Agenda
Wednesday, May 1
Access 2024 Kickoff with HEY MISTER DJ
Wednesday May 1
9–9:30 AM PT / 12–1:30 PM ET
Mainstage · Employer · Higher Ed
"HEY MISTER DJ" returns to the Access stage in 2024! Jumpstart your Handshake Access experience by tuning in to the freshest tracks, connecting with fellow music enthusiasts, and diving into a spirited round of "name that tune" for exciting prizes.
SPEAKERS
HEY MISTER DJ
How Corporate Natalie “leaves no crumbs” as a viral Gen Z content creator
Wednesday May 1
9:30–10:15 AM PT / 12:30–1:15 PM ET
Mainstage · Employer · Higher Ed
Corporate Natalie is a viral creator and social media consultant who's been recognized by Forbes 30 Under 30 and E’s Top Accounts to Follow. Tune in to get her advice on building a brand and tailoring your content and communication to connect with Gen Z.
SPEAKERS
Corporate Natalie Creator and Advisor
Brit Gergen Director, Product Marketing, Handshake
The next ten years of early talent transformation
Wednesday May 1
10:15–11 AM PT / 1:15–2 PM ET
Keynote · Employer · Higher Ed
Handshake has fundamentally changed how college students get jobs and how companies find early-career hires—and we’re gearing up to do it again. Join us for a conversation about the future of early talent hiring, employer brand awareness, career inspiration, and more.
SPEAKERS
Michele Militante Senior Director, Early Talent Acquisition and Global COE, PepsiCo
Christian Garcia Associate Dean and Executive Director, Toppel Career Center, University of Miami
Garrett Lord CEO & Co-founder, Handshake
The future of the first job: how AI is reshaping the early talent journey
Wednesday May 1
11:15–12 PM PT / 2:15–3 PM ET
Mainstage · Employer · Higher Ed
Join leaders from industry and higher ed to explore how we can leverage AI to unlock opportunities. We'll talk about the skills new grads need in an AI-enabled workplace, the impact of AI on equity and efficiency in recruiting, and how AI can facilitate career discovery.
SPEAKERS
Katy George Chief People Officer and Senior Partner, McKinsey & Co.
Dr. Chris Howard Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer, Arizona State University
Valerie Capers Workman Chief Talent Engagement Officer, Handshake
New: Build your brand with content and community on Handshake
Wednesday May 1
12:15–1 PM PT / 3:15–4 PM ET
Mainstage · Employer · Higher Ed
Be the first to make an impact with our new Content & Community platform. We’ll give you the inside track on what it is, why you should care, and how to give students a distraction-free destination for inspo, info, and real talk as they build their careers.
SPEAKERS
Joelle Maslaton Head of Creator Community Engagement, Handshake
Jim O'Neill Associate Director, Early Career Talent Acquisition, RTX
Michael DeAngelis Senior Associate Director, Communications & Technology, University of Pennsylvania
Allen Yao Student, University of Pennsylvania
How to inspire and engage through brand building on Handshake
Wednesday May 1
1–1:45 PM PT / 4–4:45 PM ET
Breakout · Employer
Building a high-performing team starts with building a great employer brand. In this session, you’ll learn about best practices for using Handshake to build and market your brand, and get concrete tips on capturing Gen Z mindshare from leading TA experts.
SPEAKERS
Amna Hasnian Talent Acquisition Leader, Texas Instruments
Vasavi Rao Director, Employer Brand and Recruitment Marketing, Enterprise Mobility
Ciara Salg Sr. Manager, Recruitment Marketing, Diversity Recruiting and Employer Brand, Hilton
Sampada Wakhlu Senior Manager, Enterprise Customer Success, Handshake
Engaging early and often: strategies from leading career centers
Wednesday May 1
1–1:45 PM PT / 4–4:45 PM ET
Breakout · Higher Ed
Hear from four innovative career services leaders who are connecting with students earlier and more consistently to support their long-term career goals. We'll explore real-world examples, get concrete tips, and find the inspiration you need to uplevel your engagement strategy.
SPEAKERS
Hassan Akmal Executive Director, Career & Professional Development, University of California, San Diego
Debra Klokis Career Preparation Manager, Office of Career Preparation & Experiential Learning, Rowan College at Burlington County
Mark Peltz Dean, Center for Career, Life, and Service, Grinnell College
Kendra Haywood Associate Director of Career Services & Employer Engagement, North Carolina A&T State University
Amy Hendrickson Senior Relationship Manager, Handshake
Leveraging early talent programs to close the technical and engineering talent skills gap
Wednesday May 1
1:45–2:30 PM PT/ 4:45–5:30 PM ET
Mainstage · Employer · Higher Ed
Despite the ongoing upheaval in the technical sector, demand for workers with STEM skills still far outpaces supply. How can employers and higher ed institutions work together to close that gap? What will it take to equip students with both the niche technical and engineering skills companies need and the core competencies—such as communication and critical thinking—that will enable them to contribute to technical teams? This session will explore creative solutions and push you to think outside the box about what’s possible at your organization.
SPEAKERS
Jane Swift Former Massachusetts Governor and President, Education at Work
Matt Greenberg Chief Technology Officer, Handshake
Fabien Chazot Fractional CTO and Executive Coach
Thursday, May 2
Access 2024 day 2 Kickoff with HEY MISTER DJ
Thursday May 2
Access 2024 day 2 Kickoff with HEY MISTER DJ
Mainstage · Employer · Higher Ed
Alright party people, get ready to turn up the volume because "HEY MISTER DJ" is back for day two of Handshake Access! It's a whole new day, and another chance to win limited-edition Handshake swag!
