To give MBA students a competitive edge, UF launches a nationwide networking series
In an ultra competitive job market, earning a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree is just one step in becoming a sought-after business grad. University of Florida students are looking for a more strategic way to get ahead, and the newly launched MBA Summit Series is providing it.
To cater to the more than 96% of UF’s MBA students who reside outside of Gainesville and work as full-time professionals, the Warrington College of Business MBA program has identified major markets throughout the U.S. where these students live, and curated a series of professional and networking events right in their neighborhoods. The first event was hosted at the Orlando World Center Marriott in November, and upcoming spring summits will be held in Jacksonville; Atlanta, Georgia; and Houston, Texas.
“Programs such as this summit series allow students to maintain the flexible schedule of an online or weekend program, while still being able to make significant connections for both career and camaraderie,” said Joyner Atiles-Lopez, the assistant director for MBA Signature Events at UF.
The four main pillars of focus for the summit series are industry immersion, community building, networking, and skill development. At each summit, students get an inside look with an industry leader, learning about the company’s operations, business models, and financial structures. Orlando summit attendees, for example, learned about personal and corporate branding from UF alumni who are currently working for Disney Cruise Line and Walt Disney Imagineering.
Of the 800-plus MBA students at UF, ranging in age from 28 to 50, nearly all are in one of the university’s Working Professional programs (Online MBA, Weekend Part-Time MBA, Executive MBA, and the Weekend Part-Time MBA in South Florida). Because these students are still working while completing degrees, the summit series meets them where they are, helping them further develop their technical and leadership soft skills.
Kiana Polanin (B.A. History ’22, MBA ’25), an award-winning UF high honors graduate and published author, drove from Tampa to attend the Orlando summit. She is the director of market intelligence at both the Stuart Group and Alchemy Early Stage, the chief marketing officer at Remarkable Reasons, and the director of operations at The Alaka'i Leadership Group.
“The skills I learned during the summit enhance what I am learning in the classroom and practicing at work,” Polanin said. “The logistics and the nature of the series are really important to helping grow your goals and also your ambitions. It was very inspiring to hear other people’s stories and their shared experiences.”
At each summit, students engage in intentional connection activities with students who may be living in different cities, and network with alumni to learn how they are putting their own MBA degrees into action.
“This, coupled with the integration of faculty and the exposure they receive with industry leaders during our business meetings, serves as a launching point our students can pour into and create fruitful opportunities for themselves beyond the weekend’s engagement,” Atiles-Lopez said. “This new series not only brings the action closer to many of their homes but also maximizes the return on the investment of their time by capitalizing on the amount of learning outcomes we can achieve [during the summit].”
From Jan. 17 to 18, MBA students will meet in Houston, Texas, to learn about managing energy and sustainable practices with ExxonMobil. Two additional summits are scheduled for the spring in Jacksonville and Atlanta, Georgia. Students will learn about financial management technology with Fidelity Information Services and innovating in a competitive market with Delta Air Lines.
“Our goal,” Atiles-Lopez said, “is for students to walk away with new bonds, expanded industry knowledge, and tangible skills that they can immediately put into action to enhance both their career and educational experience.”