Business Leadership Community Gives Students a Career Advantage 

For students just starting college, choosing a career often comes down to guesswork.  

“I knew that I wanted to get into business but wasn’t quite sure what discipline I wanted to pursue,” said Amelia Eckardt, a recent Bellevue College alumna. 

A unique Bellevue College program called the Business Leadership Community has helped Eckardt and countless other students make informed career choices. Now in its 21st year, the program introduces students to a range of business vocations. It helps them determine which field is the right match for their interests and abilities. 

Students also build professional connections that open doors. 

The Business Leadership Community is, as its name suggests, a community. It embraces students in all fields, as well as alumni who offer guidance. Most student members are business majors. 

“No business major in any other community college has access to a program like this,” said Leslie Lum, professor in the college’s Business Transfer program and a Business Leadership Community faculty mentor. 

Welcoming Speakers to Campus 

The Business Leadership Community hosts events that include guest speakers, job shadowing opportunities, and visits to companies such as Microsoft, Boeing, and Amazon. 

“The program simulates what a full-blown business school would do,” said Lum. “If there are students who want to go into finance, for example, we can arrange to have alumni who are working in finance meet up and have coffee.” 

Members of the Business Leadership Community elect student officers who manage an ambitious agenda of 18 to 20 events each year. Most often, speakers are the centerpiece. Business and civic leaders, many of them alumni, take to the podium to inform and inspire Bellevue College students. 

Bellevue College alum Brandon Ting, CEO of Kizuki Ramen and Izakaya and founder of Supreme Dumplings, spoke to students about the rewards of determination and hard work. While Justice Raquel Montoya-Lewis described hurdles she overcame in her journey to the Washington Supreme Court. These speakers are two of many to share their educational and career journeys through the Business Leadership Community. 

Making Vital Connections  

The annual Business Leadership Community Alumni Night brings 50 alumni to campus to interact with more than 200 students. Students practice mingling and build networking skills.  

“Even if you have good grades and extracurriculars, connections and referrals matter a lot,” said Kendrew Kok, one of the program’s co-presidents. 

Many students cower at the thought of chatting with employers. Friendly alumni set them at ease and build their confidence. 

International student Lin Khant Min joined the leadership community to build communication skills.  

“If you want to learn to present your ideas properly so that people can see your value, the Business Leadership Community is the right place for you,” he said. 

By inviting business and civic leaders to campus, the program has created a bond between Bellevue College students and the community. 

This year the Business Leadership Community reached out to the Snoqualmie Indian Tribe, a hospitality industry leader. It invited Tribal Council Treasurer Josh Gabel to speak on campus. 

Students also took a field trip to the Snoqualmie Tribe Casino. The adjacent resort, currently under construction, is hiring. Students will forge connections that may boost their candidacies. 

The Business Leadership Community has nurtured similar relationships with other regional businesses.  

“We do a job shadow every year,” said Sheila Lozan, professor, chair of the Business Transfer program, and a Business Leadership Community faculty mentor. “An employer talks about what it’s like in each different area—accounting, information technology, and so on. They do lunch with students and give a tour of the office.” 

Building Soft Skills 

Students who manage Business Leadership Community events gain priceless experience. They oversee every aspect—budgeting, facilities, caterers, and more. They introduce guest speakers and moderate discussion. 

Last year Eckardt was a co-president. She said the experience gave her “countless opportunities to hone my skills in project management, leadership, collaboration, and effective communication.” 

Lum and Lozan also teach students how to conduct themselves professionally. 

Each year Lozan takes students to an “etiquette lunch.” The goal is to show them appropriate manners when conducting business at a restaurant. Students practice the art of politely eating while conversing. 

“A student officer chose lasagna as a menu item. They found that it isn’t an easy food to eat while having a conversation,” Lozan said. “Students learn from their choices.” 

Giving Running Start Students an Edge 

Running Start students, who enroll at Bellevue College while in high school, can leapfrog their peers because of insights gained in the Business Leadership Community program. Many enter elite universities. Some earn a bachelor’s degree by age 20. 

Eckardt attended Bellevue College for two years as a Running Start student. Last fall she transferred to Stanford University to study economics. She has already completed two internships. Because of credit earned at Bellevue College, she plans to graduate from Stanford a year ahead of schedule. 

Changing Lives for 21 Years 

Students formed the Business Leadership Community decades ago, inspired by a Boeing-sponsored career conference. The program’s longevity speaks volumes about its value to students. 

“We’ve had the Business Leadership Community going nonstop since 2004,” said Lum. “There isn’t any other student group at our college that’s been going that long.”