Oklahoma Christian Hosted Business Pathways Expo

The Oklahoma Christian University Division of Business hosted its first Business Pathways Expo on Oct. 29. The event intended to help students learn more about the business field as well as the path to pursue a career in business.About 50 business professionals came to campus, and more than 85 students attended, 24 of whom were high schoolers.

Jillian Poyzer-Johnson, assistant professor of accounting, planned and directed the Business Pathways Expo. She said the main purpose of the event was to get students to identify their career path, but there were also secondary purposes. 

“We wanted students to have a low-pressure place to gather information on the different business disciplines,” Poyzer-Johnson said. “But [also], one of the things in business that are crucially important is networking and communication skills. … Networking skills are one of those things you can’t teach in the classroom.” 

Senior Payton Duesing said the Pathways Expo was extremely beneficial because it helped students learn skills not normally offered in classes. 

“We learn about tangible skills in classes, like how to balance a balance sheet and how to market to a targeted audience,” Duesing said. “But in the expo, we were able to learn the soft skills necessary for success in the workplace.”  

Jeff Simmons, chair of the school of business, said the Business Pathway is about providing students an opportunity about different professions within the department. 

“This event is a perfect fit with the mission of the School of Business: we helped to learn more about business in a challenging yet supportive environment; we generated community among OC, our students and OKC businesses; and through our breakout sessions, we were able to discuss how our Christian faith intersects a career in business,” Simmons said. 

Simmons said as students spoke with different company representatives, they had a better idea of what path would be better for them. 

“Many students are not 100% sure what they want to do when they graduate or how to get into the profession they are interested in if they do know,” Simmons said. “As the students interacted with the business professionals, they were able to learn about different professions from the people who are actually in those jobs.”

Duesing said the event helped her connect with professionals in the business field. 

“We listened to a session on how to network with business professionals, and then immediately after, we were able to put those lessons to practice as we networked with various company representatives,” Duesing said. “I was able to learn and practice my skills at the expo which is an experience I wouldn’t have gotten any other way.”

Duesing said she feels better prepared for the workplace after graduation. 

“Along with career fairs and required courses like Business and Professional Communications, I feel equipped with the skills necessary to interview well, work diligently and make a difference in the workplace,” Duesing said. 

Duesing said she advises students to attend Pathways in the future because of the immediate networking students can do. 

“There were so many companies ready to talk to each student, each with information about the various roles one could fill in the company, along with different internship opportunities,” Duesing said. 

Poyzer-Johnson said she was satisfied with all the positive feedback she received after the event. 

“With this being the first year, and it being kind of a unique event, you just never know how it is going to turn out,” Poyzer-Johnson said. “I was really thrilled and excited with how it turned out.”

Simmons said everyone he spoke to who participated said they enjoyed the event and benefited from it. He said there are plans to continue hosting Pathways in the future. 

“We plan to offer it every year,” Simmons said. “We hope to increase the number of exhibitors and high school juniors and seniors students involved since they are trying to decide where to attend college and what to study.” 

Poyzer-Johnson said hosting the event annually might have more fruitful results for Oklahoma Christian. 

“Hopefully we’ll be able to grow it even a little bit more every year,” Poyzer-Johnson said. “Those high school students will hopefully come back as (Oklahoma Christian) students and follow through in our business programs, and then our seniors can also get the benefit of knowing these businesses; they can get internships, and maybe full-time jobs.” 

To learn more about the business department, access oc.edu