About

The 2026 START Conference will be held on Thursday, March 26th, 2026, at the HUB

Registration will open late fall 2025.

Striving Toward Awareness and Respect for Tomorrow (START)

This one-day conference focuses on business initiatives in diversity by gathering corporate, academic, and community speakers. Conference participants gain knowledge and information about issues regarding diversity, awareness, respect for oneself and others. Students have the opportunity to network with corporate representatives, explore career paths, and gain insight into the corporate climate of presenting companies.

START History

In 1999, a group of Penn State business students recognized the need for open dialogue with professional and corporate leaders in order to create a productive and respectful work environment.

In response, these students created the START (Striving Toward Awareness and Respect for Tomorrow) Conference with the support of the Office of Diversity Enhancement Programs in the Smeal College of Business.

Since its inception, the START Conference has grown to become a Smeal tradition, attracting partnerships with some of today's leading companies, such as Altria, Boeing, BNY, Deloitte, EY, Google, Hilton, Johnson & Johnson, Kohl's, PPG, Sysco, and more.

A Competitive Advantage

The START Conference provides Penn State students a competitive advantage through workshops on:

• Corporate Culture
• Leadership skills to manage a diverse workforce
• Skill sets and tools to succeed in a corporate environment
• Insight into diversity initiatives in the corporate world