Summer Business Boot Camp
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Launch of Program: 2023
*Information regarding our 3rd Annual Business Boot Camp will be released Fall 2024.
We invite high school students (open to rising 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th graders) to our Summer Business Boot Camp. High school students will learn about business, leadership, entrepreneurship, choosing majors and minors, preparing for professional careers, and gaining admission into Rutgers School of Business–Camden (RSBC). They will also have the opportunity to network with business professionals, professors, staff, undergraduate students, and other high school students, as well as take a tour Rutgers University–Camden.
This free Boot Camp is designed to be fun-filled and interactive. Use the link or QR code on the flyer to register, but due to limited space, registration does not guarantee admission to our Boot Camp. Admission decisions to our Boot Camp will be emailed separately. Additionally, due to the limited space, this is a student-only event (parents are asked to drop-off and pick up students as needed).
Agenda
Boot Camp Seminar Topics and Presenters
Presentation & Confidence: Allow Me to Introduce Myself Interactive Seminar
In this interactive seminar, students will learn strategies and tips to improve their public speaking skills and project greater confidence to help them be more successful in the business world. Students are encouraged to ask questions in this seminar.
Presenter: Natalie Cox
Natalie Cox is a higher education professional and student advocate who manages employer relationships, the internship and mentorship programs, and offers career coaching, professional development, and experiential learning opportunities for undergraduate students at RSBC. Additionally, she is an adjunct professor in the undergraduate program who has embraced her passion for inspiring youth to envision their academic and career success by empowering them to build a foundation of excellence on their journey to accomplished careers, leadership, and life work.
Natalie’s career has included corporate, non-profit, government, and academic sectors, and includes freelance graphic design and marketing consulting. She is a local change agent who lives her faith daily while serving in her church, municipal, and community organizations.
Natalie has earned a Rutgers Bachelor’s in Management; an MBA in Marketing with a focus in Customer Analytics; and most recently, a master’s degree in Public Affairs, in pursuit of a PhD in the field. In her spare time, Natalie enjoys R&B line dancing, travelling internationally, and spending quality time with family! Natalie’s motto is to live life “more abundantly.”
College Readiness: Exploring Majors/Minors Panel
In this interactive seminar, students will hear from professors, advisors, and current students about what it takes to gain admission into Rutgers School of Business-Camden and how they should think about choosing a major and minor and what opportunities they can explore with them. Students are encouraged to ask questions in this seminar.
Presenters: Genesis Alves, Dr. José Beltran, Madeline Machowski, Dan Rosenthal
Genesis Alves, MBA, is an Academic Advisor at RSBC and supports the undergraduate students’ professional, personal, and academic goals in a variety of settings. In her 9+ years in higher education, she has a holistic student-centered advising approach and a passion for student support and success. She is a certified academic coach who fosters meaningful relationships by aiding in the college transition, major and career exploration, and utilization of resources to assist students achieve academic, personal, and professional goals. As a first-generation college graduate and a proud Latina, Genesis values embracing the unique needs of each student.
Genesis is a proud two-time alumna of RSBC, where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Management and Master of Business Administration in International Business. She is an avid traveler and is passionate about volunteering in underserved populations across Latin America, as well dedicating time to serve in the community at various capacities.
Dr. José Beltran, Assistant Professor of Human Resources/Organizational Behavior at RSBC, is a researcher and scholar, driven by his passion for advancing knowledge in the field of management. He earned his Ph.D. from Iowa State University, specializing in meta-analytical methods, big data applications in management, and the operationalization of psychological constructs, such as personality and performance. Throughout his academic journey, Jose actively contributed to the scholarly community through multiple peer-reviewed publications in journals, such as the Journal of Organizational Behavior and HRM Journal. He showcases his commitment to sharing knowledge by presenting his research at prestigious conferences, including AOM and SMS, as well as conducting methodological workshops at AOM and The PhD Project. Jose’s research revolves around strategic leadership, honesty-humility in upper echelons, and the impact of generative AI. Beyond his academic pursuits, he engages in valuable service activities, including contributions to The PhD Project.
Madeline Machowski is a senior, graduating from Rutgers–Camden in December 2024. She is majoring in Finance and has a minor in Marketing. As an active member of the campus community, Madeline is a member of the Beta Alpha Psi and Student Finance Association, and the Treasurer of the Rutgers Women in Business Alliance. She commutes to Rutgers֪–Camden but loves to spend time on campus studying outside on a park bench or meeting friends at Starbucks or the Campus Center. Beyond her campus involvement, she is employed as the assistant to the Chief Financial Officer of Camden County, currently assisting in grant compliance and a fintech project. Madeline holds a certificate in Real Estate Finance and Investment from Fordham University and hopes to use her new finance degree to pursue a career in real estate acquisitions analysis.
Dan Rosenthal is a 2014 Rutgers MBA alum and has been with the Rutgers School of Business for eight years, providing one-on-one professional coaching for students in areas, such as resume critiques, mock interviews, and job search strategies. He also manages the school’s data to keep colleagues informed of important information while ensuring degree programs are ranked every year for the US News & World Report.
Recently, Dan co-designed and managed a cat lounge, where people came to de-stress and enjoy the playful silliness and peaceful sleepiness of adoptable cats. In the more distant past, he wore a lab coat doing drug discovery research for Johnson & Johnson. During his 15-year journey with them, Dan co-authored 14 peer-reviewed manuscripts and helped discover treatments for central nervous system and metabolic disorders.
Dan’s innate curiosity and biological knowledge were the reasons he was recently recruited to serve as Research Director for a new non-profit organization, the Shinn Foundation, whose mission is to ensure sustainability of our natural world while educating the public in an easy-to-understand and interactive manner.
