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EMPOWERING THE NEXTGENERATION OF LEADERSTRANSFORMINGFUTURES:BERGEN'S LATINXCEOPARTNERSHIP BUILDSBRIDGES BETWEENCOMPANIES ANDHISPANIC TALENTB E R G E N C O M M U N I T Y C O L L E G EEST. 2024 Message

About UsWhat is LatinxCEO?LatinxCEO is an innovative program atBergen Community College that helpsstudents explore career options invarious industries. Our programincludes visits to companyheadquarters, hosting guest speakerson campus, and conducting workshopson essential skills such as problem-solving, and communication skills. Byparticipating in LatinxCEO, studentsgain valuable insights, buildconnections, and develop the skillsthey need for successful careers.As an employer, partnering with usoffers invaluable benefits: gain insightsfrom talented students, elevate yourbrand visibility, and activelycontribute to the success of Hispaniccollege students.Experiential Learning EnhancesClassroom Education

Our mission is to empowerHispanic and first-generationcollege students by equippingthem with essentialprofessional developmentskills, facilitating meaningfulconnections in the real world,and offering valuable careerexploration opportunities. Westrive to prepare the nextgeneration of Hispanicleaders, break down barriers,and foster success in businessand leadership roles.MISSION STATEMENT

Talent Pipeline: Buildingstudent relationships ensuresa steady stream of futurehires.Fresh Perspectives: Studentsbring new ideas andperspectives, fosteringinnovation and creativity.Employee Development:Mentoring students enhancesemployees' leadership andcommunication skills.Brand Building: Supportingeducation initiatives booststhe company's reputation,attracting top talent andimproving brand image.Knowledge Transfer:Mentoring transfers industry-specific knowledge fromexperienced professionals tothe next generation.Diverse Talent Pool: Engagingwith diverse studentspromotes company diversity,enriching culture and decision-making.Advantages for Companies

Both individuals andcompanies areencouraged toparticipate, and noinvolvement is too minor.HOW TO PARTICIPATEHave students shadow employees inyour organizationInvite students to visit your place ofbusiness to learn about various careersConduct a mock interview with astudent to help improve theirinterviewing skillsBe a guest a speaker on campusReview a student’s resumeCost-Free Partnershipwith BergenEmpower Students to Develop Essential Workforce SkillsAbout UsScan thisQR Code tocontact usOffer internshipsProvide mentorship and guidanceHost workshops or training sessions onindustry-specific skills

“We have the opportunityto help move the needle.Today, as we introduce theLatinxCEO program, we’remaking further progress insupporting our diversecommunity and developinga next generationworkforce.”Dr. Eric M. Friedman, Bergen Community CollegePresident

4%4%LatinaExecutives atS&P 100CompaniesUSA TODAY ANALYSIS— with women facing especially disproportionate odds.Only two executives among the 533 publicly listedcorporate leaders identify as a Hispanic female.LatinxCEO, a new workforce development initiative atBergen, seeks to provide students with the resources,skills, and experience they need to challenge Hispanicunderrepresentation in the workplace.“We will have the opportunity to model communitymembers who look like us and may have had similar lifeexperiences,” student Josefhina Navarro said at theprogram’s launch event on February 21 on the College’smain campus. “Learning from those who have alreadyachieved success will help us as students understandwhat it takes to become successful.”LatinxCEO will empower aspiring Hispanic businessprofessionals by providing students with skills, real-worldconnections, and career exploration opportunities. Amongthe activities, students will network with regionalexecutives, meet entrepreneurs and participate in careershadowing, worksite visits, and mock interviews.“This must begin to change,” Dr. Friedman said at thelaunch event, commenting on the under - representationof Hispanics in leadership roles. “We have the opportunityto help move the needle. Today, as we introduce theLatinx - CEO program, we’re making further progress insupporting our diverse community and developing a nextgeneration workforce.”LatinxCEO Seeks toShatter Glass Ceiling The Bergen Community College Newsletter Volume 9, Issue 6 March 2023In the NewsAccording to a recent analysis by USA TODAY,Hispanic men and women account for less thanfour percent of executives at S&P 100 companies 41.5%41.5%

OPPO R TUN I T IES AVAI L ABLE TO S TUDE N TSExplore CareersReal World ExperiencesTour CorporationsShadow ProfessionalsDevelop and Improve SkillsAttend Guest LecturesTell Your StoryEngage in Mock InterviewsAttend Networking EventsParticipate in WorkshopsPublic SpeakingCritical ThinkingDesigning with CanvaBuilding DashboardsAdvanced ExcelChatGPT for BusinessBuild Social Media Campaigns

