2nd Year Huskers Attend Virtual Networking Night

Student-athletes had the opportunity to attend a virtual networking night on Monday, September 27th. A total of 91 second-year Huskers from all 24 Husker sports were in attendance. The purpose of the event is to provide attendees helpful tips when communicating with professionals and potential employers. Huskers in attendance had the pleasure of hearing from a panel of three guest speakers, each sharing their own advice on how to master the art of networking.
 
Chairman of the Lincoln Young Professional group and Director of Alumni Engagement for UNL's Alumni Association, Jordan Gonzales, kicked the night off by going thru the ABC's of Networking from A- Attend with the mindset of quality over quantity, to Z-Zealously nurture your network, and everything in between. 
 
 "Always have strategy before attending any event, and a smile can always be the starting point to so many things," shared Gonzales.
 
Gonzales was followed by UNL grad, Renee Sobotka, who was recently recognized on the Forbes Next 1000 list and is the CEO of True North Technologies. She shared with the group the importance of building rapport but also having fun while networking. She also talked about sharing the things that mean the most to the student-athletes and finding a commonality with people they meet at networking functions.
 
"Networking is the fitness program of business; your network equals your net worth," said Sobotka. "Your network is essentially like your sales team. They're supposed to advocate for you when you're not in the room".
 
Finally, Cody Green, Husker football letterwinner and Private Risk Consultant for Lockton Insurance, discussed with the group how their platform of being a student-athlete is vital when it comes to making connections and stressed the importance of utilizing their connections for their advantage.
 
Green spoke from his personal experience as a Husker sharing, "As a Husker athlete, people want to talk to you. Take 5 even 3 minutes out of your day to connect with someone. Because whether it's now or down the line those connections will pay off".
 
For questions about the Networking Night event, please contact Assistant Director of Life Skills/PEO Director, Tom Lemke.