Leadership and Technology Panel
In this interactive seminar, students will hear from business professionals who are effectively leading teams or who are in the tech industry. Panelists will cover various topics around effectively managing teams, getting promotions, and how technology is impacting their organizations. Students are encouraged to ask questions in this seminar.
Presenters: Kerry Benson, Ojobo Agbo Eje, Kaylah Norris, Marianne Taylor, Kadeem Williams
Kerry R. Benson is a seasoned technology executive, investor, and entrepreneur with over 35 years of success spanning financial services, healthcare, manufacturing, and the public sector. He excels in digital transformation, strategic planning, cybersecurity strategy, audit, operations, and M&A due diligence. As the President and CEO of Big Edge Advisors, Kerry is a trusted advisor to C-suite executives and founders of small and medium-sized businesses, providing expertise in technology implementation and strategy execution through strategic partnerships.
Kerry’s previous roles include Managing Director and Chief Information Officer at PFM for over 14 years, where he led technology and service delivery strategies across various subsidiaries, including PFM Financial Advisory, LLC and PFM Asset Management, LLC, which managed $170 billion in assets. He was pivotal in crafting PFM’s 5-year strategic plan, developing the technology roadmap for PFM Asset Management, and establishing the firm’s cybersecurity program.
Prior to PFM, Kerry was Vice President in Global Technology Services at State Street Bank, overseeing technology operations for Merrill Lynch Investment Management’s $190 billion assets. As a Senior Manager at Deloitte Consulting, he served clients like JP Morgan, State Street Bank, Owens Corning, the University of Medicine and Dentistry of NJ, Tenet Healthcare, and the State of NJ.
Kerry is deeply committed to community service, having served on the Board of Managers for The Philadelphia Foundation for nine years, holding roles such as Treasurer and Chairman of the Finance Committee. He also contributed to the University Science Center’s board, serving on the Audit Committee and the Capital Advisory Board. Additionally, he was a board member for Continuum Companies, Inc., a property management conglomerate. Kerry is also a private investor and advisor to start-up and middle-market companies in financial services, real estate, ed-tech, and pharma-tech.
Kerry holds an MBA in Finance from New York University’s Leonard N. Stern Business School and a BBA in Information Systems from Bernard M. Baruch College.
Ojobo Agbo Eje is an Artificial Intelligence enthusiast and the author of the book, A Layman’s Guide to understanding Artificial Intelligence. He has over 9 years working experience spanning sectors like technology, education and consulting, where he has helped private and non-governmental organizations improve their people, process, and profits using data backed decisions and strategy.
Most recently, he was invited as a delegate to the World Bank Youth Summit ’24, along with 250 Young People Leading Digital Transformation, where his team won the Europe/Central Asia regional case challenge and were finalists for the Global Case Challenge.
He is also a graduate student of Data Science at the Rutgers University– Camden Graduate School of Arts and Science, where he is presently learning and researching how Machine Learning and AI can be used in predictive/preventive health care and business. Alongside other leadership positions he has held over the years, he is also the At-Large-Representative for Graduate Students at the Student Governing Association.
Kaylah Norris is a seasoned professional with a deep-rooted passion for bridging the realms of business and technology. Armed with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a minor in Law, Kaylah is currently pursuing her MBA in Strategic Leadership, further enhancing her skills and expertise.
Kaylah’s journey in Information Technology began in high school back in 2009, marking over a decade of dedicated involvement in the field. Her academic pursuits led her to Rutgers University, where she not only excelled academically but also demonstrated exceptional leadership qualities while working for the IT department. She played a pivotal role in the University Senate, contributed to the Women in IT group, and actively engaged in mentorship programs, showcasing her commitment to fostering growth and diversity in the tech community.
Currently serving as a Senior Manager of IT at Minerva University, Kaylah spearheads strategic IT initiatives and projects that drive innovation and efficiency within the organization. Her role involves leveraging technology to enhance the overall academic and operational experience at Minerva University, ensuring that cutting-edge solutions are deployed to meet the evolving needs of students, faculty, and staff.
Over 20+ years, Marianne Taylor has held several leadership roles at American Water, focusing on talent acquisition, organization development, and learning.
Marianne assumed the newly created role of Senior Director of Employee Experience and Talent Development in October, developing a comprehensive, enterprise-wide strategy while building a center of expertise. In addition, Marianne structured the learning and development team to American Water’s leadership development focus. In February 2023, she was promoted to Vice President, Employee Experience & Talent Development.
Marianne holds a bachelor’s degree from Millersville University of Pennsylvania and is a SHRM Senior Certified Professional and a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR).
Kadeem Williams is a Certified Project Manager and MBA graduate with expertise in data analytics, project management, and agile application development. With a track record of success, Kadeem has made significant contributions to various organizations, including implementing the shared services office at Rutgers Camden and structuring a Project Management Office (PMO) at Subaru Headquarters in Camden, New Jersey.
Notably, Kadeem has also played a pivotal role in strengthening cybersecurity structures through work on the Department of Homeland Security’s Continuous Diagnostic and Mitigation efforts.
Currently, Kadeem is dedicated to empowering young adults from Black and Latino demographics to enter the tech industry, particularly in business analytics, development, and automation engineering. As a licensed member of PMI PMP, Kadeem brings both expertise and passion to the field, making him an invaluable asset to any business-focused discussion.
Summer Business Boot Camp Photos - 2024
Summer Business Boot Camp Photos - 2023
For more information about Summer Business Boot Camp contact:
Dr. Oscar Holmes IV
Associate Professor of Managemen
(856) 225-6593
Oscar.HolmesIV@rutgers.edu