During fall break, more than 130 certificate students participated in four hands-on workshops: Global E&I, Business Basics, Finance Boot Camp, and Global Supply Chain.
Through these experiences, students explored how their liberal arts education can open doors in business, finance, and entrepreneurship while developing practical skills they can apply beyond the classroom and throughout their careers.
Global E&I Workshop
During the Global E&I Workshop, students learned how to turn complex global challenges into actionable solutions using Ycenter’s award-winning human-centered design framework. They practiced identifying meaningful problems, brainstorming creative solutions, and building business models around their ideas.
The workshop concluded with students designing and pitching their solutions, showcasing both their AI-generated prototypes and the business ideas behind them. Catherine Cox ’29 found the experience valuable beyond the workshop itself: “I really enjoyed and valued every activity within the workshop. I was able to think about business from a more specialized, and in depth, way. This helped me to further my own business idea which I presented on the final day of the course.”
Business Basics
Students put business concepts into practice during a team-based buildathon, where they identified a problem, developed a business idea, and presented their findings. Throughout the program, students developed practical skills in product development, go-to-market strategy, financial modeling, and communication.
Congratulations to Finn Gallagher ’30, Fiona Greaney ’29, Hannah Mangiacotti ’29, Callie Saris ’28, and Coleman Williams ’29 of Team CutDash for taking home the grand prize!
“It was super valuable,” shares Gabby O’Brien ’29, “as a liberal arts college student who wants to go into the business field but didn’t know where to start.”
Finance Boot Camp
Students traveled to New York City to meet with Wall Street professionals at J.P. Morgan, Crédit Agricole, KeyBank, and Barclays, connecting with more than 130 alumni working across the financial services industry. Through networking and panel discussions, students explored career paths across sales and trading, wealth management, and investment banking.
Students also analyzed current market events, developed and defended their own market perspectives, and practiced interview-style exercises, including sales pitches and analytical challenges. These experiences helped them build the knowledge, communication skills, and confidence needed to pursue careers in finance.
Supply Chain Management
Over four days, students explored careers in global supply chain through industry visits, conversations with alumni, and hands-on activities. At Polar Beverages, they observed the production and distribution process firsthand, gaining insight into the coordination required to bring products to market.
Students also toured a local manufacturing facility, spoke with supply chain managers, and worked with Holy Cross vendors to learn about the logistics of moving goods and services around the world.
Thank you to all of our amazing alumni hosts, presenters, and mentors for sharing their time, knowledge, and experiences with our students and helping bring these learning opportunities to life!
Written by Lauren Yee ’28