St Mary’s Business students meet Former Government Minister and Top Executives at Networking Event

Business Management students from St Mary’s University, Twickenham received careers advice from top executives during a highly interactive networking session, this week.

Experienced management consultants joined current and former executives from leading UK firms including: Reed Expo (world-leading exhibition company); Customer Essential (customer relationship consultancy); and Flood RE (insurance firm) to share their experiences and insights.

The “Build Your Future” event allowed students to get tips and helpful advice from professionals with decades of commercial experience. The event was designed in a ‘speed dating’ format, allowing students to move from table to table and question the executives on a variety of employability and career progression issues. Students from all levels attended, but it was particularly popular with final year students.

Event organiser, Dr Eleni Aravopoulou, Lecturer for Business Management, said, “One of the key aims of this programme is to connect our students with industry in engaging and interactive ways. I am delighted that everyone enjoyed the event and got a lot from meeting such successful people.”

Lise Georgeson, Senior Lecturer for Business Management added, “It was great that so many of our students came along to receive words of wisdom from such a diverse group of experts. We hope the advice they got will help them in future careers.”

Business Management student, Jovan Gonsalves, commented, “The event was really interesting and helped me gain a detailed insight into different fields in business, as well as gaining advice on effective interviewing practice. The executives gave us tips on how to make ourselves more employable which is crucial for graduates“

Liz Machtynger, Founder and Managing Director of Customer Essential said of the students, “They were well prepared, polite, interested and interesting. The event was a great idea, it gave each student the chance to speak and get the particular input they wanted.” 

 

Luisa Weinzierl, International HR/Talent Director and Business Coach said of the experience, “I enjoyed participating in the mentoring event.The students came well-prepared with a genuine interest to learn, clearly some bright and promising business leaders of the future.”

The panel of executives included:

• Tim Cooke - Independent Business Development Consultant
• Mark Hoban - Chairman, Flood RE and Former UK Minister of State for Employment
• Sofia Kaskamanidou - Head of Governance and Corporate ISM, Reed Expo
• Liz Machtynger - Founder and Managing Director, Customer Essential
• Ian Mansfield - Former Commercial Director, Baker Hughes Oil and Gas
• Michael Marshall - Information & Customer Experience Manager, South-West Trains
• Luisa Weinzierl - International HR/Talent Director and Business Coach