Community Fellows Blog Posts

Before this fellowship, I mainly associated business with corporate environments and profit-driven goals. Through my experience working with the Corporate Work Study Program (CWSP) and Alumni Career Services (ACS), I’ve gained a completely different perspective. I’ve realized that business skills are just as essential in non-profit and community-based organizations. The difference isn’t the strategy or structure, it’s the purpose behind it. Instead of focusing on revenue, the focus is on creating opportunity, maintaining strong partnerships, and serving students and alumni in meaningful ways. 

Working with the Corporate Work Study Program (CWSP) has shown me how much professionalism and accountability are required to sustain corporate partnerships. Maintaining communication with supervisors, ensuring students meet workplace expectations, and managing responsibilities efficiently all reflect strong business practices. There is a level of organization, responsiveness, and relationship management that mirrors what you would see in a corporate setting. Seeing this has helped me realize that CWSP operates with a business mindset to successfully support its mission. 

Through Alumni Career Services (ACS), I’ve also seen how organization and communication directly impact engagement. Assisting with alumni events, weekly posts, and data entry has shown me how important it is to maintain accurate records and present information clearly. I’ve learned that data organization isn’t just administrative work; it supports outreach, tracking engagement, and helps build long-term relationships. Promoting events strategically and ensuring alumni stay informed requires attention to detail and thoughtful communication. 

Overall, this experience has made my business education feel more practical and purposeful. Skills like organization, time management, adaptability, and strategic thinking have been especially valuable in my role. I now see business skills as tools that strengthen mission-driven organizations and help them operate effectively. Understanding how those skills contribute to opportunity and community impact has given me a deeper appreciation for how my education connects to meaningful work.

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