BLA Mentoring Program Students Visit Tyson Headquarters

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BLA Mentoring Program students with Tyson employees and Walton College's office of diversity and inclusion staff

Six junior and senior business students were invited to the Tyson Foods Inc. corporate headquarters in Springdale, Ark., on Nov. 13. The visit was part of the Business Leadership Academy Mentoring Program, a partnership the office of diversity and inclusion at the Sam M. Walton College of Business has with Tyson. The mentoring partnership is a four-year program for students who attended the Business Leadership Academy that seeks to help participants develop leadership and teamwork skills.

The visit included a tour of the Tyson Founder's Room, an exhibit that offers viewers a look into the history of the company, and informational presentations by Tyson employees. The students learned job hunting tips related to resume and cover letter writing and interviewing skills. They also attended a personal branding lecture that taught them tips for building confidence and positive first impressions.

"Through the BLA trip to Tyson's headquarters, I was really able to gain a clear perspective as to how a large multinational company operates," said John Hill, senior business economics and finance major. "It gave me a good sense of what their expectations are for students entering the workforce, and it helped me understand what we as students can do to better prepare ourselves for that transition."

This trip was the second of the semester, following a visit to Tyson on Oct. 30 that included 11 freshman and sophomore business students. The BLA mentoring program will host its final event of the semester in December.