Day two of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) Workforce Development Summit exposed participants to high-quality programming.
In the morning main stage presentation, students received inspiration and learned about the conference expectations from Chief Programs Director Tamara Thompson.
“You are history makers,” Thompson said. “Thurgood Marshall is a true history maker in his own right. When he saw an opportunity, he went for it.”
Thompson said the key to making the most of the week is to ask questions, network and be OK with being uncomfortable.
She also shared an inspiring story about a student who makes the Workforce Development Summit special to her. That student graduated high school, went to college, did well the first year but when the bill came for the second year, realized he didn’t have the resources. That student then served in the Army for four years, utilized funds from the GI BIll to complete his associate degree in computer engineering technology and is now the principal network security engineer at a major apparel company. Thompson revealed that the student was her husband.
Thompson used the story to illustrate that many people start on a path but have to pivot. She emphasized that in those cases, it’s not an ending but a beginning.
“Let this week be the start of your life journey,” she said.
Students also received information about the LifeJourney app and played a Kahoot! game to learn more about the conference guidebook.
At the lunch main stage presentation, students heard from corporate partners during a panel about future-ready strategies. Session topics included lifelong learning, mentorship and overcoming barriers. Participants engaged in a Q&A session with panelists, as well.
During the evening main stage presentation, participants learned about professional etiquette. Topics included executive presence, fine dining and networking. TMCF also unveiled Dr. Pearl L. Johnson, an artificial intelligence executive presence coach. Dr. Pearl answered questions about good nutrition, good financial habits and starting a new job.
Participants also competed in a round of executive presence Jeopardy, where teams answered questions designed to increase their knowledge of projected confidence and poise. A conversation about adapting to and using artificial intelligence closed out day two of the inaugural Workforce Development Summit.
