How much learning can you squeeze into a half-day? Quite a bit, as proven by members of the International Business Honor Society (IBHS), a student organization in the College of Business Administration at Florida International University (FIU).
Recently, ten students spent the morning at Columbus Networks, a telecommunications services provider of broadband and IP services to telecom carriers, television cable companies, internet service providers and network integrators.
“This was part of IBHS’s corporate visit series, offering members a glimpse at businesses affecting Miami-Dade and Broward counties,” said IBHS vice-president Victoria Palma, also the HR coordinator at Columbus Networks. Palma planned the visit for the group.
The team at Columbus Networks gave the students an in-depth look at many facets of their business and strategy. Talking and networking with the students were:
- Paul Scott, president and chief operating officer
- Silvia Piedra, HR manager
- Vicky Rubio, service implementation manager
- Javier Alonso, IP engineer
- Juan C. Pena, controller
- Javier Pereira, director of product development
- Mary Beltran, director of international legal affairs
“Interacting with different executives enabled us to learn specifics about many aspects of the business,” said IBHS member Silvia Morales.
Graduating senior Jhon F. Ospina appreciated the opportunity.
“There was much valuable information, all in a half day,” he said. “It was an enjoyable and interesting professional experience.”
Students were especially impressed with the attention given to them by Scott, who has more than 20 years of telecommunications industry experience including sub-sea networks, fixed line, wireless technologies, broadband, cable TV and the satellite industry.
“The visit provided FIU students a much greater understanding of public and private sector organizations’ increasing reliance on regional and global high speed broadband fiber optic networks,” he said.
Future corporate excursions are planned for IBHS members.
“These small group visits to companies and industries, including last spring’s to the Port of Miami, are extremely beneficial,” Palma said. “Being able to visit companies not easily accessible otherwise helps us prepare for our professional lives.”
