UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Penn State Smeal College of Business will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the START Conference on March 27, an opportunity for attendees to celebrate diversity through corporate, academic and community speakers.
The one-day conference showcases business leaders and highlights business initiatives on diversity. Students can network with corporate representatives, explore careers and learn more about the companies attending.
START (Striving Toward Awareness and Respect for Tomorrow) is a professional development conference designed to increase diversity and inclusion awareness in corporate settings. It includes networking opportunities and workshops on various topics.
The morning keynote address will be delivered by Derek Thomas, audit partner and national partner-in-charge of university talent acquisition at KPMG LLP. Andréa Stanford, Pittsburgh regional manager at BNY Mellon, will deliver the afternoon keynote address.
The conference is organized by a student-run committee largely comprised of Smeal students and supported by the Office of Diversity Enhancement Programs. Registration opens at 8 a.m. and the event will begin at 9 a.m. at Alumni Hall in the HUB-Robeson Center. It is free and open to all Penn State students, faculty, staff and community members. Anyone interested in attending is asked to register online before March 15.
The event will feature breakout sessions with companies including:
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Altria
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Boeing
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Deloitte
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Ernst & Young (EY)
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Hilton
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Johnson & Johnson
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PepsiCo
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PPG Industries
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PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC)
Three breakout sessions will cover topics such as:
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“Diversity in Marketing”
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“Emotional Intelligence”
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“‘Who is Youer than You’ - The Authentic Self Workshop”
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“Invest in Your Best”
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“Authentic Storytelling”
The conference will conclude with the 2024 START Conference Diversity Essay Contest presentations.
For more information, visit the START Conference website.