People and Culture Shared Interest Group

Thanks Kisha, this is a very thoughtful post and I am glad that students and young professionals have an ambassador like you.

I think all of us have really learned how to do it by just being thrown in the swimming pool and learning to swim on the fly. But I agree, there has to be a better way.

• How are you using your involvement with the IMA to support college students and recent graduates?

I usually leverage my LinkedIn to answer any queries and give confidence. Lots of students/graduates reach out to me directly from not just IMA but other certifying organizations as well that I have been a part of. 

• What strategies have been successful in helping students/recent grads/young professionals move beyond "networking anxiety" and become engaged members of the profession?

One of my friends works in the Big Four and their department sets up monthly challenges for the teams to connect with people from the industry and find more information on a specific topic e.g. how are they using AI in their company as of now. There is usually an award at the end in the form of free tickets/cash bonus etc. I think that helps these young professionals get out of their comfort zone to connect with outside professionals. 

Thanks, Izz for your response. While I agree that there are a good group of students and young professionals that utilize LinkedIn well, there are others that struggle with connecting. 

I love those challenges! When students attend workshops, seminars, or events I introduce them to up to 2 people and then I challenge them to meet at a minimum of two other people. At the end of the event we connect and I give them homework - that is to keep in touch with those two people. 

Hi Kisha
I am a student and from my perspective I feel like what you said above is absolutely true. The idea of Internships, Jobs, Volunteering and other corporate discussions makes a lot of students overwhelmed. Some encounter this feeling by actively participating in Seminars, Networking, seeking advices from their seniors and mentors but some are stuck in the loop of trying to figure things out. 

For me, IMA is an organization (apart from education) which provide multiple opportunities to students as well as professionals to meet and network with people across the globe which someday helps them out in any situation. It provides a platform to understand different cultures, norms, environments which give you a vision of how amazing and different can life be. Also one more thing is the skill upgrading sessions. This the best benefit a student gets is what I think.

And, I believe, colleges and universities should encourage students to reap out the best benefits that IMA offers which no other organization can. They should help students or grads to navigate the different processes that leads to greater heights because in this rapid environment, it is a huge disadvantage to start late.

I will always be looking forward to what IMA brings out new because it is never disappointing!

Tusti, 

Thank you for sharing your perspective! It's fantastic that you've realized the power of a professional network like IMA in your academic journey. I hope you keep sharing your experience with other students; peer-to-peer encouragement often carries much more weight than hearing the same advice from professors, administrators, staff and/or parents. While stepping into these spaces can feel overwhelming at first, the more you show up and engage, the easier it gets. Keep pushing forward! 💫