Jepson EDGE Institute

The perfect suit. A firm handshake. An articulate elevator pitch. Presentation matters when it comes to landing a coveted position or moving into a leadership role.

With that in mind, the Jepson School of Leadership Studies launched a new program this spring to help students gain valuable skills that will help them professionally. The Jepson EDGE Institute was held Feb. 16 and featured a networking reception and interactive presentations by alumni.

Topics included networking essentials, etiquette and ethics in the workplace, social media savvy, interacting with colleagues, writing for work, the elevator pitch, and more.

The institute was renamed and expanded this year after a successful pilot program last year. It was organized by Kerstin Soderlund, associate dean for student and external affairs, and the Jepson Alumni Corps. Nearly 30 alumni developed sessions or led workshops.

The institute also included presentations on attending graduate school and “lessons learned” sessions. “We thought it was important to partner with alumni since they have firsthand experience describing leadership studies to prospective employers, using that knowledge to advance their careers and applying to graduate school,” says Soderlund.  

A Few Tips from the Institute:

Salt and pepper should be passed together, even when only one is requested.

Don’t season food before tasting it.

When stepping away from the table, leave your napkin loosely on the chair.

After a networking meeting or phone call, send an email thank-you the same day.

Promote confidence with eye contact, posture, a firm handshake and a smile.

Don’t overload on fragrance and accessories. 

Lessons Overheard:

“What I learned in Critical Thinking was how to structure an argument. When you structure a presentation, it’s the same thing. Use a structured approach just like you would in Critical Thinking. —Reagan Morris, ’99, senior director of card operations, Capital One

 “Explain that you don’t have to be in a leadership role to know how to lead and effect change. As a Jepson student, you know how to step into an organization and do that.”  —Aaron Lee, ’00, port manager, Independent Container Line

 “Be patient. It takes time to get settled and find new friends in the place you live after college. And it’s always good to find someone who has done it before.” —Jennifer Huffman, ’10, master’s candidate, Georgetown University School of Foreign Service

“There’s no doubt about it. Employers are looking at your social media presence.” —Emily Griffey, ’01, senior policy analyst, Voices for Virginia’s Children   

“People evaluate you based on what you’re wearing. I wear a stethoscope in part because of what it signals to my patients. In a different profession, I wore a suit because that was the appropriate thing to do.”  —Patrick Oliver, ’98, associate clinical professor of medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, and former government consultant

“As you start your career, you want to present yourself as the kind of person who should be leading and make people feel comfortable around you. Etiquette is about making people feel comfortable.” —Joanne Ciulla, Coston Family Chair in Leadership and Ethics, Jepson School of Leadership Studies