Next Gen Forum: Higher Education Institution Professional Conference
The Who
The Next Gen Forum is an initiative powered by a higher education institution at its annual professional conference.
It aims to increase the representation of Black professionals in the financial services industry by preparing students and graduates for internships and entry-level positions.
The Challenge
The institution sought to enhance its Next Gen experience, which connects college students with career development opportunities, during an annual professional services conference.
The focus of the conference was to address current disparities. For example, today, Black Americans are underrepresented in the financial services industry. While Black Americans make up almost 13% of the US population, they make up only 5% of financial professionals. This underrepresentation is mirrored in the wealth gap between Black and White Americans —the median Black family’s wealth was just $24,100 in 2019, about one-eighth of the $188,200 median wealth of White families.
The goal ahead of the partnership was to increase participation to enlist collegiate participants in the annual conference while delivering a cohesive experience that prepared students for success at the conference, yielding business mentorship, internship exposure, and industry education.
The institution’s leadership team recognized the need for a more structured approach to support students before, during, and after the conference, helping them build the skills, confidence, and connections needed to pursue successful careers in financial services while strengthening the pathway for future students.
Our Solution
Reimagine Talent Co. partnered with the institution to develop and facilitate an expanded professional readiness initiative directly empowering hundreds of college students across the United States.
The three-part hybrid program focused on:
Preparing students for meaningful professional networking by equipping them with practical tools to build confidence and maximize relationship-building opportunities.
Strengthening career ownership and agency by developing lifelong skills in continuous learning, relationship management, and agility that are essential in today’s evolving world of work.
Expanding awareness of career pathways in financial services, including lesser-known opportunities and emerging roles shaping the future of the industry.
Providing tailored resources and guidance to help students maximize their conference experience, engage intentionally, and build meaningful professional connections.
Creating structured follow-up opportunities to help students translate their conference experiences and insights into actionable career development steps.
This comprehensive approach balanced pre-conference preparation, real-time engagement, and post-conference reflection while maintaining flexibility to meet student needs.
The Transformation
Students gained confidence in navigating professional environments and leveraging resources for their career journeys. The collaboration between the institution and Reimagine Talent Co. resulted in a streamlined, impactful program that was well-received by stakeholders and students alike.
“Working with Reimagine Talent (for our third year in a row) was another valuable experience. Chelsea and her outstanding team are exceptional partners. Through thoughtful conversations, excellent client support, and spot-on content and programming, Reimagine Talent helped us expand our collegiate program, enriching the lives of the next generation of diverse financial services professionals. We look forward to collaborating with them again in the future!”
