Networking Opportunities
The Sapphire Program works with the Smeal Career and Corporate Connections Office and with other companies and experts to provide additional professional development opportunities. All Sapphires enjoy an emphasis on professional development through alumni and student networking and exclusive events.
Internships and real-world experience are crucial to your business education. The Smeal Corporate Connections staff will assist you to find an internship or co-op that meets your career aspirations. Your Sapphire credentialing will help you get there.
View Courtney Powell's experience when she interned at Dannon in White Plains, New York.
Please see below for event descriptions.
Spring 2011
| Company | Company Representative | Event |
|---|---|---|
| Air Products and Chemicals |
Robert Dixon, Sr. Vice President |
Executive Insights |
| Cosmopolitan Magazine |
Donna Langani, Sr. VP |
Executive Insights/ Roundtable |
| Dick's Sporting Goods |
Brooks Renoll, Recruiter |
Site Visit (Pittsburgh) |
| Ernst & Young |
Top Campus Recruiters |
Information Session |
| Goldman Sachs |
Ryan Newman, VP, Wealth Management |
Roundtable |
| Millennium Tech Venture Fund |
Brian Waterhouse, Owner |
Information Session |
| Northwestern Financial |
Information Session |
|
| PNC Financial Services |
Panel Discussion |
|
| Recovery for Auto Communities & Workers |
Ed Montgomery, Director |
Executive Insights/ Roundtable Lunch |
Fall 2010
| Company | Company Representative | Event |
|---|---|---|
| Altria |
3 Networking Lunches |
|
| CIGNA |
Networking Lunch | |
| Deloitte |
Networking Lunch | |
| Dick Sporting Goods |
Networking Lunch | |
| Ernst & Young | Networking Lunch | |
| The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company |
Pierre Cohade, President, Asia-Pacific Region |
Executive Insights |
| Grant Thorton |
Networking Lunch | |
| Heinz |
Networking Lunch | |
| Ingersol Rand | Networking Lunch | |
| Johnson & Johnson |
Networking Lunch |
|
| KPMG |
Networking Lunch |
|
| Kohl's Department Stores | Networking Lunch | |
| Kraft |
Joann Kong |
Information Session |
| PWC |
Networking Lunch |
|
| Target | Networking Lunch | |
| Wolseley |
Networking Lunch |
Spring 2010
| Company | Company Representative | Event |
|---|---|---|
| Altria | Networking tips/Career Fair advice |
|
| Auntie Anne's |
Sam Beiler, Chairman & CEO |
Executive Insights |
| Bates White LLC |
Case Study/Workshop |
|
| International Entrepreneur |
Stephen Greer |
Roundtable Discussion |
| Kraft | Joann Kong, Sapphire Alum |
Information Session/Supply Chain |
| Kohl's Department Stores |
Jon Grosso, Executive Vice President |
Executive Insights/Roundtable |
| Kohl's Department Stores |
Recruiters | Etiquette Dinner |
| Leadership: A New Perspective |
Admiral Scott Weikert |
Information Session |
| Power Potential |
Bob Sterns |
Motivational Speaker |
| PriceWaterhouseCoopers | Presentation detailing specifics about a Big 4 accounting firm |
Fall 2009
| Company | Company Representative | Event |
|---|---|---|
| Dick's Sporting Goods |
Lunch | |
| Ernst & Young | Roundtable | |
| Deloitte |
Barry Salzbert, CEO | Roundtable |
| Goldman Sachs |
Vice President |
Speaking Event |
| REI Distribution Center |
Site Visit |
|
| PriceWaterhouseCoopers | Roundtable | |
| Sheetz |
Steve Sheetz, Chairman/Owner |
Speaking Event |
| US Steel |
John Surma, CEO | Executive Insights |
Site Visits
A small group of Sapphires travel to a company's headquarters. Students tour facilities, talk to executives, learn about the culture of the company, etc. These visits are arranged by the Vice President of Corporate Relations.
Roundtable
A roundtable discussions is an exclusive opportunity for a small group of Sapphire students (8-15) to sit at a conference table with high level executives and ask questions. Questions can range from advice, to questions about their company, industry or the economy as a whole. These sessions are usually one hour long. Only Sapphire students can attend these sessions.
Information Session
Usually around 35-60 Sapphire students in a classroom setting. It is like a forum or panel discussion for asking questions from top executives. Sometime we partner with other groups.
Executive Insights
Sapphires have the added advantage of having reserved seating for Executives Insight events. For more information on these opportunities, please visit the Leadership in Focus: Executive Insights website.
Networking Lunch
In a more personal setting, two Sapphire students can sign up to have lunch with a company executive. These are usually take place in the Bistro in the Business Building and give students a real one to one opportunity to talk to corporate executives.
Panel Session
An Information Session with more than one representative. These sessions are interactive.