Booker Bolsters WorkWorkforce Initiative The Bergen Community College Newsletter Volume 10, Issue 6 April 2024In the NewsUnited States Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) hassecured $75,000 in federal funds for Bergen’sbusiness accelerator’s LatinxCEO program. The College will leverage the funding to broaden the scopeof LatinxCEO, which offers skill-building workshops,internships and industry-recognized certifications forstudents. The program launched last year and cannow expand with these additional funds..“One of my highest privileges and priorities inWashington is to fight to bring home federalresources to invest in worthy New Jersey projects,”Booker said. The College launched the LatinxCEO program as aworkforce development initiative that targetsunderrepresentation in the workplace, where Hispanicmen and women account for less than four percent ofexecutives at S&P 100 companies. This data,compiled by USA Today, showed that women facedespecially disproportionate odds — only twoexecutives among 533 publicly listed corporateleaders identify as a Hispanic female.LatinxCEO empowers aspiring Hispanic businessprofessionals by providing students with skills, real-world connections and career explorationopportunities. Among the activities, studentsnetwork with regional executives, meetentrepreneurs and participate in career shadowing,worksite visits and mock interviews. New cohortsbegin each semester.

CAREER EXPLORATIONIGNITES PASSIONBergen Students visit Party City nationalheadquarters to learn about jobs in publicrelations, human resources, finance,marketing, operations, customer service,and logistics.

Party City Partners with Bergen Community CollegeThe Bergen Community College Newsletter Volume 10, Issue 1 July 2023In the NewsOfficials from Bergen Community Collegeand Party City recently collaborated on apair of June events that provided learning opportunities for the College’s students andcompany personnel. The first event broughtstudents from Bergen’s LatinxCEO experientialeducation program and the Office of MulticulturalServices and Activities (pictured above) to PartyCity’s global headquarters in Woodcliff Lake for aday of hands-on learning. Party City executives leda panel discussion on tips for succeeding inbusiness and also sponsored interview workshopsfor the students. The College launched LatinxCEOearlier this year to provide minority students withthe resources, skills and experience they need tochallenge underrepresentation in the workplace.The program combines two priorities outlined inthe College’s strategic goals: creating newworkforce development initiatives and enhancingits approach to diversity, equity and inclusion(DEI).TOP 4 SKILLS BERGEN EMPLOYERS SEEKPROFESSIONALISMTEAM PLAYERPROBLEM SOLVERCOMMUNICATIONSOURCE: BCC EMPLOYER SURVEY 2022

LatinxCEOLaunches FallProgrammingThe LatinxCEO program hosted a falllaunchparty to coincide with the College’sHispanic Heritage Month celebration. Theevent offered students. LatinxCEO programhosted a fall launchparty to coincide with theCollege’s Hispanic Heritage Month celebration.The event offered students the opportunity tonetwork, and get tips on branding from keynotespeaker Red Shoe Movement founder and CEOMariela Dabbah. LatinxCEO began in 2023 and hosts various skilldevelopment workshops and corporate visits forstudents, leveraging relationships with more thana dozen partners. More than 200 studentsparticipate in the program’s events. Linda Caruso,Bergen for Business director, said that theprogram has grown due to student feedback. “They told us what types of professionaldevelopment would be most helpful as theynavigate their higher education and careerjourneys. We've built workshops around thoseinsights,” she said. Student Joanna Molina saidthe program helped her grow and learn valuableskills she can use after college. “I think it’s justreally nice to be in a community where there arepeople who share those values,” she said. In the NewsThe Bergen Community College Newsletter Volume 11, Issue 2 October 2024

LatinxCEO StudentsExplore Entrepreneurshipwith Avery Little ShopIn the NewsVanessa’s personal journey. They also had thechance to see cutting-edge equipment inaction, such as 3-D printers and laser cutters,which are used to bring creative designs to life. In addition to sharing her story, Vanessa led ahands-on activity where students made acrylicvision boards. To make the experience evenmore special, she generously offered eachstudent a free custom sign upon theirgraduation from Bergen Community College.owner of Avery Little Shop, an eventmanagement business located in Union City.Little Avery Shop specializes in creating unique,customized signs and event décor made fromacrylic, PVC, and metals.During the visit, students learned about theessential steps involved in starting a business,gaining insights into entrepreneurship through Agroup of LatinxCEO students recentlyhad the opportunity to visit VanessaFelix, a successful entrepreneur and

FOR MORE INFORMATION:latinxceo@bergen.edu201-879-7193HISPANIC SERVING INSTITUTIONBergen Community College is acomprehensive, publicly supportedtwo-year college that is fullyaccredited by the Commission onHigher Education of the MiddleStates Association of Colleges andSchools. The College is also aHispanic Serving Institution (HSI)certified by the HispanicAssociation of Colleges andUniversities (HACU). All photographs of students featured in this magazine are either current orformer actual students of Bergen Community College. These images have beenused with the permission of the individuals depicted. LatinxCEO takes pride inshowcasing the authentic experiences and faces of our Bergen community.