Challenge Accepted! Metro EDGE Emerge Summit Inspires Young Professionals

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What does it take to develop an edge in your career and have a positive impact?

E — Engage a diverse network

D — Develop critical business skills

G — Give back to the community

E — Empower leadership

It’s not just Sacramento Metro EDGE’s mission statement, but a motto for the hundreds of young professionals who filled the Sofia B in downtown Sacramento this month for the largest event for young professionals on the West Coast—Metro EDGE’s annual Emerge Summit.

As the Presenting Sponsor for the summit, the UC Davis Graduate School of Management’s Sacramento Part-Time MBA program had the opportunity to help plan aspects of the event and involve our MBA students.

The all-day 2022 Summit was jam-packed with themed keynotes, breakout sessions and workshops that inspired, engaged, and motivated attendees to embrace this year’s theme—“Challenge Accepted!” Each of the sessions was curated to feature local leaders who offered insights and tips for attendees to increase their marketability, step outside their comfort zone and make new connections.

The event kicked off with entertainment and direction from A La Mode, a former member of Liberty City Kings Drag and Burlesque and the current reigning Miss Gay Sacramento 2021. A La Mode’s pomp and circumstance set the stage for messages from several inspiring speakers from the Sacramento region and beyond.

UC Davis in the House

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Sacramento MBA student Leticia Garay had the honor of introducing keynote speaker Ryan Royster, a Sacramento-based co-founder of the culinary collective and brand activation agency Last Supper Society.

“I’m here to grow my community,” incoming Sacramento MBA student Marissa Hernandez said. “I’m newer to the Sacramento area, so it will be nice to get to know new businesses and industries here, and of course, to meet new people.

“I’m particularly looking forward to Professor Stephen Garcia’s presentation today because I will be taking his class this fall.”

Garcia’s talk, “The Presenter’s Paradox: When Less is More,” focused on creating strong first impressions and gave attendees the opportunity to practice a “pitching” exercise with one another to fine-tune the craft of presentation. Garcia is teaching the “The Individual and Group Dynamics” core course in the Sacramento MBA program.

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Garcia’s presentation, Hernandez said, aligned with her ideology that less is more, especially when it comes to complex business initiatives.

Meanwhile, fellow Sacramento MBA student Shivanand Shivanand attended two other sessions, “How to Crush the Transition from Peer to Manager” by Kara Fiscus, and an “Introduction to Lean Six Sigma: Why Most Leaders Lose the Continuous Improvement Battle,” by Skye Connors. He said the latter was key during his MBA program as well.

“It was very helpful to attend these sessions, and it correlates to our MBA curriculum,” Shivanand said. “The class topics are very diverse and we cover the foundation of a lot of areas. But there’s flexibility too—you can specialize in areas you want. I’m taking a “Derivative and Securities” course in the Bay Area Part-Time MBA program San Ramon. It’s a two-hour drive but . . . a nice opportunity to learn something new.”

Shivanand’s determination to branch out and take challenging finance electives offered across UC Davis MBA program locations proves that this year’s Emerge Summit accomplished its mission.