This Dillard University Alumna Is Creating Innovating Ways To Improve The Recruitment Of HBCU Grads To Companies

Burnish your résumé, and spruce up your LinkedIn profile. If you’re a black professional, here’s great news on the careers front: Accenture, the leading global professional services company, is partnering with HBCU 20×20, a national diversity and inclusion program to host a series of professional networking events in cities across the country.

Called Network 2 Net Worth, the series will target black professionals, especially graduates of historically black colleges.

Read more from our partners over at Black Enterprise:Hampton University Grad And Black Panther’s Costume Designer On Being Inspired By Ancient African Tribes

At Accenture, we’re working to increase the diversity of our workforce at all levels and across all backgrounds, and to create a workplace where everyone feels comfortable to be their true authentic selves,” says Chantel Soverall, North America ethnicity recruiting leader at Accenture. “We are thrilled to partner with HBCU 20×20 to create this unique experience for our people and communities, and to help underrepresented professionals achieve greater career opportunity.”

In an innovative twist, Network 2 Net Worth shifts the business connection to a more social setting. Instead of speed dating, there will be speed networking, during which professionals will have three to five minutes to pitch their résumés to recruiters from Accenture. They will also learn more about the company and hear from its leadership.

Attendees will also learn about other tech companies that value diversity. In a more relaxed setting, they will meet business leaders and network with like-minded professional peers.

“When we created HBCU 20×20, we knew we wanted to create innovative ways to improve the recruitment of people of color to companies, especially for graduates and alumni from HBCUs,” says Nicole Tinson-Johnson, president and CEO of Jobs R 4 U. “Our goal for HBCU 20×20 and Network 2 Net Worth is simple—to directly connect HBCU graduates and underrepresented talent to companies and develop a talent pipeline. Our Network 2 Net Worth series provides attendees with an opportunity to meet and interact with recruiters while enjoying music, hors d’oeuvres, and a drink or two after work. It’s truly a win for all parties involved.”

The first event takes place Feb. 22 in Atlanta at Suite Food Lounge; subsequent events will be held in Seattle, the Bay Area, Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington, D.C., and New York.

Sign up here. For more information about HBCU 20×20, visit www.hbcu20x20.org. To learn more about careers at Accenture, visit www.accenture.com/careers.

https://instagram.com/p/BeGHm5bgV1j/

This story was written by Robin White Goode, the Editor of Black Enterprise, where it originally published. This story is published here with permission.