Global Diversity and Inclusion Banquet: Generational Diversity Guide by Fordham Career Center

Generational Diversity

Global Diversity and Inclusion Banquet Event Guide

WELCOME

GLOBAL DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION NETWORKING BANQUET

We are excited to welcome you to the 19th Annual Global Diversity & Inclusion Networking Banquet: Generational Diversity, where you will take an important step in your professional journey. The Career Center is dedicated to your growth and success, emphasizing care for the whole person and creating meaningful experiences that will shape your future. This event is more than just a gathering it's a unique opportunity to engage with professionals across generations, explore various career paths, and gain insights that will enrich your pursuit of meaningful work. Our commitment to your success is encapsulated in our tagline: Mission, Vision, Value, and Purpose We aim to help you envision a brighter future, realize your goals, and cultivate a life of impact, both personally and professionally.

As you navigate the evening, remember that your education at Fordham has equipped you with the skills to tackle challenges, adapt to change, and think creatively. This banquet celebrates the diverse experiences and perspectives that each generation brings to the table, fostering a collaborative environment where ideas can flourish. We encourage you to engage with attendees, ask questions, and share your unique insights. This is your chance to learn from industry leaders and build connections that will propel you toward your future career.

Our team is here to support you throughout the evening, so please don’t hesitate to reach out for assistance. We want to ensure that your experience at the banquet is both enriching and enjoyable. Enjoy the night, make meaningful connections, and take pride in the talent and perspectives you bring. We wish you all the best in your career exploration and are excited to see the incredible impact you will make in the world.

2024 GLOBAL DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION NETWORKING BANQUET AGENDA

5:30 pm - 6:00 pm Guests check-in

6:00 pm - 6:05 pm Welcoming Remarks - Annette McLaughlin, Director, Fordham Career Center

6:05 pm - 6:10 pm Introduction- Brittany Perez, Employer Relations Specialist | Equity & Inclusion

6:15 pm - 6:30 pm Huyen Lam, Manager, Retention Marketing, Paramount+

6:30 pm - 6:35 pm Invocation by Robert Parmach, PhD, Director, Ignatian Mission Initiatives, Office of the VP for Mission Integration and Ministry & Imam Ammar, Director of Muslim Life

6:35 pm-7:00 pm Community Buffet Dinner & Networking

7:00 pm-7:05 pm Deborah Adebanjo, Spoken Word Competition Winner

7:05 pm-7:20 pm Stephen Ball, Dean of Students, Harvard Law School

7:20 pm-8:00 pm Community Networking

8:00 pm-8:05 pm Closing Remarks

SIGNATURE PARTNERS

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

Huyen Lam is a proud Fordham University alumna from the Gabelli School of Business, Class of 2020 with a bachelor’s in Business Administration. Raised in the Bronx, Huey is currently still based in New York City. Huyen was a Fordham Career Ambassador with the Career Center, a Commuter Assistant, and a part of the Asian Cultural Exchange, during her time at Fordham. With a background in marketing, she previously worked at Dow Jones and currently specializes in lifecycle retention marketing at Paramount+. During her leisure time, Huyen enjoys crocheting, traveling to different places and trying new foods.

Stephen L. Ball

Stephen L. Ball is the Dean of Students at Harvard Law School. In this role, he heads an office that is responsible for promoting student well-being and support. This involves, among other responsibilities, creating enriching student programming, helping prepare students for the Bar application process, connecting students to resources across the school and university, mentoring individual students, and overseeing major campus events ranging from orientation to commencement. A licensed attorney, Stephen began his career in the New York office of a major law firm before moving to senior roles in insurance, technology, and financial services. Proudly born and raised in Metro Detroit, he holds a B.A. in Political Science and a Master of Public Policy from the University of Michigan, as well as a J.D. from Harvard Law School. He is also proud to have mentored a Fordham alumnus – Michael Persaud – during Michael’s time as a high school student in Mt. Vernon, NY. And, most proudly, Stephen is married to an alumna of the MBA program at Fordham’s Gabelli School of Business.

Huyen Lam

STUDENT SPEAKER

Deborah Adebanjo

FCRH ‘26

Deborah Adebanjo is a current junior on the pre-law track majoring in political science and minoring in philosophy. She is a Nigerian immigrant and a first-generation out-of-state college student from Boston, Massachusetts. Deborah is the youngest of three siblings with a widowed mother. She is extremely passionate about advocacy, law, and social justice. Deborah currently interns for the Attorney General of New York State and is an IDEAL undergrad fellow for Fordham University School of Law.

BROKEN BACKS, BARE HANDS, BOUNTIFUL HOPE

First generation, immigrant, Black woman / I don’t mean to sound cliche like how someone starts off their college admissions diversity essay /Those fragments of my identity that interplay and intersect / My motivation, my drive / Those fragments of my identity / Are / What comes into play when I get off at Fulton street, walk up those gray concrete stairs, and swipe into the marble walled building to start a day at my internship. Envisioning a future where I’m no longer just an intern for the Attorney General, but an actual career woman working in law / Becoming the dream of my mom’s, my dad’s, and ancestors’ that came into fruition from their / broken backs, bare hands, but bountiful hope to give me a future they couldn’t have. / Those fragments of my identity / Are... / Paving the path for future generations… / Yes I am also breaking generational curses in my lineage / I don’t mention being a first generation immigrant lightly / Because I realized I was my own client, zealously advocating for myself when I struggled to apply to college because my mum couldn’t help me with the process / Or those moments when I have a million assignments and responsibilities in college, but I have / to be the 911 for my family, and the interpreter for my mum.

