Student group plans 44th annual work week, February 20-24 – News

Every Tuesday morning at 7 a.m. for the past seven months, 20 students at Illinois State University’s College of Business have been planning the 2023 work week to perfection.

Business Week, a College of Business tradition for the past 44 years, is a weeklong event that immerses students in professional development opportunities.

This year’s Business Week runs from February 20-24 and features keynote speeches, seminars on transitioning from college to corporate life, career development dinners, equity, diversity and inclusion workshops and the College of Business Hall of Fame.

Although Business Week lasts five days during the spring semester, the Business Week team has been planning since August. Business Week President Tori Poska attended Business Week for the first time as a freshman. She then joined the planning team as a sophomore and has been involved ever since.

“I love what Business Week stands for and everything it stands for,” Posca said. “This has had a huge impact on my life and on many of my friends. This is how I learned about the many great opportunities in the College of Business, collaborating with other students, staff and faculty.

Vice President of Professional Development Benji Prendergast participated in the Business Week mentoring program with Business Week in its first year. As a sophomore, Prendergast became a mentor, which prompted him to join the Business Week planning team.

“It’s really rewarding to see all of these professionals and students come out and be part of our program and celebrate career growth,” Prendergast said. “Honestly, you’ll get a lot out of just one week and carry it over to your classes, classes, assignments, and practice. The experiences will continue to grow and grow from this one week.

Taking advantage of the professional development opportunities offered by Business Week and the College of Business to students, both Poska and Prendergast have already lined up post-graduate jobs: Poska for Ecolab and Prendergast in marketing at Dell.

The Business Week team, which consists of an executive team and six committees, also plans events outside of Business Week. Last fall, the group hosted a film talk event that included a screening Homestretch, a film about homeless teenagers, followed by a discussion. The group hosted a corporate social responsibility event where gently used business professional clothing was collected for a clothing drive. This spring, the group is planning a March 1 Business Week lecture in a TED Talk format focused on corporate social responsibility.

Students interested in planning next year’s Business Week are invited to apply to join the 2023-24 Business Week team during the week. Non-business students are welcome to apply.

“Being involved has changed my college career and my entire process, both personally and professionally,” Posca said. “My advice is to show up and get engaged.”

Although sponsored by the College of Business, all students are welcome to attend Business Week. Browse the Illinois State University College of Business 2023 Business Week flyer to learn more and register for events.