NEWS EDITOR – ASHTON JEFFERS
ORIGINALLY PRINTED ON NOV 15 2023
The Business Week Experience is a week-long event held annually at St. Mary’s University that allows students interested in business opportunities to connect with leaders from the business community and those leading in civic engagement. In honor of the legacy of the Greehey School of Business, the Business Week Experience began in 1975 to have students experience moderated panels, discussions, workshops, lectures and presentations outside of a classroom setting. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Greehey School of Business, established in 1923 and continuing strong with a business-focused education. Business Week included panels with established business leaders in the community and beyond, concluding with an awards ceremony to recognize the achievements of students, faculty and staff who uphold a business mindset engaged with the values of St. Mary’s and who incorporated ethical business practices.
The purpose of this year’s business week is to honor the traditions of the Greehey Business School while being sure to innovate the sessions and opportunities for students to reflect on the changes in the business world and the surrounding community. Inviting top business leaders from all over gives students a broader perspective of how their own unique experiences in the business world can make a lasting impact during their time learning and growing at St. Mary’s. The Business Week Experience is made possible by guest speakers, attendees and faculty at St. Mary’s along with the many corporate sponsors that contribute to the learning experience and connect students with future career opportunities that align with their interests. Several of the guest speakers include alumni who have ventured into the business world and found ways to give back to their alma mater.
Business Week kicked off on Tuesday, Oct. 24, with the LaQuinta Keynote Lecture: The Future of Work, the Workforce, and Workplaces: The Next Decade and Beyond. The guest speaker was Amar Maletira, Chief Executive Officer at Rackspace Technology. Tuesday’s sessions focused on the future of the workplace and how businesses expand and evolve their services depending on the needs of the community. Kim Jefferies, President and Chief Executive Officer for Haven for Hope, shared in the following session why they desire to do good work in the communities they serve and how that makes the business a stronger and more effective environment.
Business Week hosted events that allowed students to take the initiative of practicing a business mindset while incorporating ways to have fun. The following Tuesday afternoon, students gathered in the Alkek Business building to host a professional wear fashion show. The Fashion Show: Dress to Impress–The Professional Dos and Don’ts in the Business World event had students show off their best business attire suited for an average workday or job interview and walk the runway. Combining an activity like a fashion show and creating a way to get students involved made an engaging environment that everyone could enjoy. Students learned more about how fashion applies to the business world and what to wear when unsure of what employers are looking for. Other topics for sessions included community engagement, the future of business workplaces and incorporating one’s faith in the workplace. With an introduction by Jason King, Ph.D., the Director of Catholic Studies, the lecture highlighted how it is becoming increasingly necessary for individuals to find ways to combine their faith with their work ethic. Kathleen Gushoney, Managing Director of Enterprise Risk Management at Charles Schwab, shared ways to practice faith throughout the workday. Gushoney shared that while technology and development were important, people are also needed in the workforce. Bringing a sense of humility and understanding to the job has become extremely important to establishing connections with coworkers, clients and upper management. As a Catholic Marianist university, students at St. Mary’s were able to relate to many of the words Gushoney shared about incorporating ways that the workforce can change in ways that support other individuals and organizations.
The Business Week Experience does not stop there for events through the Greehey School of Business. To see other upcoming events hosted through the School of Business, check out /www.stmarytx.edu/ academics/business/events. To learn about ways to support the future Business Week Experience, visit the link www.stmarytx. edu/academics/business/events/businessweek/sponsor/.