Part One:
Mr. Jason Kra kicked off our “People in the Know” series. This event will be ongoing to bring professionals to meet with the students to discuss college majors, career paths, networking skills, possible internships and how to build a college resume. We will strive to have a diverse representation, and fully encompassing our student’s interests.
Mr. Kra took over his family business and then merged it into Li Fung, a multi-billion dollar consumer apparel and products manufacturer. He provided an overview of the product life cycle from design to consumer purchase. Mr. Kra continuously emphasized how technology has evolved from data collection, social media, clicks, and so on to determine what and how it will be designed and produced. He provided examples with brands that many students wear.
Mr. Kra once a shy kid to entrepreneur and now top executive controlling over a quarter of Li Fung’s profits to be inquisitive, dig deep, be an expert within a field, do not hesitate and take calculated risks.
Part Two:
Sara Tirschwell came in to speak to our high school students this morning. Ms. Tirschwell was a very successful distress fixed income portfolio manager and now has turned her attention to politics. She was a republican mayoral candidate until this past April, and she is not giving up and will try again.
During Ms. Tirschwell conversation with the students she started with “Always reach for something that you might not be qualified for … learn it, work hard and reach your potential. In closing, she said to the students pick a college that reflects your principles, and when you are seeking out your first job work with people that have similar principles and beliefs. Do not be afraid of risk taking, just keep at it.
Our High School students were learning how to network, and a hopeful future Wall Street employee retrieved some advice and possible summer internship connection. One of our students that inspires for a career in journalism, said to Ms. Tirschwell as a future reporter, I hope to write about you as our Mayor of New York. Another student, welcomed Ms. Tirschwell’s diverse background to St. Demetrios..there were many more notable comments but these were the most memorable.
As your School Board, we want to expose our students to limitless opportunity and knowledge for their future endeavors beyond St. Demetrios academic career – we are offering a differentiating factor with our speaker series.