Kayla Jones graduated in May 2021 with a degree in business management and an emphasis in entrepreneurship. In this post, Kayla reflects upon her experience in the college’s Experiential Learning Center (ELC).
The ELC provides a low-risk, high-reward environment where students gain hands-on experience with real world clients. Students are assigned to a project team and collaborate to find solutions to the firm-specific challenges faced by their client. I started consulting during my junior year and it was one of the best decisions I could have made.
In my last semester, I was granted the opportunity to work as an assistant coach. During this time, I assisted a team of four through their first consulting project. It was a challenge to adjust to this new form of leadership but it was nothing I couldn’t handle. I had the support of our main faculty coach and a forgiving team.
To any second-year participant in the ELC, I recommend serving as an assistant coach. Doing so reinforced my time management skills, communication skills, and my confidence with leading and managing a team.
Finally, I’d like to thank Jason Gorham, who directs the ELC program, for providing the opportunity to me to participate as a student business consultant. I’d also like to thank Steph Horgan, advisor in the Department of Management, for encouraging and supporting me along the way; and my past ELC coaches who are Neil Doughty, the college’s BELIEF director, and Suzanne Youngberg, an instructor in the college’s Department of Accountancy.
~ M. De Jean, Director of Marketing, NIU Business
