A group of MBA students from American University’s Kogod School of Business recently attended the National Black MBA Association’s (NBMBAA) conference and exposition in Philadelphia, according to a press release. The annual event featured top-executive speakers, educational sessions about leadership and financial prosperity, a career expo, and an opportunity to rub elbows and network.
Kogod MBA Brittany Osazuwa attended the conference and said it was chance to expand on what she’s learned in the classroom. “NBMBAA’s programming built on the academic work that I’ve done,” she said. “It allowed me to apply my knowledge to a real-life situation.”
Her trip was made possible by Kogod’s Educational Enhancement Fund (EEF), which was established in Summer 2017 as a monetary resource for professional development for Kogod business students. The Fund allows students to pursue opportunities and passions outside of the classroom through case competitions, networking, or attending a conference.
Students apply online by pitching how their chosen opportunity will enrich their education. If selected, student are granted monetary compensation to carry out their stated endeavors.
“We want to give students a chance to explore their interests and their professional goals,” Andrew Toczydlowski, Director of Student Development and Services, said. “Ultimately, the EEF helps students find internships and jobs. It exposes them to employers that the KCCD isn’t able to bring to campus.”
Zoe Bludevich was another MBA who attended the NBMBAA conference. “This experience gave me the opportunity to meet with over 300 employers,” she said. “I was able to make meaningful connections and gain a ton of career leads.”
The Fund doesn’t pay for each event entirety, but Toczydlowski says that most employers are willing to to cover remaining expenses EEF-sponsored events, meaning that the majority of students end up paying little to nothing out-of-pocket.
“Students have really been able to leverage other resources as a result of the Fund,” Toczydlowski says.
The Kogod Center for Career Development (KCCD) and the Kogod Center for Business Communications (KCBC) are other Kogod entities that participate in EEF. Other EEF-sponsored professional development opportunities include the US Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s case competition for MBA students.