By Tanzania Kennedy
Trinity Times Correspondent 

Students at Trinity Washington University stepped beyond their classrooms and into corporate preparation through a hands-on professional development workshop hosted by global accounting, advisory and consulting firm Baker Tilly on Feb. 12 in O’Connor Auditorium.

The event was designed to provide students with practical career skills such as interviewing and professional networking and gave students the opportunity to engage directly with professionals while gaining knowledge on how to navigate the workplace.

The event was coordinated by Soulyka Agana-Woodbine, director of career development and preparation; Professor Ingrid Hayes-Burrell and Professor Bernard Grenway from the business administration program; and Barbara Goliday, director of corporate and foundation relations. It was the first event in a series hosted by the business administration program that included the Speak to Succeed Mixer held March 16 and the upcoming Shark Tank competition on March 24. These events connect students with professionals and help them build real-world business and communication skills.

The February workshop fostered a conversational learning environment where students interacted with panelists and explored professional topics in a relaxed setting. Baker Tilly also provided breakfast, and throughout the event students learned about each panelist’s professional journey, asked questions about corporate expectations, and gained insight into topics such as career development, project management, networking strategies and available internship opportunities.

Darlene Carmichael, a senior studying business administration, described the mock interview exercise as a confidence-building experience, noting that the Baker Tilly professional she worked with, David Wright, “gave little insights on what we should say when we have an interview and the dos and don’ts” of interviewing.

This workshop was operated as part of Baker Tilly’s Supporting Opportunity, Advancement and Recognition (SOAR) initiative, which reinforces career advancement for team members of color through professional development and mentorship.

Jenna Hong, manager of market intelligence-operations and lead of the D.C. SOAR initiative, said that SOAR is about “providing a sense of belonging, specifically to people of color, and providing a sense of community to people within the office.

According to Soulyka Agana-Woodbine, the goal of Trinity’s Office of Career Development is to ensure that every student graduates not only with a strong academic foundation but also the confidence, skills and professional awareness needed to succeed beyond the classroom.

“When we bring industry professionals to campus, we create intentional opportunities for students to connect classroom learning with real-world applications,” Agana-Woodbine said.

“Students had an opportunity to gain insight into the company culture, career pathways and expectations in professional services. They are hearing directly from employers what they are looking for, and I think all of this helps students understand how their academic experience translates into career opportunities,” she said, highlighting the importance of professional development events on campus.

Faculty in the business administration program noted that experiences such as this extend beyond the classroom by allowing students to apply academic concepts in professional settings.

“All the classes are interesting, but events like this bring it to reality, where the students can start to think about what they’re learning in their textbooks and how they can actualize it,” Grenway said, adding that the goal is to improve how they communicate and learn to advocate for themselves so they can move up the corporate ladder.

Building on Grenway’s remarks, Hayes-Burrell highlighted how workshops such as this provide students with opportunities to engage with industry professionals and further develop their business ideas through upcoming career-focused initiatives.

“This is one of the first events from 2026 on our calendar. We have speaking series so that [students] have an opportunity to meet professionals who are already in the workforce. We are preparing for the upcoming Shark Tank event, and that’s going to expose students to other persons who are already in the business world, and they get to hone and craft their ideas for business development, and I think that that prepares them behind these ivory walls for them to present it back to the world,” Hayes-Burrell said.

For students, participating in workshops like this helps them develop a professional mindset while preparing for workplace expectations after graduation, Hayes-Burrell added.

“Get involved in leadership. Bring your résumés. Always sit down for 30 minutes before an event to edit your résumé, bring copies with you, and hand them out to the speakers,” said Flor Menaz, president of the Business Club and a business administration major, encouraging other Trinity students to attend future events.

“One connection leads you to a bigger opportunity, and that opportunity brings you to a different opportunity,” Menaz said. “It’s really important that you get out of your comfort zone and attend these events. It doesn’t matter if you’re good at networking or not, this is what helps you get used to it. Build the courage to go up, and once you start networking, it gets easier.”

The next professional development event organized by the Business and Economic Club will be the Shark Tank competition on March 24, 2026, from noon to 2 p.m. in Main 100. Students are encouraged to RSVP for the opportunity to pitch current or future business ideas to judges. Participants are eligible to compete individually or in teams of up to three.