Strengthening Skills for Business Success

The afternoon continued building on the week's momentum as interns focused on professional development while making meaningful progress on their consulting projects. Through career workshops, business presentations, collaborative work sessions, and mentor meetings, students continued developing the skills needed to create practical recommendations for their Nigerian business partners.

The afternoon began with LinkedIn and Resume Building, presented by Carmen Danley. During the session, interns learned how to create resumes that effectively showcase their accomplishments while tailoring them to future career opportunities. Carmen also shared strategies for building professional LinkedIn profiles, expanding personal networks, and communicating leadership experiences in a way that leaves a lasting impression on employers.

Following the workshop, interns returned to their consulting teams for dedicated work time. Together, they refined project ideas, organized research, delegated responsibilities, and continued developing marketing and infrastructure recommendations designed to address the needs of their Nigerian business partners. The collaborative session allowed teams to build upon previous feedback while preparing for their upcoming presentations.

Next, Wendy Zajack presented Advertising, Effective Sales Techniques, and Customer Service Excellence. Throughout the presentation, interns explored how businesses attract and retain customers through effective communication, strategic marketing, and exceptional customer service. Wendy emphasized the importance of building trust, creating memorable customer experiences, and strengthening brand loyalty while encouraging students to incorporate these concepts into their consulting recommendations.

The afternoon continued with presentations on Financial Management, Budgeting, Pricing Strategies, and Managing Cash Flow, led by Adedoyin Akande. Students explored the financial principles that support long-term business success, including budgeting, pricing strategies, and maintaining healthy cash flow. The session demonstrated how thoughtful financial planning contributes to sustainable growth and challenged interns to apply these concepts to the businesses they are supporting.

To conclude the afternoon, interns met with their mentors to review the progress of their consulting projects. During these one-on-one and small-group meetings, mentors provided personalized feedback, answered questions, and offered guidance on strengthening both business recommendations and presentation delivery. Their encouragement and professional insights helped teams continue refining their projects ahead of presentation day.

By the end of the afternoon, interns had expanded both their consulting abilities and professional skill sets. Through career development, collaboration, and mentorship, they continued building the confidence and knowledge needed to deliver thoughtful, impactful recommendations to their Nigerian business partners.