Leadership Journey: Emily Geno on the Importance of Networking as a Student

Emily is in her senior year at LSU, majoring in Leadership & Human Resources Development, and she already has the strong resume of a goal-driven young professional. An aspiring training and development specialist who is already preparing to take the SHRM-CP exam – a human resources professional certification typically pursued by post-grad professionals – she has the confidence of a student who is all-in for her chosen path. But that hasn’t always been the case.Emily says that she arrived at LSU thinking she wanted to major in fashion design, and had several courses in sewing and other relevant skills under her belt before she realized she didn’t feel fulfilled. “I knew I wanted to help people in a more direct way,” said Emily, discussing her path towards human resources development. “I didn’t know much about the LHRD major, but talking to professors like Dr. Gibbons helped me gain the confidence to realize I could change majors and have great opportunities while helping people.”The switch proved to be a catalyst. Her mentors helped her recognize her abilities and pointed her towards opportunities where she could test her potential. In diving into her new path, Emily gained an appreciation for the power of mentorship and networking in her personal development. This inspired her to further explore training and development as a subset of human resources. She realized that she wanted to help others achieve their potential, just as others have invested in her.“I think that you can achieve anything you dream of if you have people that believe in you. It makes you realize that who you surround yourself with is very important.”After switching majors, Emily reached out to LSU’s Office of Human Resource Management to inquire about opportunities. She met Nikki McNamara (Associate Director, HRSO & Academic Policy) while working as an intern on McNamara’s shared services team, and the work both solidified her interest in the industry and confirmed the power of networking in opening doors that many students don’t imagine knocking on. The internship led to involvement with the Greater Baton Rouge Society for Human Resource Management, where Emily helped to run the certification courses alongside McNamara. “Teaching professionals to prepare for the SHRM certification exams got me into training and development, and it improved my public speaking skills,” Emily says. “As a bonus, I got really comfortable with the people in the class, all people working in the HR industry in Baton Rouge. They encourage and mentor me and I learn so many valuable things from them.”Although Emily is just at the beginning of her leadership journey, she has already learned the power of paying it forward. The people who have helped her get where she is gave her the confidence to perform at her highest potential; and now she wants to encourage the students behind her to do the same. When professors connect her to newer students in her major, she encourages them to try multiple things and talk with a lot of people to get a handle on what they really want to do, and where they can make the biggest impact.

Networking as a Student

Networking has made a huge difference on Emily’s journey, and she’s eager to let other students and young professionals know that it doesn’t have to be intimidating. It can be as simple as asking questions – and to make it even easier, she recommends asking someone you respect a question about something you know they want to talk about. It can also be helpful, and fun, to network alongside a friend. Emily often goes to GBRSHRM meetings with a friend in the same major, which helps to cut down on nerves.She has a simple philosophy: “If you find the people who care and want to help you, you don’t need the people who don’t. When you’re networking, the people who aren’t really interested in talking with you are not going to be the ones who help you. I can overthink things a lot, but there’s really no need to!”Ultimately, Emily credits the power of being surrounded by supportive, positive people for the success she’s found in switching her major, exploring her options, and ultimately landing on the path she wants to pursue after graduation. She points out that you don’t have to have it all figured out as a student – “you just need people who support you. It’s not about being an A+ student or always playing by the rules. Stay confident, don’t let your failures define you, and you will find your path.”Emily has one more year to complete her Bachelor’s degree, and then she will enroll in the Master’s in Leadership & Human Resource Development. Once she enters the job market, with her already expansive wealth of HR and training experience, she says she is interested in continuing in training and development with a team of people who share a goal and a passion for helping others.Emily is a member of the Greater Baton Rouge chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management, and plans to sit for the SHRM-CP exam before she graduates in May 2022. Emily currently serves as Success Labs’ Summer Leadership Development Intern. Success Labs is a leadership development and management consulting firm in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. For more than 25 years, our expert team of consultants has worked with hundreds of companies to grow leaders, build teams and drive results through great people strategy. Contact us to get proactive about expanding your company’s potential, and stay up-to-date with our latest news and leadership development updates here.