Five members of the York University FBLA chapter attended the National Leadership Conference in Atlanta, Ga., on June 22-25.
Placing fifth in Finance Case Study was Diego Korol, a second-year graduate student from Santiago, Chile.
“As my final chapter as an FBLA competitor comes to an end,” said Korol. “I want to highlight that this conference was a great experience for our students. We were able to network with individuals from other states and attend great workshops that are extremely beneficial before entering the business world. It was a great way to end my FBLA career as a student because our chapter once again had several national placements. This speaks highly of how well our school of business and graduate programs are preparing us for the future.”
Carlos Ortega, a 2023 graduate from Isla Margarita, Venezuela, placed fifth in Management Analysis and Decision Making.
Ortega said, “It was a great experience where I met amazing people and shared huge moments with my York friends in my last adventure as a York University student. My favorite part of the NLC was the competitions because it allowed me to grow my communication skills; it was challenging but worth it. I think the biggest thing I learned from NLC is that effort is important for success. I believe this conference helped me to understand the relevance of being open to new learning every day and how important connections are to success.”
Ortega also teamed up with Giovanni Froldi, 1st year Graduate student from Campinas, Brazil, achieving second place in Global Analysis and Decision Making. Froldi served as the YU chapter president as well as the vice president of finance for the Nebraska State FBLA Collegiate chapter.
“Attending the National Leadership Conference was an incredible experience that benefited both my professional and personal growth,” said Froldi. “I am very grateful to everyone who helped me and am truly glad to have represented York University and the state of Nebraska. Being part of FBLA not only helped me develop my skills but also enabled me to learn a lot of new things, such as leadership, competition, networking, and management. The conference had a significant impact on my future by expanding my network, equipping me with new knowledge, and enhancing my leadership skills. Overall, it was a transformative experience that will always be in my memories.”
Froldi also paired up with Alexander Motta, a 1st year Graduate Student from Sao Paulo, Brazil, and their team placed fifth in Sales Presentation.
Motta said that, “I have known about PBL, now FBLA, since my freshman year, and always heard about the great results my peers achieved and the great business and networking experiences they had the opportunity to be a part of. Nevertheless, I always thought to myself that I was either too busy, or that I just wasn't good enough. This year was different. Taking the chance and competing this year has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.”
This is Felipe Venegas’ final year to participate in NLC as a student, as he graduated in December of 2022. He is from Santiago, Chile.
Venegas reflected on his time with York University and FBLA, and said that, “You have no idea how blessed we are. I can't thank York University enough for all of the wonderful friendships I've made along the way, but even more importantly, I've grown into a person with a lot of dreams.”
These students were housed by 2002 YU graduate, Kevin Henry, who had this to share.
“Recently I got to host the York FBLA team as they competed in Nationals held in my adopted hometown of Atlanta, GA. It was great to get to spend time with Diego, Alex, Felipe, Carlos and Gio and hear their stories. York University should be really proud of these young men and the way that they represent the school not just in their competitions - but as a whole in life. As a former York PBL President, I know that the experiences that they gained and the connections that they made this week will help them when they transition into the working world full-time.”
National Leadership Conference Results:
- Diego Korol - 5th Finance Case Study
- Alexander Motta and Giovanni Froldi - 5th Sales Presentation
- Giovanni Froldi and Carlos Ortega - 2nd Global Analysis and Decision Making
- Carlos Ortega - 5th Management Analysis and Decision Making