Photo provided by Jalen Smith
Jalen Drew Smith
Staff Writer
“If what you are doing only benefits you, then it’s not big enough,” Charlamagne Tha God exclaimed.
This was one of many gems that were dropped during Nissan and iHeartMedia’s Thrill of Possibility Summit hosted on Nov. 3, 2023 in Nashville, Tenn.
The Thrill of Possibility Summit was about networking and mentorship but to others, it felt like a family reunion.
This may be because the attendees consisted of students from various HBCU students.
Fifty HBCU S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) majors were handpicked through a nationwide contest granting them an opportunity to network with successful and powerful black voices.
The weekend kicked off with a welcome party at PH Bar, allowing students to connect with each other and professionals within the S.T.E.A.M. field.
After the eventful night of line dancing, networking, and celebrating, the HBCU scholars prepared for a day full of networking and career development with some familiar faces.
The students started the final day with a brunch at the National Museum of African-American Music.
Then the networking continued as iHeartMedia hosted several interactive panels, including some well-known black voices.
Entrepreneur Daymond John was one of the many panelists who gave students multiple gems. John also gifted the students with his online course: “Daymond on Demand”.
John hosted a live taping of his podcast, “That Moment with Daymond John”, where scholars got to be a part of the show and pick his brain for more gems.
He interviewed Lanae Williamson, a Multicultural Marketing Strategy Senior at Nissan, who also holds a MBA Graduate Degree at Tennessee State University.
One of the many inspiring quotes he gave students was centered around being of service.
“Be of service. The boss always has problems. If you find the answers to those problems then not only are you solution based, but you are the new boss or well on your way,” John stated.
Founder, Chairman and CEO John Hope Bryant was another panelist who encouraged students to stay committed to their journey.
“Keep going and quiet the distractions,” stated Bryant. “Working towards your goal only takes one ‘yes’. The nos are a part of the journey. Don’t shy away from them. It’s growth,” said Bryant.
This resonated with the scholars giving them insight on what it takes to be successful, despite the hard times.
The second panel consisted of Ellen Wagner, advertising expert from Clark Atlanta, Devi Brown, a master Well Being Educator and Charlamagne Tha God, co-host of the Breakfast Club and creator of the Black Effect network.
After the panels, headshots were taken by a professional photographer followed by a resume building session which emphasized how to maximize presence on LinkedIn.
The final networking event included a mentoring session by Nissan Executives, iHeart radio employees and Black Effect Network experts.
Out of 50 HBCU students, Jackson State had six students that attended the event. One of those students was Maleah Briggs, a senior social science major from Jackson, Miss.
Briggs took advantage of the networking opportunities provided and made many valuable connections.
“My favorite part by far was talking to one of the executives, Thea Mitchem, for almost 30 minutes during the podcast taping,” stated Briggs. “During our conversation, I could see parts of myself and where I aspire to be in her story. As I talked about my goals, she was very candid about her experiences and how she responded to certain challenges.”
Another JSU student in attendance was Jeff Alexander IV, a junior civil engineering major from Greenville, Miss.
Alexander stated that his favorite part of the event was the one-on-one mentoring session.
“My favorite part was the separate session with my mentor Margaret Steele,” stated Alexander. “I believe she is going to help me out with everything I want to accomplish in the long term and short.”
The night concluded with a dinner for all who attended the event and a performance from an upcoming artist, Owenn, who took a break from opening for Taylor Swift to come rock the house.
He performed his hit singles “Baby Girl” and “Luv”. The night and event came to an end soon after the energetic and crowd-engaging performance.
Although the Thrill of Possibility Summit weekend ended, students were able to make connections that will last a lifetime.
