Dear Huskies,

Over the last few years, I’ve had the pleasure of connecting with many of you through Orientation, UConn events, virtual drop-in advising, and by supporting groups like ALPFA (Association of Latino Professionals for America) or leading the Financial Literacy and Innovation Program (FLIP). In my previous role as an Academic Advisor in the School of Business, I supported students with academic planning and decision-making. Now, as a Student Experience Specialist, I’m excited to focus even more on helping you expand your learning and growth through meaningful experiences beyond the classroom.

Now that the spring semester has wrapped up and summer is in full swing, I hope you’ve taken a moment to reflect on how far you’ve come. Your efforts this year whether in academics, involvement, leadership, or personal development have contributed to your journey in ways worth recognizing. While summer offers a well-deserved break, it also presents new opportunities to continue building toward the future you envision.

Through LAUNCH, you’ll find curated opportunities and resources to strategically engage this summer. These aren’t just buzzwords, they’re intentional ways you can align your interests with action. Whether you’re refining your major or minor, exploring career paths, or adding new tools to your toolkit, there are many ways to stay connected to your goals. Platforms like Forage offer free industry simulations to help you try out different fields. You can earn a Bloomberg certification, improve your Excel skills, or complete online marketing certificates that boost your resume and confidence. Every step you take, big or small, helps you clarify what excites you and where you might want to go next.

Summer is also a great time to reassess, refocus, and reevaluate your academic plan. Are your current courses and experiences aligned with what excites and motivates you? Are there new paths you’re curious about? Do your goals still feel like the right fit or have they shifted? This might be the perfect time to review your degree progress, explore elective options, or consider adding a minor. Taking time now to reflect and make adjustments can help you return to campus in the fall with more clarity, confidence, and intention.

So here’s my challenge: When you look back on this summer, what will you be proud to say you explored, strengthened, or discovered?

We're here to support your path, wherever it leads and look forward to seeing all that you continue to accomplish.

Best,

Jose Aponte

Student Experience Specialist and Academic Advisor

Enhance Your Industry Knowledge



Export Professional Development

Wall Street Journal Subscription

New York Times Subscription

Financial Times Subscription

Industry Snapshots in Your Major

Business Library Resources

Business Graduate Programs

MS in Supply Chain Management

LAUNCH Podcasts

BUILD Hartford

Develop Your Professional

Skill Set

Bloomberg Certificates

Micro Internships with Parker Dewey

Forage

Innovate Lab Kits

Forte Foundation Programs

Meta Certified Digital Marketing Associate certification

Google Ad's Certification

Hootsuite

Excel Proficiency

Prioritize Your Mental and Physical Wellbeing



Managing Stress and Anxiety

Guided Meditations

Mindfulness Applications

Staying Active!

Global Business Programs has created these professional development programs in partnership with Connecticut District Export Council to promote knowledge about exporting to students who may wish to have this additional skill for their résumés and potential internships.

To participate, please email Global Business. Once you have contacted Global Business Programs, you may begin any of the programs listed below. “How to Complete the Program” provides the necessary steps. 

• Export Basics
• Export Market Intelligence & Logistics
• Export Finance
• Export Compliance 1
• Export Compliance 2

Students who complete all the tracks above are eligible to participate in the Advanced Export.

UConn School of Business and The Wall Street Journal have partnered to provide a school-sponsored WSJ subscription to all University of Connecticut students, faculty and staff. Through the partnership, subscribers will have full digital access to WSJ’s award-winning journalism via WSJ.com and the app, as well as a wide variety of curated content, from podcasts and newsletters to career insights and personal finance advice.

Why The Wall Street Journal is right for University of Connecticut students:

The Wall Street Journal offers students unrivaled coverage of business, finance, politics and world news, including focused insight into career development, technology, health, arts and culture.

About The Wall Street Journal

The Wall Street Journal is a global news organization that provides leading news, information, commentary and analysis. Published by Dow Jones, The Wall Street Journal engages readers across print, digital, mobile, social and video. It holds 38 Pulitzer Prizes for outstanding journalism.

