Business Bermuda Hosts Most Successful College Student Networking Event to Date!

23 July 2011

Hamilton, 23rd July 2011 – Business Bermuda is very excited to have held the 13th Annual College Student Networking Event (CSNE) on Thursday 21^st July at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess hotel. As promised, Business Bermuda delivered the most successful event to date with over 250 students and over 300 local professionals in attendance.

The event kicked off at 4 p.m. with an exhibition of 35 booths representing a wide variety of the career opportunities available in Bermuda. Professionals in government, accounting, law, finance, banking, insurance, the medical field, education, engineering, social services, IT, hospitality, and many more came out and not only provided career advice and a variety of goodies, but the unique experience for students to network with some of the movers and shakers of our community.

Ms. Cheryl Packwood, CEO of Business Bermuda said, “Too often much of the attention surrounding Bermuda’s youth is overwhelmingly negative. It was such a delight to be surrounded by over 250 of Bermuda’s brilliant future workforce. Many of the business professionals were pleasantly surprised to find that such a pool of high quality students are not only here in Bermuda but are seeking to make a positive contribution to their island home.”

She continued, “This type of interaction is exactly why Business Bermuda makes the effort to host this event every year. Not only do we want the students to have a launching pad for success but we want the professional community to know and understand what Bermuda’s future has to offer. The CSNE was even more successful than I originally imagined, and I can’t wait to see what next year has to offer.”

The exhibition was followed by two career seminars. The first, Targeting the Top: Winning Ways for College and Career, presented by Ms. Kim Fish of Ivy Consulting, provided students with valuable information on how to leverage their education for future success. The second, Workplace Success is no Accident: Those at the Top Didn’t Fall There, presented by Ms. Shirley Nosakhere-Fountain, provided the students with instruction on how to succeed in the workplace once hired.

In providing advice for the students based on her personal experience, Ms. Nosakhere-Fountain said, “The only option I was given was that failure is not an option.” This is a testament to what the students can achieve if they refuse to accept anything less than excellence.

“I really liked the event and thought it was a good thing because I don't know of many other events like the CSNE for me to go to. I learned that when you want to do something, sometimes you just have to do it, or make it happen for yourself, even if it's not necessarily there for you to do,” remarked student networker, Ms. Rehana Packwood.

Following the career seminars came a very exciting round of speed networking. Each student was given the opportunity to speak one on one with 10 business professionals. His Excellency Sir Richard Gozney, KCMG, CVO, KStJ and Premier The Honorable Paula Cox, JP, MP were just two of the notable participants that students had the opportunity to network with. From CEOs to junior lever associates, the spectrum of Bermuda’s business community was represented at this year’s event.

One speed networker said that she was not expecting to meet the high caliber of students that she met and was overwhelmingly impressed, so much so that she gave out all of her business cards.

Ms. Lauren Mahoney of HSBC said, “It is the best event of the year. We have been involved for several years, and it just gets better and better.  The students are more prepared and enthusiastic, and the scope just gets more polished.”

“The speed networking was actually fun.  I was very impressed by the drive and the polish of the students I spoke with,” said Mr. William Maycock of Winchester Global Trust Ltd.

Mr. Bill Madeiros of  Freisenbruch-Meyer Group had this to say, “We were happy to be included in this event.  The quality of the students was mind-blowing. I am very happy I have reached the stage of my career that I won’t have to be competing for jobs with this stellar group of students!”

Volunteer, Ms. Schinel Outerbridge, expressed her thoughts about the event, “I am very glad that I had the opportunity to volunteer at the event this year. I think it was a very positive experience for the students as they had the opportunity to meet potential employers and make new business connections. The students are highly competitive, and it is obvious that many of them will go very far in life. I’m looking forward to next year already.”

The competition for prizes was fierce, and Business Bermuda will be announcing the winners in the first week of August, following the Cup Match holiday. Business Bermuda again is very thankful for the many companies, organizations, and individuals that sponsored the event, exhibited, and participated as speed networkers. A special congratulation is also in order for all the students that attended and made this year’s event a huge success. All the students were highly commendable and, if possible, next year’s event has the potential to be even bigger and better.

About Business Bermuda

Business Bermuda is a business organization of Bermuda resident service providers that provide quality banking, legal, accounting, re/insurance, financial, trust, management and e-commerce services and products to the international client. The organization works with the private sector and Government to develop and promote the island as one of the world’s foremost centers for international business.

 

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