Pathways to Purpose: Shaping Careers with Impact
Pathways to Purpose: Shaping Careers with Impact is an empowering summit designed to help Scholars navigate their career journey with clarity and confidence. Through engaging keynote sessions, interactive workshops, and a dynamic panel, participants will explore how to build leadership skills, effectively search for jobs and internships, and integrate AI into their academic and professional lives. Scholars will gain practical tools to strengthen their applications, sharpen their networking skills, and prepare for tech-integrated roles across industries. With added experiences like professional headshots and access to free career-ready attire, this summit offers both inspiration and tangible support. The event also emphasizes the importance of personal branding and showing up with confidence in any professional setting.
Scholar Summit Focus 2025
1. Purpose-Driven Career Planning: Scholars will gain clarity on their personal and professional goals, explore diverse career pathways, and develop actionable plans to transition confidently from campus to career.
2. Essential Tools for Career Readiness: Through breakout sessions and hands-on workshops, attendees will strengthen key skills in leadership, job search strategy, networking, and effective use of AI and technology in academic and professional spaces.
3. Professional Identity and Industry Exposure: From headshots and curated professional clothing to guidance on industry-specific expectations and tech-integrated roles, the summit will help scholars show up with confidence, authenticity, and readiness to thrive in any workplace.
Agenda
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Join us for a morning networking session over breakfast, where you can also get professional headshots taken. Sign up for a slot to enhance your professional profile with a high-quality photo. Slots are limited and will be available on a first-come, first-served basis, so be sure to register early to secure your spot. Don’t miss this opportunity!
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This session will empower you to see yourself as a leader now, not later, and show how confidence, initiative, and growth mindset can shape your journey.
By the end of this session, scholars will be able to:
Recognize leadership qualities that employers value in early-career professionals.
Understand how to develop and demonstrate leadership through school, internships, and service.
Gain motivation from a real-life leadership journey and apply key takeaways to their own goals.
Reflect on their unique strengths and how to position them during job and internship interviews.
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This is a break for scholars to walk over to the breakout sessions and grab some snacks and or any bathroom breaks.
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Landing the Opportunity: Internship & Job Search Strategies for Students and Recent Grads
Searching for internships or jobs after college can feel frustrating especially when you’re not hearing back. This session will provide students and recent grads with practical tools to find opportunities, strengthen applications, and build a strong network. We’ll also discuss how to stay motivated and resilient through rejections and delays, helping you move forward with confidence.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this session, scholars will be able to:
Identify effective strategies for finding internships and entry-level job opportunities.
Understand how to tailor a resume and cover letter for specific roles.
Learn the importance of networking and how to leverage campus resources, LinkedIn, and alumni connections.
Develop techniques for staying positive and resilient during the job search, especially when facing rejection or delays in hearing back.
Create a simple action plan to stay organized, motivated, and focused on long-term career goals.
How to Effectively Use AI in Career
Learning Objectives:
• Develop the awareness and understanding that one's subsequent step post-education does not always necessitate an immediate commitment to a specific career path.
• Gain an in-depth understanding of the various post-undergraduate school options available.
• Explore the value and relevance of obtaining certificates during the transitional phase from college to a career.
• Develop informed decision-making skills to choose the most suitable option based on individual goals and aspirations.
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Connect with fellow scholars and professionals to form meaningful relationships. Discover our Career Closet, where you can select professional attire and accessories to enhance your career journey.
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Your outfit is often part of your first impression and knowing what’s expected in different industries can boost your confidence during interviews and internships. This session, in partnership with A Wider Circle and My Career Closet, explores how clothing choices can reflect professionalism in various settings, from nonprofits to corporate offices to creative roles. The goal isn’t to change who you are but rather it’s to help you feel prepared and empowered to show up as your best self. After the session, you’ll have the chance to browse a curated collection of free professional clothing to help you build a wardrobe that works for you.
Learning Objectives:
By the end of this session, Scholars will be able to:
Understand how clothing can support confidence and communication in professional settings.
Explore how dress expectations may differ across industries and company cultures.
Identify ways to express individuality while aligning with professional norms.
Select clothing from the curated collection that supports their personal career goals and needs.
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You don’t have to be a coder or major in computer science to have a future in tech. In fact, there’s an IT angle in almost every field from healthcare and nonprofits to media, design, and beyond. This panel will break down the real-world roles in IT that aren’t always covered in the classroom and help you see how your degree, interests, and background can lead to exciting careers with a tech twist. You’ll hear from professionals across industries who’ve used IT to make an impact in surprising ways.
Learning Objectives:
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
Recognize how IT skills and roles show up in various industries, including health, nonprofit, and creative sectors.
Learn about different, lesser-known IT-related career paths beyond traditional tech jobs.
Understand how to leverage their current field of study in roles that include technology or data.
Gain insight into how to prepare for tech-integrated roles, even without a technical major.
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We're excited to announce that we'll Wrap up the day, share your takeaways, and celebrate with prize giveaways