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38 students from Arkansas Tech University’s School of Business kicked off the fall 2022 semester by participating in a project-led seminar on Sunday, August 14.
Highlights include a message from Michele McWilliams, an Arkansas Tech alumna with 25 years of experience in education and multiple certifications to coach leaders, individuals, teams and organizations, along with Dr. Philip McClure, facilitator and speaker at Fort Smith, on team building exercises and identifying and demonstrating personal strengths.
Project Leadership was made possible by funding from the Lloyd’s Foundation, which has made a five-year commitment to the initiative.
“I was nervous going in today,” said Megan Christensen, an ATU freshman from her alma mater and Project Lead participant. “I didn’t know anyone coming here. As soon as I got here, I sat with many people and started talking. It’s about making those connections, meeting people who can help and knowing that there are people out there for you.”
Christensen, an 18-year-old realtor, will major in business data analytics at Arkansas Tech.
“I love numbers,” Christensen said. “I want to do long-term process improvement and project management on the business side for a manufacturing company. I was always around engineering growing up because my mom was an engineer. I want to be involved in that, but from a business perspective.”
ATU freshman Alexis Lara’s business interests are in sales. She and Christensen met during a project leadership seminar and became friends.
“I like talking to people,” said Lara, who is from Maumelle and plans to major in marketing. “The older I get, the more I realize how much I love people and talk to them.”
Lara knew early on that ATU was the place for her.
“When I came to visit, I loved Arkansas Tech,” Lara said. “I looked at a few other colleges, but I just knew…I came here and I really like this place. It’s a great city. I am very big on personal relationships. The more connections you have, the more successful you can be. That’s what you want to find places for.”
Jade Salaita was one of the participants in the project leadership seminar. A native of Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Salaita earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from ATU and is pursuing his ATU Master of Business Administration degree in Business Data Analytics this fall.
“I loved how interactive everyone was,” Salaita said when asked about Project Lead. “The participation and energy was great. I gained a lot of knowledge about interviewing and how to ask questions, and I feel like my communication skills are getting better.
Project LEAD was conceived by Randy Lloyd of the Cathy and Lloyd Foundation and Dr. Russ Jones, dean of ATU’s College of Business and Economic Development, to help Arkansas Tech business students better connect with each other.
Jones Lloyds is grateful for their investment of resources and energy in project lead.
“It was a key engagement that we focused on all day,” Jones said. “Don’t just go to class and go back to your hall. ATU Business School is very lucky because we have activities for students every Wednesday, nine months. It ranges from guest speakers to resume building to dressing for success…everything.
In the future, senior student ambassadors from ATU’s business school will be paired with first-class project leader participants. Funding is provided for networking lunches that allow older students to share their wisdom and knowledge with younger students.
“When these upperclassmen enter the business world and these freshmen become upperclassmen, the upperclassmen approach the graduates and ask what classes they took and what they wish they knew before going in,” he said. Workplace. Those upperclassmen can then inform incoming freshmen what to prepare for. The idea is to have connections where you’re going who have been there and are willing to share what they’ve learned.
After her first day in the program, Christensen felt connected to this mission.
“I loved learning to communicate better,” Christensen said. “That’s something I struggled with as a kid. I was always very shy. Learning how to open and lead conversations… Small talk can often be boring. Learning how to lead a conversation and have an effective conversation is very important.
“I really like the idea of being fully self-aware,” Christensen continued. “Know your strengths, know your weaknesses and learn how to make your weaknesses your strengths. There are a lot of things I can do and there are people (at Arkansas Tech) who can help me and give me good insight.
Learn more about ATU’s School of Business at www.atu.edu/business.
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