At a special speed-networking event held on October 19 at the Elliott School, 20 forward-
thinking Elliott students had the opportunity to speak one-on-one with high-powered alumni
who serve on the Elliott School Board of Advisors.
Speed networking combines the speed-dating model with business networking – allowing for
brief, targeted conversations with a number of professionals. The Elliott students were asked to
meet in pairs with board members in five-minute intervals, forging connections with nearly a
dozen executives – who also encouraged the students to stay in touch after the event.
Participation for students was first come first served; the eight undergraduates and 12 graduate
students in the room had been the first to reply to an all-school invitation to the event.
Students had a range of reasons for participating. Professional development was number one,
understandably. “It’s rare that you get a chance to speak with people that accomplished in their
fields,” said one student.
Medha Prasanna, a second-year graduate student, also was eager to gain deeper perspective
into the Elliott School. “I wanted to meet the people shaping the long-term vision of the
school,” she said.
At 11 a.m., students and board members gathered in the State Room on the seventh floor of
the Elliott School. There was an energetic buzz in the room as the students, in teams of two,
took seats next to individual board members, then, when the timer went, rotated to the next
member.
Any anxiety – for students and board members alike – was quickly dispelled, according to Ethan
Vosper, a senior concentrating in security policy. “It was a very welcoming, experience. They did
a really good job of putting us at ease,” he said.
Thomas Nielsen, a graduate student who plans to start his career working in international
trade, was there to hear first-hand accounts of what an Elliott School degree can lead to,
especially from those in his field. “I got that,” he said. “A lot of the advice was related to my
interest in private-sector business. A majority of the members had done exactly that.”
Nielsen – a member of the GW Track and XC teams – found the speed-networking format
especially effective. “It eliminated the small-talk aspect of networking,” he said.
What were the key takeaways from the event?
For senior Ethan Vosper, the “biggest thing [I learned] is not being afraid to put yourself out
there. When you’re a college student the idea of networking can be daunting, but don’t be
afraid to reach out to a person whose work interests you.”
In a similar vein, board members encouraged students to approach their careers – and their job
searches – with open minds. “I was encouraged to take risks and apply for jobs that don’t
necessarily match up with the international affairs field and direction,” Nielsen said.
Another important piece of advice, according to the students: don’t underestimate the value of
an international affairs degree; the world needs more individuals trained to work in an
interdisciplinary space.
As one board member told Vosper, “You can teach a person how to do the job, but you can’t
teach a person to be interested in history.”