empowering to see how they overcame challenges in their businesses and created something valuable. Their stories of not giving up created a deep impact in how I viewed the success and failure of a business and taught me the importance of resilience.

I went to the boot camp within three weeks of graduating college and did not regret a minute of having to study again! The content was very well planned, the readings were relevant and interesting, the professors were engaging, the students built a great community and environment that fostered learning, and the entrepreneur mentors shared inspiring stories that highlighted how entrepreneurs doubt themselves and how they can overcome their limitations to be successful. I am grateful for the learning experience I received.

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Davidson College Prepares Us to Change the World

By Natalie Naticchia ’23

Coming into Davidson as a first year, lots is left open-ended…your major, your career path, and the first steps you take to finding those important answers. It is normal, and natural to feel as though you transitioned from being a big fish in a small pond in high school, to now a small fish in the big new pond of Davidson College. How do you navigate this new “normal”? On top of schoolwork, sports practices, and trying to find a new social circle, it is easy for your future career endeavors to take the back burner. After all, it is four long years away – right?

I quickly discovered that Davidson’s mission was not only to create creative, open-minded, and strong students – but to also prepare us to change the world. It is no surprise that Davidson alumni have gone on to have successful careers, and ultimately, change the world. From the close relationships you develop with professors, to the lessons that are preached through my coaches, and the group work I do with fellow students in the library – it is about more than getting a high GPA, getting an A in the course, or memorizing information to regurgitate on an exam. It is about learning. True learning. It is about being curious, being engaged, and finding that when you sit down to find answers-most of the time you end up with more questions. These values are not only standard but are celebrated!

On top of this environment created by the college as a whole, I was introduced to the Center for Career Development (CCD) rather early through Career Advantage, a program run by Josh King, the Assistant Director for Athletic Career Development. The CCD’s mission is obvious: to prepare students for a successful future and pave the way during their time at Davidson. It can be hard to understand where to start in developing your career path. What are the first steps, when are the appropriate times to take them, and how do I know what I am doing is right? The CCD never hesitated in answering these questions. It was easy to make appointments with the office, where I could sit down with someone who would help me construct a powerful resume specific to my experiences, create a polished LinkedIn account, or find career events and opportunities that were tailored to me. The passion the CCD has for helping students is authentic, contagious, and inspiring. Never have I left their office defeated, but rather inspired, that I am on track to pave a successful career path for myself.

During this climate of chaos, the workforce is facing inevitable consequences. Instead of shying away from this, the Center for Career Development tackled it head on. To enhance the Career Advantage programming during these times, Josh thought it would be beneficial to create the position of Career Advantage Ambassadors: a role that promotes career events-from student, to student. I have been privileged to work as a Career Advantage Ambassador, along with 4 other student-athletes, to market virtual career events hosted by the Center for Career Development. The college as a whole, and more specifically the Center for Career Development, have done an incredible job in supporting students through this stressful time, and making sure none of their questions go unanswered. As a Career Advantage Ambassador, and a student-athlete at Davidson College, I am proud of the reaction that the Davidson community has had during this time.

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How to Invest When Market Fails

By Dimitrios Chavouzis ’21

People often don’t realize that yourself is the only stock you pretty much have to stick with. Thus, while markets fail and stocks lose their value, it is time to use all this extra time we have to increase our value. 

There are a lot of ways to work on your professional skills during quarantine. From getting certified on LinkedIn, to signing up for online courses you like, to even working on some personal projects you are passionate about, quarantine has given everybody enough time to improve and grow from this situation. Here is a list of things that will help you get more “marketable” and get you out of a potentially boring daily routine. 

  • Start the project you always thought about but never actually implemented. Having a creative personal project that you are passionate about in your resume is more important than what you might think.  
  • Get certified over LinkedIn. Find skills that apply to your dream job and get certified on them.  It might take some time to prepare for the test but at the end of the day it will totally be worth it. 
  • Sign up for the online class you always wanted to take but never had time for. Yes, you might have to pay some money and you will need to do some work. However, you get to do something productive and you end up with a credit or a certificate too.  You will be surprised how many prestigious certificates are out there waiting for you to find them. 

Life in quarantine isn’t easy. However, it is up to us to use it as creatively and productively as we can, in order to get as much out of it as we possibly can. We can either finish all the Netflix and Disney+ shows, or we can improve and grow from it. Turns out that your stock’s value can increase even when the market is failing. 

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It’s OK to Not Be (Traditionally) Productive

by Emma Blake ’20

Embedded within the majority of Davidson students is a drive for productivity. Whether this takes the form of academics, athletics, political organizing or something else, we as a student body work hard to output the very best in our specific fields and interests. It’s difficult to succeed at Davidson without being productive; it’s part of our lifestyle.

So, what happens when our sense of normalcy is overturned? Will this productivity, so ingrained within us, continue? Is it even fair to expect our motivation to return while we’re adapting to the new normal of life in a pandemic?

During my first week at home in quarantine, I composed a detailed schedule for myself. It involved daily Zoom classes, homework, GRE prep, workouts, reading, and professional development. It’s been about a month now since I outlined that original schedule. Truthfully, it hasn’t stuck. And I’ve started to come to terms with that being okay.

Since the world seemingly turned upside down and people everywhere hunkered down to quarantine and social distance, there has been immense pressure to take advantage of our free time and use it for productive outcomes. As a Davidson student accustomed to partially measuring my worth in academic productivity and success, it’s difficult not to be inundated by a constant internal dialogue telling me I need to write a Spanish paper, run 5 miles, and apply to 2 jobs each day in order to make the best use of my time. But this is not true. There are different kinds of productivity, and it’s more than okay to focus your spare time on what makes you happy, instead of what makes you feel traditionally productive.

 This is a really difficult time. Some of us are grappling with losing our last semester at Davidson or our opportunity to study abroad. Others are adjusting to life in a home environment that might not be healthy or safe. I’ve found that sometimes the most “productive” things we can do are activities that bring us peace or make us laugh. Yes, try your best to keep up with online classes and assignments, but recognize that it’s also okay to use your time to bake banana bread or bagels, binge watch The Office, and FaceTime your friends. We’re Davidson students and I’m confident that we will regain our motivation and academic productivity soon – as I said before, it’s embedded within us. For right now though, it’s okay to use our time to do whatever makes us feel happiest and healthiest.

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Some homemade bagels! There’s a quick and easy recipe here: https://www.skinnytaste.com/easy-bagel-recipe/