Till this day, my family doesn’t understand my educational journey. / Sure they’ll be at my college graduation, laughing, and smiling and taking pictures, but they won’t know how hard it was for me to sustain and attain my degree / Or why it was hard to get an internship / They won’t know / And / Those fragments of my / identity are why / I asked my internship supervisor (with a hint of imposter syndrome in my tone) / “Why did you choose me?” / He affirmed, “your qualifications, / your interview, you were the one” / He implied that he saw his younger self in me That unspoken generational bond / This served as a reminder to me as part of / why I have to / No / I must make it / Despite the challenges I may face due to the fragments of my identity / I deserve my wins / Those fragments of my identity are / why / I’m reminded to pay it forward when I’m speaking to Wilhemina my elderly coworker / She has years of experience, wisdom, and knowledge that has taught / me so much / I always tell her how much I like her name, much to her appreciation / One day, just like her, in my older years in the workforce, I’ll be helping / any new nervous intern / scared of messing up and wanting to secure a return offer

I’ll be reminiscing about those moments when I laughed about work, life, and current events / with Roberto, the only other co-worker who’s near my age. / And / when I’m drawn back to the present, back to the office, back to my desk. / I’m also aware that it’s not all sunshine and rainbows / There’s moments when I make a / mistake that’s pointed out to me by my other supervisor / While those moments feel like the end of the world. / I see her critiques and seniority as statute / codified in the law. My personal constitution. / But I also remind myself to make amendments by learning from and fixing my mistakes until she / approves / Between Roberto, Wilhemina, and my other supervisor / It’s a nice balance of youthfulness, wisdom, and challenges that help me grow professionally and / personally… / Yeah… / These fragments of my identity / My experiences / My heritage / Are / Shards of broken glass plastered and woven together /Creating a / mosaic of strength, resilience, and confidence / From experiences with family, life, and work interlinked, from the strings of / Generational diversity of the past, the present, and generations to come

STUDENT LEADER REPRESENTATIVES

Haania Imran

Arabic Club

Amira Motair

MENA

Anthony Quarles

Black Heritage Committee

Francesca Stella

LGBTQ+ History

Month Committee

Beyonce Carbuccia

Women’s HERstory Committee

Schuyler Kim

Fordham Career Ambassador

Jocelyn Defex El Grito de Lares

Isabella Arellano

Latine Heritage Committee

STUDENT LEADER REPRESENTATIVES

Emalia Drood

APIDA

Aminata Konate

BLBA

Ayden Johnson

Office of Multicultural Affairs

Phuong Bui

Fordham Career Ambassador

Meghan Naughton

LGBTQ Committee

ABOUT THE ATTENDEES

ALDI USA

Industry: Retail Stores

Recruiting: Freshman, Sophomore, Junior

BDO USA, P.C.

Industry: Accounting

Recruiting: Junior, Senior, Graduate Students

Center for Alternative Sentencing and Employment Services

Industry: Non-Profit

Recruiting: Senior, Graduate Students

Industry: Accounting

Recruiting: Sophomore, Junior, Senior

Jesuit Volunteer Corps

Industry: Social Assistance

Recruiting: Seniors, Graduate Students, Alumni

KPMG LLP

Industry: Accounting

Recruiting: Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, Senior, Graduate Students, Alumni

Macmillan

Industry: Journalism, Media & Publishing

Recruiting: Not Listed

New York Life Insurance Company

Industry: Insurance

Recruiting: Sophomore, Junior

PwC

Industry: Accounting

Recruiting: Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, Senior, Graduate Students

Societe Generale Americas

Industry: Financial Services

Recruiting: Not Listed

Teach For America

Industry: Non-Profit

Recruiting: Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, Senior, Graduate Students, Alumni

The Commonwealth Fund

Industry: Non-Profit

Recruiting: None

Women In Need

Industry: Non-Profit/Government

Recruiting: Senior, Graduate Students, Alumni

CAREER CENTER PROGRAMS & SERVICES

HANDSHAKE

Use our job database to gain access to a large network of employers, jobs & internship postings as well as other services: Schedule counseling appointments online Access the Handshake mobile App to view and apply for jobs, register for events, sign up for interviews & more! Complete the Handshake Workshop to help you gain a competitive advantage in the job market

Job Search & Campus Recruiting Access

For more information, contact Career Centers:

Rose Hill: (718) 817-4350

Lincoln Center: (212) 636-6280

Campus Recruiting Program

This program gives students the chance to interview with companies and organizations for internship and full-time opportunities. Both liberal arts and business majors are strongly encouraged to participate in the Campus Recruiting Program. Please check our Campus Recruiting Program video at https://youtu.be/VqLm8D5bpGA

For more information, please contact Michael Persaud mpersaud11@fordham.edu

Mobile App

We now have a Handshake App for both Apple and Android devices, where you can search and apply for jobs/internships! Interested? Search Handshake in the app store!

Career Panels

Speakers from various industries are invited to Fordham to discuss a variety of targeted topics such as fashion, media, communications, diversity, psychology, and nonprofit. Speakers will share their expertise and also provide students with networking opportunities.

Career Center Social Media

Find out about virtual events, jobs/internships, and volunteer opportunities through our social media accounts. linktr.ee/fordhamcareers

RAM CAREER NETWORK

RECIPROCITY

28 UNIVERSITIES | 18 STATES

Did you know?

Fordham has reciprocity programs in place with other Jesuit Universities across the country. This means that you can request services, including career services, with 27 other institutions and gain access to job boards across the U.S.!

Learn more by contacting Alumni Career Specialist Jerry Goldstein at jgoldstein35@fordham.edu or by visiting www.ajcunet.com for a complete list of universities.

M e e t t h e T e a m