Monday, January 19, 2009

Business Communications Networking Event





The Business department at Loyola University hosted a networking event that included the professors of the College of Business, the executive mentors, and all of the students enrolled in the class Business Communications.  This event gave the students an opportunity to learn how to network with business professionals from our community.  Beforehand we practiced introductions, handshakes, how to dress, and proper etiquette.  

During the event, I had the pleasure to meet five business professionals.  The first professional that I met was Mr. Jude Boudreaux, Director of Financial Planning for Bellingrath Wealth Management.  Mr. Boudreaux is an alumni of Loyola University, where he received his undergraduate degree and MBA.  He was impressed with our firm "business" handshakes and began to tell us how first impressions are extremely important.  The second professional I met was Mr. Eric Morgan of Morgan and Company.  Mr. Morgan owns his own marketing firm in New Orleans, LA.  We shared in common that we both grew up in the same neighborhood in New Orleans, however now he lives uptown in New Orleans.  The third professional I met with was Professor Thomas Hickman, the Assistant Professor of Marketing for Loyola University New Orleans.  Professor Hickman went to school in Iowa and just recently moved to New Orleans.  He encouraged us to keep an open mind about choosing our majors, because as Freshman, we have much to learn and life can lead us in many different directions.  The fourth professional I met was Mr. John Zollinger, Regional Manager and Senior Vice-President of Regions bank.  Earlier in the year, he had given us a helpful presentation on finance.  During this meeting he spoke of how important it is to be self-motivated.  The people who are self-motivated are the ones who are most likely to succeed in business.  He also pointed out that management is a psychology because you deal with many different types of people that are motivated in different ways.  As a manager, it is his job to satisfy his employees and accomplish work.  Mr. Zollinger strongly suggested taking a psychology class in order to understand many different people.  The final professional I met with that evening was Mr. Brian Gueniot, in the business of consulting.  Mr. Gueniot has a masters degree in mathematics and was previously a high school teacher in Houma, LA.  Now, Mr. Gueniot lives in Metairie, LA where he owns a consulting agency.  Mr. Gueniot meets with different people in business to teach them how to use their talents to achieve goals and maximize their potential in their industry.

During the networking event, one skill that I did well was having a positive attitude and confidence.  Although I was in the room with many professional men and women, I walked in the room with the mind set that I have the tools I need in order to succeed.  I learned in class and throughout life that if you have a positive attitude it is easier to accomplish more.  I was aware that these professionals want us to succeed and have much experience and valuable information to share.  With every professional I met I became more confident and comfortable.

However, in the future, one thing that I could work on is keeping a conversation going and asking more questions.  Each professional I met was unique, some were more open and willing to talk than others.  For the professionals that were not as open I need to work on keeping the conversation going and ask more questions in order for them to open up.

A business professional that I look up to is Steve Jobs (pictured above).  Steve Jobs is the CEO of Apple, which he co-founded in 1976.  Apple has revolutionized computers, the music industry, and its latest achievement the iPhone, which is revolutionizing cell phones.  I look up to him because he organized a creative team that has many accomplishments that can be backed up by many awards.  Steve Jobs is also the co-founder of Pixar animations, which has also earned 20 Academy Awards and has grossed over $4 billion.  Steve Jobs helped to create two innovative companies that think outside of the box in order to get results. 

I came across a website that is helpful for networking tips and discusses ways to have a positive attitude and helpful tips for networking.
 

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