Kohawk soars to New York City for Diversity & Inclusion Forum
Emani Brinkman ’21
Emani Brinkman ’21, a Coe College environmental studies, business and economics major, was selected to attend the Bank of America Elevating Careers Diversity & Inclusion Forum in New York City.
This all-expense paid forum provides ethnically diverse first-year and sophomore college students the opportunity to take an in-depth look at the financial services industry. Emani was one of 100 students chosen from a pool of over 1,700 applicants.
“The majority of students I met were from Ivy Leagues and the West Coast,” Emani said. “It was an honor to be one of only two students from Iowa attending the forum.”
On the first day of the two-day forum, attendees were introduced to career paths Bank of America offers. The day concluded with an opportunity to network with Bank of America professionals and fellow student attendees.
“The second day was all about us,” Emani said. Attendees took part in mock interviews, resume-building sessions and personal-branding workshops. Throughout the forum, attendees are encouraged to develop relationships with Bank of America professionals and prepare for the 2020 intern application and interview process.
“I’ve been considering a career in environmental consulting, but this forum showed me career options in the financial services industry,” Emani said. “I can see myself in New York. I made a strong connection with a Bank of America recruiter, and I know we’ll keep in touch.”
Emani learned of the Bank of America Elevating Careers Diversity & Inclusion Forum through Coe’s Center for Creativity and Careers’ Handshake (an online portal connecting students with alumni, internships and job opportunities.) “I was scrolling through Handshake and saw this forum,” Emani said.
“I’ve utilized Coe’s Center for Creativity and Careers (C3) since I started at Coe. They helped me with my resume, cover letter and interviewing skills,” Emani said. “C3 helped prepare me for this opportunity.”