Through the program, soon-to-be graduates are able to observe a typical day in the life of businesspeople and gain firsthand interactions in a professional setting.
“If it weren’t for the Alumni Shadowing Program, I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to meet with Carla Conde, vice president of communications at Discovery Networks Latin America,” said Estefania Perez Cuellar ’16. “The single day I spent shadowing her opened a door for me.”
Perez Cuellar’s shadowing experience turned into an internship, and she is currently exploring the opportunity to be employed by the company.
“The day Estefania shadowed me, she joined me for a strategic planning meeting and was able to get a 360-degree view of what our day-to-day business is all about,” said Conde ’94. “Working with Estefania has helped me understand how the university is preparing students for the workforce, and how I can help reinforce their education with real-world examples and experience.”
Since the Alumni Shadowing Program’s launch in January 2015, Career Connections has paired nearly a dozen students and alumni for similar opportunities. Other participating corporations include Jarden Consumer Solutions, ADT Security Services, Party City and Office Depot.
“At the moment, our main focus is in South Florida,” said Natalie Capiro, Career Connections’ student development coordinator. “We have had great success working closely with our alumni in Florida. The insight these alumni are able to share with our current students is invaluable. We believe in this program, and we are hopeful that with continued support from our alumni, we will grow the shadowing program to national and international levels.”