Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) is one of Lambert’s most sought-after clubs. With over 500 members, it’s no surprise why so many students who are interested in business decide to join. One of the highlights of the year is Fall Leadership Conference (FLC). It is the first professional conference, during November 18 and 19, and one of the most important because it sets the tone for the rest of the year in terms of competitions and networking. The variety of competitive events, mentorship from officers and the unique skills that students can gain from this conference, and the overall experience in FBLA, have helped this club become one of the most elite at Lambert.
This conference gives them opportunities to develop and improve their leadership and collaboration. FLC also features different workshops that students can attend to gain deeper insights on certain topics, including professional skills, entrepreneurship and technology. These workshops teach problem solving and innovation through numerous activities that students can participate in. Additionally, conferences such as FLC are a great place to begin networking, or develop relationships that can eventually be useful while looking for jobs or internship opportunities.
“There really have been some great opportunities for our students to network with adults that are actually out in the business world,” FBLA advisor Ms. Stephanie Beaulieu explained. “Whether it be computer science, we actually have some marketing, we have some healthcare, we have all sorts of different things.”
FBLA provides students with the chance to meet peers, mentors and professionals in a particular field through conferences, such as FLC, and competitions, including presentations and testing events. Some specific events include Computer Applications and Broadcast Journalism. Getting to collaborate with or even simply talk to people working in a particular field shows students the value of networking and how specific connections can be beneficial to them further down the road in terms of getting new opportunities.
Beyond building skills and networking, FBLA also gives students a platform to challenge themselves and build confidence in their abilities. Participating in competitions allows students to exercise their creative thinking and problem solving skills by finding solutions to problems and learning how to create an effective presentation.
“I am absolutely amazed at the students and how they have practiced, and I think that presenting and being around people and being in front of judges helps them be more confident,” said Ms. Beaulieu.
When preparing for events, students need to come up with a topic, study and overcome any obstacles that they might face. This all requires problem solving abilities because not giving up and coming up with solutions is something competitors need to do. They also need to be innovative to come up with unique topics for presentations and create something that will impress judges. In addition, presenting in front of judges, and sometimes peers, will boost their confidence in their presentation skills and help students identify their strengths and weaknesses in this area of competition.
Overall, FBLA has proven to be extremely beneficial to students in terms of gaining skills and building confidence that will help them later in life. This club teaches students networking, problem solving and shows them what careers interest them the most. Because of the skills and abilities students gain, members in FBLA will go on to be the next generation of successful professionals and leaders in the community.