SPEAKERS
HEY MISTER DJ
Skills-based hiring and the college degree
Thursday May 2
9:15–10 AM PT / 12:15–1 PM ET
Mainstage · Employer · Higher Ed
Employers are increasingly shifting focus to skills, rather than degrees, in hiring requirements. This session will dive into what this means for career services and TA professionals, and how employers and higher ed can partner to prepare for the future of skills-based hiring.
SPEAKERS
Lydia Logan Vice President, Global Education and Workforce Development, Corporate Social Responsibility, IBM
Michelle Amante VP, Federal Workforce Programs, Partnership for Public Service
Jeff Selingo New York Times bestselling author
Ashley Finley VP for Research and Sr. Advisor to the President, AAC&U
Building the life and career you want with Arthur Brooks
Thursday May 2
10–11 AM PT / 1 PM–2 PM ET
Keynote · Employer · Higher Ed
Being happy at work isn’t a nice-to-have—it’s critical to motivation and creativity. Join Harvard Professor and best-selling author Arthur Brooks for a conversation about what happiness really looks and how employers and educators can help early talent build fulfilling careers.
SPEAKERS
Arthur Brooks Harvard Professor and Best-selling Author
Christine Cruzvergara Chief Education Strategy Officer, Handshake
Gen Z gets real: an honest conversation with early talent
Thursday May 2
11:15–12 PM PT / 2:15–3 PM ET
Mainstage · Employer · Higher Ed
Join us for a real conversation with a panel of early-career jobseekers. We’ll chat about Gen Z’s hopes for the workforce, how today’s students and new grads are thinking about their career paths, and how you can support, recruit, and retain the leaders of tomorrow.
SPEAKERS
Brinton Botkin Student Storyteller, Handshake
Tarik Manzie IT Strategy and Reporting Co-Op, Retail Business Services
Prabhmeet Kahlon Student, Illinois State University, Class of 2025
Sophia Wu Student, University of San Francisco, Class of 2024
Alexander White Student, University of Michigan-Flint Class of 2024
Smarter sourcing: how Handshake helps you reach the right candidates in less time
Thursday May 2
12:15–1 PM PT / 3:15–4 PM ET
Breakout · Employer
Sourcing is a critical part of any early talent strategy. In this session, you’ll learn about Handshake product features designed to help you automate sourcing processes and seamlessly identify and reach candidates with the specific skills your organization needs.
SPEAKERS
David Gibson Talent Acquisition Business Partner, General Motors
Lucia Cook Director, Talent Acquisition, Shaw Industries
Mary Faye Cicero Talent Acquisition Manager - Early Talent Programs, Sherwin Williams
Data-driven decision-making in career services
Thursday May 2
12:15–1 PM PT / 3:15–4 PM ET
Breakout · Higher Ed
Hear from three higher education leaders as they explain how they leverage reporting and analytics tools. You'll get best practices for using engagement and outcomes data to celebrate wins, discover opportunities for improvement, and strengthen student success overall.
SPEAKERS
Jayme Gann Senior Business Intelligence Analyst, Johns Hopkins University
Dan Pitti Senior Operations and Data Analyst, Stony Brook University
Cristina López Director of Experiential Learning and Broward Campus, Florida Atlantic University
Samantha Wheeler Senior Relationship Manager, Handshake
What's new in Handshake?
Thursday May 2
12:15–1 PM PT / 3:15–4 PM ET
Breakout · Employer
In 2024, Handshake is investing in a wide variety of product updates to optimize your full-funnel recruiting strategy. Join this session to hear about changes we’re making to help you build brand awareness, target the right talent, and prioritize and engage qualified candidates.
SPEAKERS
The Handshake Product Team
Centralizing employer engagement for a more relevant job search
Thursday May 2
12:15–1 PM PT / 3:15–4 PM ET
Breakout · Higher Ed
Get valuable insights and data-informed tips to bridge the gap between student aspirations and industry needs. Discover how you can take the guesswork out of nurturing and growing your partnerships, discover new partnerships, and curate the job search experience for students.
SPEAKERS
Amber Lennon Director of Career and Professional Development & QEP, Elizabeth City State University
Melissa Thiriez Director, Employer Relations & Partnerships, Santa Clara University
Kaite Wiley Assistant Director for Employer Development, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Julie Draczynski Director, Employer Engagement, Center for Career Development , College of the Holy Cross
Christine Cruzvergara Chief Education Strategy Officer, Handshake
Sura Hussain Senior Product Marketing Manager, Handshake
Building a resilient future workforce by widening your talent pool
Thursday May 2
1–1:45PM PT / 4–4:45 PM ET
Keynote · Employer · Higher Ed
To succeed in today’s business climate, organizations need employees with a wide range of perspectives and skills. This session will equip you with strategies to connect and engage with students of all backgrounds, build equitable career paths, and develop inclusive practices to support early talent.
SPEAKERS
Wanda Hope Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer, Johnson & Johnson
Dr. Xavier Clark IC Accessibility Officer, Office of the Director of National Intelligence
Monne Williams Chief Impact Officer, Handshake
Dr. Michael Rao President, Virginia Commonwealth University