Although the Breen Center is available for student appointments to help build professional skills or offer career advice, another incredibly helpful resource the Breen Center offers is its variety of presentations, panels, and job fairs throughout each semester. 

These events usually feature guests from local businesses, and often alumni, who can offer their perspective on career-related topics and lend insight into the professional world as well as their specific field. This creates the perfect opportunity for students to practice networking skills and foster professional connections in a welcoming, unintimidating environment while learning about aspects of the industry or field of their choice.

Recently, the Breen Center hosted Northwestern Mutual for a presentation titled “Leadership in a Changing World: Ask the Leaders with Northwestern Mutual.”  This event focussed primarily on the value of leadership qualities and skills to practice to enhance those qualities. 

Sophomore international business major Ghada Mostafa attended the event and shared her reaction to the presentation. 

“The biggest takeaway from the presentation is not to be afraid to look for opportunities,” Mostafa said. “An employee should always ask questions and explore ways to grow. When an individual is new in an organization, they should feel welcomed. However, to feel welcomed, leaders have to create an inclusive workplace.”

Mostafa also recounted the importance of specific characteristics in leaders, as explained in the presentation from Northwestern Mutual. Although managerial qualities such as organization and time-management are critical, the ability to understand and work through difficult emotions is a skill that sets leaders apart from the rest of the pack. 

“Leaders have to be patient, focused, and committed,” Mostafa said. “The most important characteristic of a leader is having emotional intelligence. I would have never thought that would be more important than other managerial components.” 

Events such as these also give students the chance to learn about employee relations within companies. Many students do not realize that the dynamic between employee and boss can be positive and even friendly. The chance to observe healthy working relationships within a real company is crucial for students to see the type of work environment they would want to enter versus what kind of environment is unhealthy. 

“I realized that bosses are not big and scary; they are, in fact, people just like you and me,” Mostafa said. “I was amazed by the way the leader interacted with his peers. In movies, employees are scared to speak a word to their boss. However, the opposite occurred throughout the Zoom call. Everyone seemed comfortable with one another, and I think that is how a business continues to succeed and attract employees.” 

Mostafa is looking forward to attending more events hosted by the Breen Center, and would like to encourage other students to take the same action to help prepare themselves for the future. 

“Other students should consider attending events like these because they open up their eyes to many aspects of life,” Mostafa said. “It allows people to think differently by listening to diverse people who hold different positions in society.”

Of course, it can be difficult to take time out of a busy schedule for presentations throughout the week. However, making time for even just one event can give you some perspective and help further your success later on in your career. 

“Put yourself out there!” Mostafa said. “Attend as many events as possible. Yes, you are busy; however, just a small 30-minute break can change your perception of ‘real life’ topics.”

Information about future Breen Center events can be found at https://www.lvc.edu/our-graduates/breen-center/.