Business Leadership Week connects students with leaders, alumni, and industry partners

From left to right: Wendi Rios, Landon Ash, Beatrice Chau, Raida Firoz, Joaquin Guillen

For attendees like Aspen Rose, a senior accounting major, the most impactful moments came from industry panels. She said that BLW provides students with unique opportunities and access to industry professionals and insights.

“Every single day, there are so many different events,” Rose said. “It’s the perfect experience to meet people and learn about business topics, especially those targeted toward your major.”

Sofia Helguera Aguinaga, a sophomore double-majoring in marketing and accounting, said she participated in BLW to understand potential career paths better and build skills for the future.

“The opportunity to learn from professionals who have gone through so many experiences is helpful,” Helguera Aguinaga said. “It helps me learn more about the career field I want to go into and the skills I want to keep building.”

For alumni speakers, BLW provides an opportunity to give back and help students navigate a rapidly evolving workforce and the challenges that come with technological change.

Isaac Pruna, owner of Valkyrie’s Kiss Meadery in New Braunfels and a Texas State graduate who also holds a master’s in engineering management from Texas State, said he felt compelled to share what he has learned.

“The world’s changing pretty rapidly,” Pruna, who was a guest speaker on the “How to be successful in your career” panel, said. “I don’t want to find a day where I’m not here anymore and all this knowledge I’ve accumulated just goes away. I would rather share it.”

Annie Gonzalez, a McCoy College management alumna and corporate project manager for H-E-B and a mentor with the student success center, said it’s important for her to stay engaged with the college and connect with students who may feel lost and need guidance as they navigate their collegiate journey. She encouraged students to take advantage of opportunities like BLW and to focus on building soft skills, gaining influence, adapting to a continuously evolving workforce, and being comfortable asking questions and taking initiative.

“Adaptability is important,” Gonzalez said, speaking on the “How to Be Successful in Your Career” panel. “It’s also not just all about what you do. It’s also how you present yourself.”

From left to right: Annie Gonzalez, Tarence Hines, Kara Janka

Wendi Rios — corporate, alumni, and partnership manager at McCoy College — and one of the event organizers, filled 94 speaker slots for the week, pulling from a growing network of alumni and community contacts she cultivated over three years in her previous role. While scheduling conflicts and last-minute changes were challenging, she described the outcome as rewarding. She said her primary goal for this year’s event was to maximize attendance and engagement.

“We wanted as much engagement as possible with students, alumni, community partners, and corporate partners,” Rios said. “The feedback has been incredible. Speakers are impressed with how engaged our students are. They’re just having a great time.”

The week-long event concluded with the inaugural McCoy Leadership Summit, a conference-style event that invited alumni, students, and industry partners for fireside chats, a discussion of AI in business, and a panel of recently graduated alumni.

To recognize distinguished alumni whose professional achievements and service reflect the college’s mission, the college held its inaugural Hall of Honor dinner, which included a performance from the university’s acapella ensemble VocaLibre and an appearance from the university’s president, Kelly Damphousse. ✯