About The New York Times

The New York Times is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. The New York Times covers domestic, national, and international, news and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews.

Steps to Activate

• Navigate to https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/edu-access
• Click "Create Account" and complete all required fields; you must use your UConn email
• Verify your account via the confirmation email

Business students sign up for free and see reporting from 700+ journalists on FT.com and apps. There are newsletters covering corporate finance to sustainability and in-depth special reports on industries and countries.

Steps to Activate

• Navigate to ft.business.uconn.edu
• You must log in with your NetID and password to activate

Click on the link below to join Kelly Kenndy in learning more about a variety of industries.



Current topics include the following:

• Sales
• Cosmetic Industry
• Technology
• Big Tech and Social Media
• Internet and Direct Marketing
• How to Tell Your Career Story
• Management Consulting
• Fashion Retail Industry
• Graduate School
• Financial Technology
• Moody's Credit Rating Industry
• Fashion

Additional topics to be added, so make sure to check out the link periodically!

Consider getting involved with your local library this summer and see how they can assist with your professional goals!

Libraries are a great source of entertainment from onsite books and movies to audiobooks and e-books via apps like Libby and Hoopla. Many libraries offer access to Kanopy which is a streaming service as well as free or reduced museum passes. Libraries often times have social events, printing services and other resources. Look into your local library to see what resources peak your interest.

Interested in additional degrees or certifications?



UConn’s graduate business programs can offer you all of the skills and intelligence you need to distinguish yourself, allowing you to be more competitive, innovative, and successful in life, as well as in your career.

Interested in learning how to do the following?

• optimize supply chain operations to increase efficiency and reduce costs,
• leverage technology to innovate and improve logistics and distribution networks,
• drive sustainable business practices through green supply chains and responsible sourcing
• navigate global supply chain complexities, including risk management and supplier relations,
• integrate emerging technologies, like AI, blockchain and data analytics to enhance decision-making

In Fall 2025, the UConn School of Business will launch a Master of Science in Supply Chain Management program designed to meet the increasing demand for skilled professionals in the field. This program is open to individuals with diverse educational backgrounds and provides the expertise needed to drive business success in a rapidly evolving global marketplace.

Students will attend a weekly 3-credit course to gain knowledge about the entrepreneurial ecosystem within Hartford. This provides opportunities for students to analyze real world data and listen to speakers that not only have experience in entrepreneurship but also have a city connection. Students will gain an understanding of how to create strategic plans and communicate their ideas to stakeholders. BADM 4895, Section 701 will take place on Wednesdays from 1 PM - 4 PM.

Why Join?

• Gain crucial skills in digital storytelling and business communication.
• Empower yourself as a change agent with tools for positive impact.
• Connect with the Hartford business community through networking opportunities.
• Deepen your understanding of the local business landscape.

Please note the following:

• This course is open to all students, undergraduates and graduates on any campus. Majors/minors may include, but are not limited to: Management, Marketing, Communication, Journalism, Digital Media & Design, and Video Production.
• Registration will reopen on July 30, 2025

The Bloomberg Market Concepts (BMC) is an 10-hour, self-paced e-learning course that provides a visual introduction to the financial markets. The BMC consists of 8 modules – Economic Indicators, Currencies, Fixed Income, Equities, Commodities, Equity Options, Portfolio Management, and Terminal Basics

The Bloomberg Finance Fundamentals (BFF) is a 6-hour self-paced e-learning course. Students will learn the basics of finance, the basics of investments, how to determine risks and rewards within investments, and be exposed to different career paths in finance. This course consists of 4 modules – The Purpose of Investing, Types of Investments, Risk and Reward, and Portfolio Management.

The Bloomberg Environmental Social Governance (ESG) is a 7-hour self-paced e-learning course. This course will consist of 7 modules – Introduction to ESG and Sustainable Finance, Researching and Adopting ESG, Negative Screening and Positive Screening, and ESG Integration – Fixed Income, ESG Integration – Equities, Corporate Governance & Shareholder Activism, and Reporting Sustainability Activities.

