Today was the fourth day of Minnesota Business Venture at the University of St. Thomas and the theme was Financial Freedom! Thanks to the sponsor of the day, Piper Sandler Companies, we were able to make Financial Freedom Day possible!
Campers began their day with mock interviews. Professionals asked common hiring questions to help prepare campers for real-world interviews. Afterward, the interviewers gave feedback on what the campers did well, what could be improved, and how to better approach future interviews. These sessions helped campers build valuable skills for the job application process.
Next, campers explored a variety of career fields at the Career Expo. Representatives from eight companies participated, including Xcel Energy, Blaze Credit Union, Ecolab, GF Machining Solutions, Living Well Disability Services, Tennant Company, Polaris, and Boulay. Campers learned about each company’s mission, values, and hiring needs, and discovered career paths they might not have considered before.
After lunch, campers attended philanthropy sessions where they learned what a nonprofit is and how similar ideas could be applied to their own business ventures. The sessions were interactive, with speakers asking questions and campers sharing their personal experiences with nonprofits and volunteering. Employees from 3M, General Mills, Huntington, U.S. Bank, and Xcel Energy led these discussions.
Following the philanthropy sessions, campers participated in Financial Literacy Breakouts that covered topics such as investing, credit, budgeting, paying for college, identity theft, and the cost of living. These sessions were led by professionals from Moxie Wealth, Blaze Credit Union, North Star Resource Group, Wings Financial, ECMC, and Froehling Anderson. To better understand the cost of living, campers played a game where they were given a salary and personal profile, then tasked with managing expenses. Some lost their money while others managed to stay afloat.
The day wrapped up with company meetings where campers finalized their business plans and presentations. Everyone is excited to showcase their hard work tomorrow.