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Highlights of the 2010 Emerging Leaders Leadership Development Conference
The Emerging Leaders 2010 Leadership Development Conference took place on Saturday,
July 10 through Monday, July 12, 2010 in New York, NY. Saturday and Sunday's activities
were hosted by Pearson, Inc. at their New York City headquarters on Avenue of the
Americas.
The conference began with welcoming remarks from Francine Rosado-Cruz, US Diversity
Manager for Pearson, Inc. and an overview from Lana Smart of NBDC on what Emerging
Leader participants could expect during the weekend. After brief introductions from
the Emerging Leaders, the sessions began.
Taylor Woodard, an Emerging Leader Alumni from Class of 2008, began by enlightening
students with tips on "Making the Most of Your Internship". Ms. Woodard provided
them with excellent information on how to be viewed as a "Star Intern" and the importance
of valuing the internship as an opportunity not just a summer job. She also stressed
how viewing the internship as a 10 week interview would most likely keep interns
on track and on their best behavior. Following Ms. Woodard, Tina Caterino of Prudential
presented on "Business Etiquette". Ms. Caterino provided tips on
· Using Good communication
which is the key to developing successful relationships at work, · Dealing with conflict
in the workplace, · Striving to be thoughtful and appreciative, · Using Magic Words
such as · Please, Thank You, Good Job!, · Avoiding Distracting Behaviors such as loud
conversations when standing near someone's desk, · Using Common/Shared Areas with
Courtesy and Respect such as an office eating area, · Keeping your personal workplace
clean and neat, · Being Punctual, · Avoiding gossip, · Being mindful of Personal Appearance/
Hygiene, · Being careful of Body language and non-verbal messages, · Respecting personal
space, · Meeting and greeting tips such as standing to greet someone and using a firm
handshake. Guidance was also provided on participating in business lunches and after
work activities.
Following a short break, Robin Adelstein of UBS presented on "Interviewing & Resume
Writing" stressing the value of accurate resumes and the importance of learning
interview skills and implementing them during an interview. In addition, Ms. Adelstein
walked interns through Interviewing Do's and Don'ts; including tips such as
do not be late for an interview and dress professionally, reminding them that first impressions
matter and can be a deciding factor whether or not someone gets the job. Next, Carolyn
Zimatore of Penguin Group (USA) Inc. presented on "Effective Networking" and discussed
three ways to network effectively through Informational interviews by initiating
conversations such as asking about a person's career path, what they like most about
the job/industry and what they can share with someone interested in the same field;
Networking by attending social and formal workplace events; and Networking online
by using LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter in a professional manner. She also urged
students to be mindful of photos and other material they might have posted on their
personal Facebook accounts which are available to the public, knowing that prospective
employers may research a candidate before interviewing them.
Next on the conference agenda, Karen Lapidos, of Financial Times (Pearson, Inc.)
addressed students with a very interactive and informative presentation on
"Dealing with Difficult People". Using positive reinforcement, Ms. Lapidos played clips of
songs that related to her message. Song titles were the jumping off points for the
discussion of challenging situations and ways of addressing effectively and professionally.
After a short break, Roberta Zito of KPMG, presented on "Managing Priorities". Ms.
Zito began with a short introduction to managing priorities by defining that it
is about taking responsibility for being as effective as possible at work. She then
provided guidance on how interns can decide what to do first, how to manage interruptions,
on manage the expectations of others, and keep a learning log.
Later in the afternoon, Judy Young of Cornell University spoke to students on "Understanding
Your Rights and Responsibilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act." Mrs.
Young elaborated on the importance of knowing when and how to disclose, if they
decide to do so, and how to respectfully request a reasonable accommodation should
Later in the afternoon, Judy Young of Cornell University spoke to students on
“Understanding Your Rights and Responsibilities under the Americans with
Disabilities Act”. Mrs. Young elaborated on the importance of knowing
when and how to disclose, if they decide to do so, and how to respectfully
request a reasonable accommodation should one be needed.
Closing the day's sessions, Jonathan Glazer of Chartis Insurance presented on
“Delivering Effective Presentations” and modeled how presentations
should be delivered and the importance of paying attention to audience body
language. He discussed topics such as · Goal Setting, · Non Verbal Communication,
· Preparation and Planning, · Using Visual Aids, and · Handling Challenging Questions.
At the end of day one, NBDC staff discussed the case studies that would form the
basis for Sunday’s group work and interns’ subsequent presentations to business,
college/university, government and community leaders at Federal Reserve Bank of
New York on Monday.assure that milestones were met and that
groups were on track to present a powerful presentation appropriate to their audience.
On Monday, the final day of the Emerging Leaders Development Conference was hosted
at Federal Reserve Bank of New York located in the financial district in New York
City. Welcoming remarks began with Denise Koster of Human Resources for the Federal
Reserve Bank of New York and Deborah Perlmutter, Senior Vice President, Media Relations
& Public Affairs for the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and Executive Sponsor
of FedAbility; Edmund L. Cortez, President, Just One Break, Inc. and President and
CEO, Abilities!; and Lana Smart, Executive Director, Just One Break, Inc. The highlights
of the morning were powerful self-introductions from the Emerging Leaders Class
of 2010, followed by group case study presentations, and encouraging words from
Emerging Leader Alumni. Using PowerPoint presentations, the interns shared the results
of the Career Development and Marketing Case studies on which they worked the previous
day. Following their presentations, interns responded to questions and comments
from the audience. Emerging Leaders Alumni Anna Pakman, Camille Valentin and Taylor
Woodard candidly shared their experiences as interns and how they have proved beneficial
in launching their careers. To end the event, Emerging Leaders were presented with
a certificate by Edmund L. Cortez who congratulated them on their participation
in the Emerging Leaders program.
Special thanks to Pearson, Inc. and Federal Reserve Bank of New York for hosting
these important events and for their ongoing support to the National Business &
Disability Council and the Emerging Leaders program.
 Click to
see the highlights of the 2009 Conference
Past conference highlights:
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