From the NBMBAA Expo Floor to Netflix HQ
A group of MBA students from Baylor University's Hankamer School of Business traveled to Los Angeles this fall for the National Black MBA Association (NBMBAA) Annual Conference and Career Expo, where they met with Fortune 500 recruiters, sat for interviews and walked away with new connections.
Led by Amine Qourzal, the associate director of Graduate Career Management with the Baylor University Career Center, the group included both returning attendees and students experiencing the conference for the first time.
Preparing with Purpose
For Qourzal, the value of the conference is simple.
"National Black is the premier career fair for our MBA students because it brings Fortune 500 companies into the same room as our students," he said. "This is an incredible opportunity for them to network with employers who are specifically recruiting MBA-level candidates."
The students treated it that way. Current MBA student Alex Roppelt built a spreadsheet of every attending company, including industries, open positions and links to job descriptions. He then ranked them into A, B and C tiers, and applied to roles before arriving in Los Angeles.
"When you have a clear target, you carry yourself with a different level of intention, and it's much easier to recognize opportunities when they arise," Roppelt said. "After all, it's difficult to know whether you've hit or missed without knowing what you're aiming for."
Staying focused also meant keeping the purpose of the trip front and center, even in a city as exciting as Los Angeles.
"Preparation requires sacrifice," Roppelt said. "Yes, you're in a beautiful city, and there's plenty to experience, but ultimately, you're there for an opportunity."
Jess Hodgdon took a similar approach, polishing her resume, researching companies and their open roles, and preparing questions for her top choices.
"It was a great opportunity to grow professionally and advance my career by talking with business professionals firsthand," she said.
On the Expo Floor
With hundreds of companies and thousands of students and professionals in one place, the Career Expo rewarded students who arrived with a game plan.
"You can't control the chaos around you, but you can control how prepared you are, where you invest your time and how you carry yourself through it," Roppelt said.
For Hodgdon, the energy on the floor was a push to step up.
"When we first walked into the Career Expo it was a lot to take in," Hodgdon said. "Being surrounded by so many driven professionals really pushed me to step outside of my comfort zone and make the most of every conversation."
Hodgdon, who is pursuing the new Environmental Sustainability concentration, found that fewer sustainability-focused companies meant more time with the ones that were there. Those conversations opened doors to internship opportunities with industry leaders in sustainable business.
"It was a great opportunity to represent Baylor MBA and the new Environmental Sustainability concentration," she said.
For Roppelt, one of the most meaningful opportunities came after the expo had closed for the day. A conversation with a recruiter from a company he was especially interested in turned into a talk about his background and life in general. With more than 230 people already in the queue and the next day's interview schedule full, the recruiter spent nearly 20 minutes rearranging it to make room for him.
The next day, Roppelt spent about four and a half hours with that company's team, completing two rounds of interviews and an Excel assessment.
"Genuine relationships and intentional conversations can open doors that might otherwise remain closed," he said.
Qourzal saw that same drive throughout the trip.
"Across the board, all of them demonstrated tenacity in delivering their personal brand effectively to every recruiter they met," he said.
Behind the Scenes at Netflix
A highlight of the trip came courtesy of Ahmad Jenkins, MBA/ME '13, a member of the MBA Advisory Council and head of Cost Strategy at Netflix.
"Ahmad graciously invited our group to stop by and have lunch with him while we were in Los Angeles," Qourzal said. "His invitation also included a tour of Netflix HQ and an information session where he talked about the culture and careers at Netflix."
The tour took students across the campus.
"We got to see the helicopter pad, some of the production studios and the Hollywood sign in the distance," Roppelt said. "A few members of our group even recognized actresses from one of their favorite shows and had the chance to take pictures with them."
The visit also brought an unexpected moment when one of Netflix's co-CEOs came down the stairs and introduced himself to the group.
"When you think about the reach Netflix has and its influence on entertainment and culture, it was one of those moments where you stop and think, 'How many people get the opportunity to experience something like this?'" Roppelt said. "It was a pretty incredible experience."
Hodgdon agreed.
"Visiting Netflix was definitely a highlight of the trip," she said. "It was great to get an inside look at Netflix HQ, learn more about the business and even meet one of the co-CEOs!"
For Hodgdon, the visit was also a look at where a Baylor MBA can lead.
"It was amazing to see how Ahmad Jenkins, a Baylor MBA alum, has used his MBA to build a successful career at Netflix," she said. "His insight and advice were truly invaluable."
Next Stop, Atlanta
Beyond the interviews and the visit to Netflix, Hodgdon said the moments that stuck with her most were the evenings spent with classmates after long days of networking.
"Taking the time to share stories from the day and celebrate each other's successes reminded me how lucky I am to be part of such a supportive community," she said.
Next year's conference will be held in Atlanta, and all three encourage students to take advantage of the opportunity.
"My biggest advice would be to say yes," Hodgdon said. "My best experiences so far have come from pushing myself to say yes. Going to the NBMBAA Conference opened so many doors for me, and I'm grateful to Baylor for making the opportunity possible.”
Roppelt's advice is to have a plan before arriving. He recommends ranking companies by priority, applying to top choices ahead of time and visiting those booths early, while recruiters are fresh and interview slots are still open.
"The biggest lesson I took away is that opportunity often comes down to preparation, clarity and the willingness to put yourself out there," he said.
Qourzal echoed that advice.
"Don't miss it," Qourzal said. "This is by far the best career fair available to our students, and with a little preparation, it has the potential to land them a great career."
