The Intern Suite

Ready for the Meeting? No Plan. No Way.

 

 

Don’t allow summer’s warm and enticing weather to make you forget the reason you’re enrolled in college or in the midsts of celebrating graduation.  As Atlanta Tribune: The Magazine presents it’s Get Down To Business Conference, today May  24th, I think it’s imperative that we brush up on our business meeting and conference etiquette and preparation. 

Preparing for a Business Meeting

• Set a goal and an agenda for the meeting.  Prepare a schedule if there will be multiple speakers or presenters.
• Send out time and location details to all participants.  Email conference call-in numbers and codes if you are arranging a phone meeting.
• Prepare for any needed equipment. Know how to hook your laptop up to the projector so that you don't have to waste valuable meeting time dealing with technical details.
• Take your presentation for a test drive before you do it in front of clients. Make sure your sales or investment pitch is professional, concise and interesting. Endless charts projected on a screen don't make for compelling meetings. Understand your audience, how you can meet their needs and what goals you want to reach.
• Remind participants 24 hours ahead, or on the morning of, the actual meeting. Aim to start the meeting promptly at the given time.

Provided by Amanda C. Kooser, Demand Media

Preparing for a Business Conference

In order to fully immersive yourself in a business conference, small business consultant  offers six key points of advice. (Via shetakesontheworld.com)

• Preplan your Day-Most conferences require a full day of your time.  It is important to look and feel your best; wear appropriate and professional attire and comfortable shoes.

• Pick your Sessions-If the conference agenda is available in advance, take time to map out a strategy to select sessions that are most beneficial to improve your skills.  At each session, actively participate by asking questions and taking notes.  Spend a few minutes after the presentation to introduce yourself to the presenter.

• Practice your Pitch-You will meet a lot of people and have the opportunity of introducing yourself and business.  Make sure your message is clear and concise.  Fine tune your elevator pitch to make the most of your meeting.   

• Prepare to Network-This is a great opportunity to network with people.  The key is to meet new business contacts.

• Bring Plenty of Marketing Material

• Follow Up-Within the next week, make sure you follow up with e-mails, phone calls or a simple letter.  The key is to connect with potential people that can be beneficial to your company.

Implementing your professionalism and following these skills will guarantee auspicious business encounters in the future. 

MLK's Anticipated Memorial Opens August 28th

   

By Tiffany Pennamon, Editorial Intern

The unveiling of the memorial for Atlanta’s greatest civil rights leader and peacemaker will open at the National Mall in late August. Proposed in the early 1980s, members of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and the late Coretta Scott King pushed for the memorial commemorating Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. After many controversies, the project was approved in 1998 and construction began in December 2009.

The dedication corresponds with the 48th anniversary of The March on Washington in 1963. It was the occasion for King’s renowned “I Have a Dream” speech.

The opening ceremony of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial will occur on Aug. 28, where the legendary civil rights leader will be the first African-American honored with a memorial in an area formerly reserved for presidents. The memorial’s address is 1964 Independence Avenue -- a reference to the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Visit dedicatethedream.org or for more events during the MLK Memorial Week click here.

 

Networking at Its Best

By Chela Counts

 

On Friday, July 9, 2010, Atlanta Tribune: The Magazine hosted its second Young Professionals Business Exchange for the summer. The Loft at Castleberry Hill did a superb job creating a professional, yet intimate, setting. As an intern for the magazine I had the opportunity to get a “behind the scenes” look into how events like these are managed from start to finish.

At 6:30 p.m. guests began to arrive and I was excited. The young businessmen and businesswomen from around metro Atlanta area were dressed for success and ready to mingle. Besides great food, people and conversation, I found myself observing just how wonderful of an event this really was, so much so that I regretted not inviting a few of my friends.

While enjoying my Asian skewers, pasta salad and sweet tea, I conversed with two previous Atlanta Tribune interns and a local engineer for GE at my table. They each shared experiences with me and offered insight on things to expect once I graduate from school and pursue a career in my anticipated field. “Interning for Atlanta Tribune: The Magazine has opened up so many doors for me,” says 2009 Atlanta Tribune editorial intern Deniscia Scott.

Through my journey here at Atlanta Tribune thus far, I have grown not only in my writing but also in the way I communicate. I am anxious to see what the near future has in store for me. After eating, raffle tickets were drawn for two individuals to enjoy a nice meal at the Yamato Japanese Steakhouse, but everyone went home with something. Raffle ticket winner or not, each young business professional went home with something in hand -- business cards and the July issue of Atlanta Tribune.

In today’s job market it is extremely important to attend networking events such as this one. Rain or shine, it is worth the time and effort. I look forward to Atlanta Tribune’s next event, the Moving Your Business Forward Conference, on July 28, 2010, held at Clayton State University. Hope to see you there.