Howard E. Mitchell Memorial Conference
This year's HEMM Conference, entitled "Breaking Boundaries: Expanding Our Vision for the Future brought together over 200 students, more than 30 alumni, and 26 sponsors to collaborate, network and learn.
Leading up to the Conference, Black Wharton held for the first time, a weeklong crash course in all things HEMM called BWUA Boot Camp. During this week, members learned the do's and don't's of business professional attire, and the art of networking from Barbara Roche. Members were also given the opportunity to get one-on-one resume feedback by meeting with board members of Black Wharton and Wharton Alliance.
On Thursday evening, students and alumni gathered over dessert at the Alumni Reception. Students were given the opportunity to mingle and network with past Black Wharton alums from various fields of expertise including consulting, finance and entrepreneurship. The reception culminated in the announcement of a new partnership between Black Wharton and AdviceShare — platform that connects students seeking specific career or collegiate advice from alumni.
Friday featured a two and a half hour career fair followed by an Executive discussion panel in Huntsman Hall. Black Wharton sponsors from banks like Bank of America to retailers like UnderArmour to nonprofits such as Teach for America were present.
The panel included representatives from IBM, J.P. Morgan, Bloomingdales and Morgan Stanley.
Panel Discussion at the 2014 HEMM Conference
Congratulations to the newest HEMM Scholarship recipients! Presented by @Wharton Dean @garrett_geoff pic.twitter.com/VTGUvOY2cG
— BlackWharton (@BlackWharton) December 5, 2014The conference ended with a luncheon where Chief Growth Office of Bad Boy Records Worldwide Entertainment Group Derek Ferguson served as the keynote speaker. After the presentation of this year's HEMM Scholarship recipients (one freshman, one upperclassman) by Wharton Dean Geoff Garrett, Ferguson spoke of the tremendous opportunities facing today's generation, with ability to rethink and revision the industries of the 20th century. Ferguson spoke to the entrepreneurial passions of attendees, reminding them of its great value. He recalled his dorm room experiences founding media publication Urban Profile, a publication better know by its contemporary name today, Vibe Magazine.
"You all probably know the new business world better than recruiters" - Derek Ferguson
— BlackWharton (@BlackWharton) December 5, 2014"We live in new 'social economies' dominated my social networks. The industries your familiar might not exist in this new world" - Derek F
— BlackWharton (@BlackWharton) December 5, 2014"Many companies/industries need to restart from a blank page and your generation probably understands it better than they do" - Derek F
— BlackWharton (@BlackWharton) December 5, 2014"I'm going to leave you all with one challenge: Be the future. Know your power to rethink what's already there" - Derek Ferguson
— BlackWharton (@BlackWharton) December 5, 2014HEMM received kind marks from all around:
@BlackWharton Congrats on a really terrific @hemmconference. I enjoyed the opportunity to interact with so many talented students! #IBM
— Lauren C. States (@Lauren_States) December 5, 2014increases my cool greatly! MT @BlackWharton: .@Wharton Dean's newest addition to wardrobe. Welcome to BWUA Family! pic.twitter.com/g4olJi1LN3
— Geoffrey Garrett (@garrett_geoff) December 5, 2014Thanks to all those who attended. We look forward to hosting our 30th annual HEMM Conference next year!
View the entire photo album here.