Students, Alumni Find Opportunity at NBMBAA Conference
The National Black MBA Association (NBMBAA) is a global leader for career advancement and economic empowerment of professionals from all higher education backgrounds and career levels, which is why having the WGU NBMBAA Virtual Club is so advantageous to students and alumni in the WGU School of Business.
The NBMBAA advances business professionals by providing access to career developmentand educational opportunities. Through the WGU NBMBAA Virtual Chapter, the WGU School of Business provides a platform for students, alumni and staff of all races, genders and backgrounds to connect with one another and with their local business community in powerful ways that can a have lifelong impact.
Chapter members can learn about employment, social and other opportunities; grow and develop as leaders through connection with others, executive skill development programs and other professional development opportunities; and create and foster relationships with local businesses and professionals.
Most recently, the School of Business sponsored five students and one alumnus for the 2025 NBMBAA Conference and Exposition, the organization’s marquee event, which was held in Houston in September. Themed "TRANSFORM 2025," the event focused on leadership development, networking opportunities and business leader keynote speakers.
As advisor of the WGU NBMBAA Virtual Chapter, it was truly an honor to help our students navigate this conference in ways that would be most beneficial to their personal and professional goals. Attendees were able to meet and greet with the NBMBAA WGU Virtual Chapter Advisory Council, attend a pre-conference webinar on how to prepare for the conference and receive personalized résumé and interviewing support from WGU Career & Professional Development Services.
One student, Rachel H., who is an entrepreneur working toward her MBA degree, shared that one major takeaway from the experience was learning how to overcome imposter syndrome.
Joshua Sine, Vice President, WGU School of Business; Onye Okoro, vice president, Goldman Sachs; Mary-Nina Ukariwo, vice president, Goldman Sachs; Linda Battles, regional vice president, WGU; Nichelle A. Poindexter, senior vice president, Greater Houston Partnership; Dr. Carol Egele, COO, Texas Historical Commission; Dr. Crystal Bessix, chief learning officer, City of Houston, Rod Henderson, account executive, WGU
“I’ve learned that everyone doubts themselves at some point, but we all bring valuable experiences to the table,” Rachel said. “When the opportunity comes, use your knowledge and experience to communicate in a way that is helpful to others, and you will be heard and recognized for who you are and what you know. The most important thing is to be authentic, be yourself.”
Rachel also shared that her experience at the 2025 NBMBAA Conference extended beyond what words could describe.
“Sometimes the only way to describe a moment in time is to say, ‘You had to be there.’ This conference was one of those moments. The energy was electric,” Rachel said. “I never knew networking could be so fun. The things you learn and the connections you make are invaluable to your personal growth and progress in your career.
“Whether you’re looking to develop yourself as an individual, find your next business partner or chat with recruiters to make that next step in your career, you will meet someone who can help,” she said.
Another student shared that attending the conference “was a fantastic experience that left me inspired, motivated and proud to be part of such an empowering community.”
In conjunction with the NBMBAA Conference, the WGU School of Business hosted the WGU MBA Connect event , which was a networking event with panel discussion moderated by WGU School of Business Vice President Joshua Sine and included Onye Okoro, vice president, Goldman Sachs; Mary-Nina Ukariwo, vice president, Global Banking & Markets, Goldman Sachs; COO Dr. Carole Egele, Texas Historical Commission; Nichelle Poindexter, senior vice president, Greater Houston Partnership; and CLO Dr. Crystal Bessix, City of Houston.
Attendees also included WGU Regional Vice President Linda Battles, Katie Carpen, associate dean and director, WGU School of Business; Brianna Pearson, manager, Program Mentoring at WGU; and Rod Henderson, account executive, Corporate Partnerships at WGU.
The networking event was a great opportunity to learn and engage with professionals in several sought-after industries. It was awesome being able to learn how the speakers rose through the professional ranks and to hear them share the lessons they learned along the way.
