{"id":27194,"date":"2016-08-23T09:06:31","date_gmt":"2016-08-23T13:06:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/biznews.fiu.edu\/?p=27194"},"modified":"2016-12-15T13:26:28","modified_gmt":"2016-12-15T18:26:28","slug":"maldonado-scholars-take-in-new-york-step-up-to-career-success","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/biznews.fiu.edu\/2016\/08\/maldonado-scholars-take-in-new-york-step-up-to-career-success\/","title":{"rendered":"Global Scholars take in New York, step up to career success."},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Maldonado<\/p>\n

When it comes to business, New York City is where the world meets. Global headquarters, stock exchanges, big banks and countless opportunities draw some of the world\u2019s finest financial minds.<\/p>\n

In the past few years, the College of Business\u2019 Career Management Services began to introduce small groups of students to New York through company visits and tours.<\/p>\n

The effort, and its potential to change lives, attracted the attention of Eric (BBA \u201986) and Sandi (BS \u201989) Maldonado, two successful FIU alumni who are now based in New York. The trip has evolved into the Global Scholars Program, an ambitious introduction to the elements of career success in a global business capital.<\/p>\n

Eric is a graduate of the College of Business, an FIU Business Hall of Fame inductee and a successful New York businessman. Sandi, an alumnus of the College of Arts, Sciences and Education, has a strong track record as a successful home decor entrepreneur.<\/p>\n

Determined to reinforce a culture of success, they decided to fund travel costs for ten outstanding business students whose academic and professional records demonstrated strong potential for successful careers.<\/p>\n

\"Eric
Eric Maldonado<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cIn addition to creating a positive experience for students,\u201d said Eric Maldonado BBA \u201886, \u201cwe wanted to help them realize the power of the FIU alumni network, which they will\u00a0be part of going forward.\u201d<\/p>\n

The first Global Scholars Program took place in April 2016. Ten students, chosen from a group of over 150 applicants, arrived in New York accompanied by John Nykolaiszyn, interim director of Career Management Services, and Acting Dean Jose Aldrich. At sessions prior to the trip, Nykolaiszyn coached students on company research and prepared them for everything from the frenetic pace of New York (look everywhere) to the rigors of subway travel (wear comfortable shoes and change to high heels in the lobby).<\/p>\n

The Maldonados also saw the potential for long-lasting, far-reaching goals.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat motivated us was the desire to increase the awareness of opportunities in New York City for graduating FIU business students,\u201d Eric Maldonado said. \u201cWe also wanted to give students real visibility to world-class businesses, to help them make their career goals more tangible.\u201d<\/p>\n

It was a whirlwind tour of a diverse set of companies that help drive the New York economy: The Related Group, L\u2019oreal, banking giants Citi and BNY Mellon, BlackRock, the mutual fund leader, NASDAQ, and Markit.<\/p>\n