Providing a unique opportunity for Western New England alumni to coach and mentor Golden Bear seniors in business management, the WNE College of Business hosted the 15th annual RealTest event on Friday, April 1 in the University Commons.
With emphasis on real-life business management scenarios, the event serves as a culmination of a semester of classroom learning, creating an engaging opportunity for students to put leadership, teamwork, and management lessons to practical use in a feedback-encouraged environment.
Alumni, including Anne Mazza G'90, Human Resources Business Partner at LEGO Education; Raymond Walczak '74, Retired Senior Program Manager at General Dynamics; Sabrina Serra '17, Senior Sales Coach at Wayfair; Catherine Rioux '12, Commercial Portfolio Officer at Monson Savings Bank; and Brent Turner G'05, Finance Director at The Boston Globe, guided and evaluated students through a series of exercises including a pre-event virtual mock interview, an in-person case study review and leaderless group discussion, and an in-person problem-solving presentation.
"Alumni tend to love this event because they can see the tangible result of giving back to the students," said Professor of Management Melissa Knott.
Dressed for business success, 25 students actively participated in the day, representing an array of majors, including General Business, Arts and Entertainment Management, International Business, and Management and Leadership.
"I love this event," said Brent Turner. "It's always great to come back to the campus, see everyone, and see how campus is growing."
A number of opportunities are available for alumni to get involved with campus events, both virtually and in person. Learn more about alumni volunteer opportunities at alumwne@wne.edu or (413) 796-2240.
