Panthers Connect with Professionals

Pitt student-athletes connected with industry professionals and expanded their business communication skills at the annual Career Networking Night on Monday October 30th. Hosted by the Cathy and John Pelusi Family Life Skills Program at the Petersen Events Center, the program featured guided industry networking and open networking sessions for the student-athletes to both expand their abilities and develop professional relationships.

"This evening was another great opportunity for student-athletes to enhance their professional networks and drive their professional prospects further toward their desired outcomes," said Jackson Martin, Career Consultant for Student-Athletes. "They had a chance to connect with professionals in a wide range of industries, and I was incredibly proud of what they were able to accomplish through the event".

Over 130 networkers represented more than 70 organizations at the event, which featured a wide array of industries. This year, 7 Fortune 100® and 13 Fortune 500® firms were represented at the Petersen Events Center, as were five of the top 25 employers in the state of Pennsylvania in 2016, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry. Among the networkers were 58 alumni of the University of Pittsburgh, and 25 former student-athletes who returned to share their insights.

"The guided networking session was a great chance to connect outside of our comfort zones as we worked to meet the professionals during the time we were given" said redshirt junior football student-athlete Dennis Briggs. "Working on how to both smoothly introduce yourself and politely move on to another conversation is a really critical professional skill, and it was a great opportunity to demonstrate those skills to professionals in the careers and organizations we may want to join one day".

Having both a breadth of available industries and a strong contingent of Pitt alumni engaged in the program was essential to the Cathy and John Pelusi Family Life Skills Program staff. "It was fantastic to see such a broad range of industries represented tonight, and to have so many Pitt alumni come back is a fantastic part of this event" said Lisa Auld, Director of Life Skills. "We strive to make this event as impactful as we can for our student-athletes in terms of who they are able to connect with, and this year we feel that we were able to make that strong impact. It is a testament to how our student-athletes prepare and engage with professionals that this event has become so well regarded and well attended".

The event finished with an open networking session for student-athletes and professionals, and was a chance for more directed, and longer, conversations. "For us to be able to have both a more directed networking session, and then the chance to go back and re-connect with folks who we spoke with earlier in the night was a great part of the flow of things", said senior track and field student-athlete and Student-Athlete Advisory Committee Vice President Caroline DeFrank. "I really enjoyed being able to stretch beyond my specific field of interest, as well as getting to chat in more depth with some of the folks who I spoke with earlier in the evening."

Initiated in 1995 as one of the pilot programs of the NCAA's Student-Athlete Affairs Life Skills Program, the Cathy and John Pelusi Family Life Skills Program is committed to providing student-athletes an opportunity to prepare for success academically, athletically, and in their personal growth and development. To keep up with the program, follow @Pitt_LIFESKILLS on Twitter and Instagram.

Panthers Connect with Professionals

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