Professional Access Roundtables

Our "Professional Access Roundtables” create an opportunity for students, alumni and employers to connect and network, while discussing current hot topics within their professions and disciplines. These small-group, semi-structured conversations are designed to catalyze an exchange of ideas and experience to enhance students’ professional development and build community.

Roundtable discussions are led by experienced alumni and employment partner professionals, who craft an initial set of thought-provoking questions shared with students in advance. This gives students the opportunity to prepare for and make the most of these exciting conversations. It also gives discussion leaders the ability to efficiently broaden and deepen students’ understanding of the discussion topics.

At our Professional Access Roundtable events, students not only benefit from meeting experts in their field but they also grow their professional network by meeting other students that share a common interest in a particular profession and industry. Discussion leaders from our alumni and employment partner community enjoy the opportunity to support, connect and develop the next generation of leaders in their field.

Professional Access Roundtables aim to inspire, educate and connect you to a world of possibilities, ensuring that your journey through the multifaceted terrain of professions and industries is nothing short of transformative.

Students and Professional Access Roundtable attendees smile and pose

CPS and GSPM students attend Professional Access Roundtable.

CPS and GSPM students attend Professional Access Roundtable.

Four Steps: What to Expect When Attending

Step 1: The Match

Small groups of CPS graduate students are paired with discussion leaders from among the alumni, corporate partners, and other business and policy professionals who have volunteered to participate in our Professional Access Roundtable events.

Step 2: The Preparation

Each discussion leader provides three questions about their industry and/or organization that they would like students to research or think about before the event so they can prepare talking points. Students also receive a photo and bio of their assigned discussion leader.

Step 3: The EvenT

Students meet with their assigned discussion leader in small groups, and discussion leaders facilitate a 45-60 minute conversation among the group, starting with the three assigned discussion questions. A plenary debrief session follows the small group discussions. On-campus Professional Access Roundtables are also preceded by a networking mixer, allowing students, discussion leaders, and CPS faculty and staff to meet one another in an informal setting.

Step 4: The Follow-Up

All participants attending the Professional Access Roundtables receive a brief summary of the event and emails for discussion leaders who are open to additional conversations beyond the event.