Lessons from Interdisciplinary Networking

On the journey for professional development, there comes a pivotal moment when you embrace opportunities to step out of your comfort zone and seek new experiences to learn and grow. Despite a busy semester ahead and an impending internship, I recognized that the chance to join the National Millennial and Gen Z community on a trip to Los Angeles was too valuable to pass up.

As an accounting student, the prospect of meeting advertising, entertainment, and public relations professionals initially felt daunting. I was not sure what to expect or how to prepare for such a different setting. However, reflecting on the amazing connections I made, I am grateful to have taken the plunge. Engaging with students and professionals from diverse disciplines provided valuable insight into understanding perspectives throughout business functions. This lesson became particularly evident during our last visit of the trip with Deutsch LA, where I was fascinated by the open concept of their offices. My initial perplexity toward the situation came from knowing that I would personally be too distracted to be productive, but I came to appreciate how it fosters creativity and innovation within the development teams, highlighting the unique needs of different functions within an organization.

While my experience as an accounting student narrows my focus towards profitability and financing in most scenarios, the creative teams may see the same situation in terms of marketability, building client relationships and brand awareness, or social responsibility initiatives that can ultimately elevate the organization’s performance. Recognizing the purpose behind each function enhances collaboration and communication within the organization. Even within accounting, strong communication and relationships are essential for completing tasks accurately throughout the year. Understanding the need for clear and effective communication with people in other disciplines opens up new areas of growth for myself personally, as I learn to communicate accounting concepts in a comprehensive manner that anyone can understand.

Interacting with students from the lower 48 also provided me the opportunity to find new ways to make connections with people in other disciplines and throughout the nation via LinkedIn. Alaska emphasizes the use of in-person connections based on mutual friends or acquaintances. Alaska thrives off of the face-to-face interactions and personal touch to relationships that bring the community closer together. In fact, I have met many professionals who do not use LinkedIn regularly or do not have it at all. While they may argue that there is no need for LinkedIn, I believe that adopting new technologies for communication and sources of information can assist in broadening networking strategies. Although learning to use LinkedIn effectively and regularly will take time and growth, the opportunity for continued learning and professional development is never lost because growth is always a step toward success.

The journey of professional development is a continuous process marked by embracing new experiences, expanding perspectives, and cultivating meaningful connections. By stepping out of our comfort zones and seizing opportunities for growth, the next generation of business leaders is paving the way for personal and professional advancement.