Circle Of Change Leadership Conference

Thank you NBCUniversal!

Last week, a group of first generation students from the University of Florida who attended the 2026 First Generation Student Career & Leadership Experience attended a site visit at the NBC Universal / Telemundo offices in Miami, Florida.

Ashaki Rucker and Francesca Roman did a phenomenal job at creating an experience for the students that was impactful for their career journey after graduation.

They met with professionals at the organization, learned about potential job and internship opportunities, had lunch, and were able to tour the different studios at the office in Miami, Florida.

It was truly a great experience for students who joined us a day before the event. It’s another reason why the conference was so amazing this past weekend!

Our facilitated networking #1 went amazing! Thank you to the speakers that came out to talk about their experiences in the work field and how to navigate it! Let’s keep the good vibes going! 🙌🏽🌴🤩

Sponsorship Matters!

We are so grateful for these organizations genorosity towards our cause of making a positive impact in the lives of all the first generation students who will be attending the conference this weekend.

Because of these incredible partners, we were able to use their genorosity towards our cause provide free professional headshots and lunch on one of the days!

From the students and staff, we are so appreciative and thankful!

Teamwork Makes the Dreamwork!

This past weekend, we celebrated our 16th Annual Circle of Change Leadership Experience!

Over the past sixteen years, we have impacted 25,000 plus students from 160 different colleges and universities across the country.

With no huge grant or major sponsor of more than $15,000.00 over the past sixteen years, we have been able to consistently impact lives because colleges have seen the value of this experience by registering students and our team of volunteers have continued to show up each year!

Literally, with as many as two major conferences each year reaching 500-1000 students annually, these amazing professionals have served on our leadership helping us make a huge impact!

I am beyond grateful for all of them! And, I Thank GOD that he surrounded me with a championship team who shows up every year!

Thank you Natalie Poag , Leanna Mouton, MBA , Quiana Stone, MPA, Michoo Etienne, MBA-MHM (She/Her) , Alice Park, MBA , Jessica Vasquez , Damarea Parker , Tish Norman, M.Ed ☯️ Prof. Development Consultant CorporateTrainer , Ariana Diaz , Leo Young , Nikita Lau, MSHRM , Rosa Hanco , Michael Flotron , DJ Wally, Christopher Poag , Amber Floyd, Broderick Morrissette, Heather Maclin , Ben Chambers, and all the other amazing people that help us change the world!!!!

I believe 2026 will be even greater and it will be due to the awesome team that we have created throughout the years!!!!

Thank you Nike!

Last week, student leaders who attended the 2025 Circle of Change Leadership Conference were given the opportunity to visit the NIKE headquarters in Los Angeles a day before the conference started to learn, observe, and discover what it’s like to work at NIKE.

The tour and conversations were amazing and students shared so many positive stories after the visit.

We are so grateful that Nohán Cruz, CDR presented this great opportunity for the students. It was truly inspiring for all the students who attended.

Some also shared how this visit open there eyes to all the career paths available at NIKE! This was the first time we added this to the conference experience and it was a huge success!

Super excited about the opportunities we will be able to provide students at future conferences in 2026!!!!

Did you know that Executive Presence has been defined by some as “The ability to project confidence, competence, and leadership in a way that inspires trust and motivates others,” while Sylvia Ann Hewitt, an author and leading voice on Executive Presence, suggests that executive presence consists of “gravitas (how you act), communication (how you speak), and appearance (how you look).”

Monday afternoon, Professor Tish & Dr. Jay have the pleasure of delivering their hit program, ONE COLLEGE NATION: The Executive Presence Edition at the 2025 Council for Opportunity Conference.

As it relates to career success and advancement, they provide five specific modules geared toward helping professionals build and develop their executive presence.

These five modules specifically designed for aspiring leaders who desire to build and develop their executive presence will revolve around leadership, effective communication, emotional intelligence, confidence, positive thinking, and creating a professional brand for future career and leadership success.