New Business Pre-Orientation Program Emphasizes Business Leadership Equity

Until recently, Daniela Fernandez always thought that business careers consisted of people sitting at desks and working long hours. But when she attended WakeABLE, she discovered that careers in business entail so much more.

WakeABLE, which stands for Achieving Business Leadership Equity, is a new pre-orientation program hosted by the Wake Forest University School of Business. The program is designed to equip students from underrepresented groups, and any student that values inclusivity, with key business and professional development concepts.

“The inaugural 2022 WakeABLE program, held August 14 – 17, introduced students to a broad range of careers in business, and provided the opportunity for students to explore their own strengths,” said Kenny Herbst, Associate Dean of the Undergraduate Business Program.” Students developed professional competencies and fostered meaningful connections that will prepare them for a successful transition into college.”

Fernandez, a recent high school graduate from South Florida – and now a first-year student at Wake Forest University – was among several international and U.S. participants who attended WakeABLE. Fernandez learned about the vastness of the business world, she said, and how it works with other fields she is interested in like STEM and biology.

“I had an interest in business before, but I wasn’t really sure what it was about or what the job opportunities look like. That’s why I leaned towards the WakeABLE program. It really helped clarify the different career paths I can take and the steps I can take now,” Fernandez said.

The program offered workshops on topics such as critical thinking, public speaking, networking and professional presence in order to develop problem-solving and communication skills. In addition, students met with successful business leaders and explored a broad range of career paths.

Seminar topics included marketing, consulting, finance and professional communication, among others. Students participated in a Nike case study competition in which they were presented with a real-world business problem and received guidance and advice from Wake Forest faculty and also from industry experts, like former Nike executive Omari Leggett, on how to develop solutions. Current MBA students provided feedback throughout the process.

“The case study helped us understand what an actual corporate set up is like and how we can get solutions in the real corporate world,” said Preetysh Raj, a first-year student from Bengaluru, India. “WakeABLE is actually preparing us for the real world.”

“When you talk about equal opportunity to thrive in the workforce, it is essential that you give everyone the opportunity to develop the skills and experiences needed to succeed in the business world,” said Rafael Lima, Assistant Director for Social Media. Lima thought of the idea for WakeABLE in 2021 as a Wake Forest Fellow in the School of Business. “WakeABLE was developed to address the barrier of access to professional development tools for students from historically underrepresented backgrounds in business while promoting a business community that is more reflective of all the perspectives and experiences in our society.”

Additional program events included an alumni panel and activities with student mentors in which participants learned more about the School of Business and its impact.

“Learning how to network was the most important skill I learned throughout this experience,” Fernandez said. “I realized I need to start as soon as possible and that’s really important for my future career.”

Media Contact: Danyelle Gary, garyd@wfu.edu, 336.582.0622