In praise of students who organize successful career events
Reflecting on my recent speaking engagement at Toronto Metropolitan University
Many organizations invite me to speak at their professional events. I am especially impressed by university students who organize a networking seminar for their fellow students - and execute it well. It takes a lot of time and energy to
find a venue
order the food
recruit the speakers
advertise the event
create a registration system
collect the speakers’ abstracts and biographical sketches
prepare the PowerPoint presentation
set up the audio and visual equipment
moderate the seminar
troubleshoot any problems along the way
It is important to note that some of these organizers do not actually attend the event itself (or have to miss a portion of it). They must guide the attendees to the correct room and welcome the attendees at the registration desk. To the best of my knowledge, they do all of this work without financial compensation.
Earlier this year, I spoke at Toronto Metropolitan University’s Math Career Networking Night. I was impressed by the professionalism and dedication of the student organizers - especially because the other speakers had to cancel at the last minute. Despite these unforeseen circumstances, the organizers adjusted their logistics and still made the event meaningful for everyone - including me. The students asked thoughtful questions after my presentation, and they continued their inquisitiveness in our networking discussions.
I also appreciated the abundance of healthy food that was available to all attendees. Often, these events serve pizza, which is generally not healthy. Because I ate their healthy sandwiches ahead of my seminar, I was ready to speak with energy and sharp articulation.
While I applaud the good intentions of all students who volunteer their time to organize these events, I have occasionally attended some poorly executed events. Thus, when a group of students do a good job, I notice.
If you are a student who benefits from such an event, please take the time to thank the organizers. A quick thank-you email or hand-written card would mean a lot to them.
I commend Viri Nguyen, Jack Shen, Anoushka Patel, Ashton Singh, and Jasmine Sodhi for their successful execution of this event. I look forward to learning about their progress in their careers.