Mentoring & Leadership Conference
THURSDAY, MARCH 9 –
TUESDAY, MARCH 14, 2023
About the Mentoring and Leadership Conference
The Jackie Robinson Foundation’s Mentoring and Leadership Conference (MLC) is three days of developmental workshops, career exploration seminars, meetings with key public and private sector leaders, cultural and recreational outings, and practical life skills classes for JRF Scholars. It also provides a unique opportunity for JRF sponsors to interact with Scholars in both professional and social settings. The event will be held in-person at the New York Marriot Marquis in Times Square.
Audience
The audience is comprised of JRF’s 233 college scholarship students attending 113 different colleges and universities across the country. The attendees have strong academic acumen, demonstrated leadership skills, and are pursuing careers in a variety of professional fields.
Plenaries
Plenary sessions feature a presentation by a keynote speaker to all conference participants. Speakers provide insight into their personal and professional paths to success, while also expanding on the conference theme. Previous keynote speakers include: Marc Morial, President and CEO, National Urban League; Carla Harris, Vice Chairman, Managing Director and Senior Client Adviser, Morgan Stanley; and Sheila C. Johnson, CEO, Salamander Hospitality, LLC.
Conference Components
Industry Panels expose Scholars to the various professions and career opportunities available in a specific industry. The session, a moderated discussion with an impressive roster of executives and business professionals followed by Q&A, allows Scholars to interact with industry leaders, learn about career paths and improve their networking skills.
Workshops
• Brand-U/Social Capital
• CliftonStrengths Assessment
• Creative Expression
• Demystifying Medical School
• Developing an Academic Success Plan
• Dining Etiquette
• Effective Leadership
• Global Citizenship - Maximizing your Study Abroad Experience
• Interpersonal Communications
• Interviewing Skills
• Maximizing your Internship Experience
• Mental Health & Stress Management
• Networking for Success
• Professional Etiquette
• Salary Negotiation
• So you think you want to be a ___? Major and Career Discernment
• Time Management & Goal Setting
Industry Panels
• Arts & Entertainment
• Business, Finance, & Economics
• Consulting
• Education
• Engineering & Technology
• Entrepreneurship
• Finance & Economics
• Healthcare
• Law & Public Policy
• Media & Communications
• Nonprofits & Social Change Organizations
• Science
Jack Talks
JRF Scholars are among an incredibly talented pool of college students who will become our country’s next generation of leaders. Like TED Talks, Jack Talks are engaging, Scholar-led sessions in which JRF Scholars can discuss, create, advocate for, and present their big idea in a 6-8-minute presentation. Presentations address a political or social issue with tactics for change; Highlight strategies for personal or professional growth; or Provide strategies to develop or enhance community building.
Sponsor Luncheons
Sponsor Luncheons are always an eagerly anticipated element of the conference. Many of JRF’s benefactors use this opportunity to have personal interaction with Scholars.
Family Sessions
An original conference component, the Family Sessions are intimate gatherings facilitated by mentors that provide Scholars with a safe space to share their personal successes and challenges of the previous year with their peers. JRF also makes professional counselors available to provide additional advice and support.
Scholars’ Awards Ceremony
JRF Scholars are not only excelling academically, they are also making significant changes and impacting lives in their communities. The Scholars’ Awards Ceremony serves to honor individuals for their outstanding academic achievements, exemplary civic engagement, and unwavering commitment as ambassadors of Jackie Robinson’s legacy.
