Some college students’ schedules consist largely of going to and from class. Getting to meet the head women in charged of corporations such as Google and learning from an executive of North Shore LIJ are opportunities that only select few college females get to experience.
Adelphi University junior and finance major Danielle Arboleda was one of the select few lucky enough to become part of the Junior Moxxie program.
Arboleda started the program in March 2012 as part of a one-year stint that ends this spring.
“I was very thankful,” said Arboleda. “I saw it as a great opportunity to come across.”
The Junior Moxxie program is part of the larger Moxxie Network, which started in 2008 as a unique women’s business community to help get more women into leadership positions.
According to Beth Meixner, founder and president of the network and program, Arboleda was “one of the best Jr. Moxxies.”
“She is open to new ideas,” said Meixner. “She is open to going out of her comfort zone, which is what you need to do.”
Although business had always been in her comfort zone, Arboleda entered college undecided. She just realized what she really wanted to do after taking some finance courses and
decided she wanted to get into the investment side of finance. Before entering the program, she was helping her parents with their family business that has been expanding over the last few years.
During the program, all members were assigned a mentor that was decided on by the answers filled out on various questionnaires. Arboleda was matched up with Randi Dukoff, a motivational speaker who has a background in business and finance.
As a motivational speaker, Dukoff talks about nutrition and how you can improve your life by changing your diet, but what most impresses Arboleda about her mentor is the journey she took in getting there.
“I learned a lot from the way she created something for herself,” said Arboleda. “She went through something life changing and now she’s doing what she loves doing.”
Another aspect of the program that began to prepare Arboleda for her future work in the business world was the program’s field trips to companies where they had the chance to meet women in charge.
Visiting places like North Shore LIJ and Google, all the young women involved in the program experienced the offices businesswomen worked in, what it took to work for these corporations and the valuable chance to meet people in their field and learn how they had progressed.
“The program gave us a starting point,” said Arboleda. “We got to make business cards that we were provided copies of. It’s something I can take with me in the future.”
Aside from the Jr.Moxxie program, Arboleda also became the president of Beta Alpha Psi last semester. The organization for finance students has just started up on the Adelphi campus and is very selective. There are various strict requirements, including being a finance, accounting, or technology major and having at least a 3.5 grade point average.
Those interested in becoming a Jr.Moxxie should be aware that this program is also very selective, according to Meixner.
“The ideal candidate possesses all great qualities that a young woman needs to get into the field,” said Meixner.
“I want to get into business to reach a higher position,” said Arboleda. “I want to have more authority over myself. Down the road I hope to work for myself.”