All UConn students are able to complete the Bloomberg e-certifications course from their laptop or home computer. No remote or in-person access to the Bloomberg terminals is necessary.

Click on the link below to begin. If you already have a BMC profile, log in and you are all set to complete the course. If you do not have a BMC profile, please sign up with a valid UConn email.

My Forage experience was incredibly valuable. Forage helped me explore various career path and provided me with skills and certifications. After completing the program, I also received helpful tips on interviewing, resume writing, and increasing my chances of landing a job with my preferred company.

Persephone D.

Finance Major | Class of 2027

FORAGE is a real-time job simulation tool for students to explore career pathways. This will help you be confident as you peruse which business major and/or minor may be right for your academic and professional goals. This will help you feel confident in your chosen major and path. New simulations are added all the time, so please be on the lookout!

• This is a no-risk-high-reward exercise.
• There is no penalty for stops or unfinished work.
• Try as many as you want.
• Option to allow companies to see your work for potential future hiring.
• Your resume/LINKEDIN can differentiate yourself by highlighting these.
• 90 positions (marketing, tech, analytics, IB) tied to all business majors.
• Companies: Bank of America, Goldman Sachs, Lululemon, SAP, etc. 

Innovate Labs research specialists have identified 10 fields of emerging technologies, which are broken down across 10 learning blocks within the lab. Each learning block contains 3 tech tracks, each of which focuses on a specific technology within that emerging tech sector. Each tech track contains 3 tech kits which are further broken down into three different difficulty tiers: beginner, intermediate and advanced. Each tech kit is self-guided and meant to be completed within 30 – 60 minutes.

Virtual Lab through VIBE in HuskyCT:

• Artificial Intelligence
• Data Visualization
• Predictive Analytics
• Programming
• Blockchain

All undergraduate School of Business students have access to Forte's many benefits including:

The Forte Job Center: Upload your resume, customize your job search and access job postings from 100+ Fortune 500 companies!

Earn a Career Ready Certificate: Make a great impression on top employers through live workshops and have your resume included in an exclusive resume book provided only to Forte's top corporate partners

Skill and Industry guides: Soft skills are universal and essential in any industry. Gain insights into soft skills such as time management, how to actively listen to others, or how to build your resume.

Virtual College Women's Conference: This virtual conference and career expo offers professional development workshops designed to help you learn from the experiences of women business leaders. This conference will be held in Spring 2026.

Forte College Fast Track to Finance Conference: Learn how finance can be a great career path for students of all majors. This conference will be held in Fall 2025 in New York City

Find these resources and more when you create your free affiliate Forte membership using your UConn email address.

The Meta Certified Digital Marketing Associate certification validates your knowledge and skills in digital marketing, specifically using Meta's platforms like Facebook and Instagram. It covers key areas such as:

• Advertising Fundamentals: Understanding ad formats, objectives, and audience targeting.
• Campaign Management: Skills for creating, managing, and optimizing marketing campaigns.
• Analytics: Utilizing insights and data to measure campaign performance and make informed decisions.
• Content Strategy: Crafting engaging content tailored to target audiences.

Any of the below certifications could be valuable based on your specific goals; however, these certifications stand out as nice complements to what you will learn or have learned in MKTG 3101.

• Google ads certification – measurement certification
• Google Ads Creative certification
• Get Started using Google Analytics (GA4)

The “Hootsuite Platform Certification Course” is a good option for students interested in social media marketing. The beginner course for demonstrating knowledge of the Hootsuite platform, and the training is free, however, the certification is $100.

Excel proficiency is a key skill frequently listed in internship and entry-level job descriptions across all industries and applies to all academic majors. As Steve Wilson, Director of the UConn Opportunity Fund, puts it: “Excel is the language of business, and fluency is essential for success. Your competition at other schools understands this fact.”

To stand out and enhance your competitiveness, here are two recommended ways to deepen your Excel expertise and strengthen your resume at no cost to you FORAGE:



• Go to the link below
• Find & sign up for the Goldman Sachs “Excel Skills for Business”

Do you have a suggestion for content and questions? Email jose.a.aponte@uconn.edu