Manning School Student Leaders Share Their Experiences in 鈥楲ifting Our Voices鈥� Discussion
Elys茅听Masandi, a rising senior business administration major, makes a point during "Lifting Our Voices," a virtual panel discussion on social justice and racial equality hosted by student leaders from the Manning School of Business.
07/08/2020
By Ed Brennen
Masandi, a rising senior business administration major, spoke about the importance of the work during a recent panel discussion on social justice and racial equality hosted on Zoom by student leaders from the听Manning School of Business.
鈥淭hese conversations don鈥檛 just stop here at the university 鈥� they continue when we graduate and enter the workforce,鈥� said Masandi, who was joined on the student panel by rising seniors Kanya Derisme and Victor Souza and rising junior Easmond Tsewole.听
More than 40 faculty and staff members from the Manning School took part in the 鈥淟ifting Our Voices鈥� discussion, which was moderated by rising senior Greg Montemurro.
The conversation is part of a broader universitywide effort to听combat racial injustice, an issue that has sparked protests across the country and around the world following the killing of George Floyd.
The panelists shared their experiences as students of color and suggested ways to advance diversity and inclusion initiatives across campus. They agreed that in order to have more sincere communication about social justice and racial equality, people need to listen to one another and acknowledge unconscious biases.听
鈥淲e should have honest, good-faith conversations so we can truly get to understand one another and support one another.鈥� -Business student Easmond Tsewole
鈥淲e should have honest, good-faith conversations so we can truly get to understand one another and support one another,鈥� Tsewole said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be uncomfortable at some points, but this is an issue that鈥檚 been around for centuries in our country. And right now, there鈥檚 a calling to actually deal with the issue.鈥�
As future business leaders, the panelists also stressed the importance of addressing systemic racism in society.
鈥淭here is racism in marketing, in the financial industry, in management,鈥� said Derisme, who is president of the student leadership organization Joy Tong Women in Business (formerly Manning Women in Business). 鈥淎s future business leaders, we have to have that conversation. What are some of the big companies that we鈥檙e being referred to doing about these issues?鈥�
Last summer, Souza was selected for EY鈥檚 Launch Internship, a national program that gives underrepresented minorities experience in a Big Four accounting firm.听
鈥淚t was a great program that made me feel so welcome,鈥� said Souza, who encouraged students of color at UML to connect with similar organizations and programs where they feel comfortable talking about their experiences.
鈥淲e are fortunate that UMass Lowell does a great job in terms of trying to create a safe environment where you can share your opinions,鈥� said Souza, who is president of the Manning Leaders Council. 鈥淢y experience as MLC president, working closely with Dean听(Sandra) Richtermeyer, has shown me that we are way more inclusive than people can imagine.鈥�
While there are well-established multicultural organizations on campus, Masandi said it鈥檚 important to create new programs for students of color and their allies. That鈥檚 why she is starting the Black Business Student Association this year.
鈥淲e need to see people like us,鈥� said Masandi, whose concentrations are in management and international business. 鈥淲e need to know there are people like us in these great positions in the business world. We need to see ourselves.鈥�
The panelists encouraged faculty members to facilitate more conversations in their classes about race and its impact on business. Derisme suggested integrating the topic into the Business Ethics and Organizational Behavior courses, which are required for all business students.
As the hourlong discussion came to an end, faculty members thanked the students for taking the initiative to host the event.
鈥淭his has been an invaluable and inspiring conversation for motivating necessary, meaningful action,鈥� Asst. Prof. of Management听Erica Steckler听wrote in the Zoom chat window. 鈥淚 am energized to continue listening, learning and acting.鈥�
鈥淭hank you for taking the time to share your voices with all of us,鈥� added听Spencer Ross, assistant professor of marketing, entrepreneurship and innovation. 鈥淚鈥檓 grateful for this conversation.鈥