College of Business Events
Diamond Key Professional Development Program
The Diamond Key Program is part of the College of Business Accelerated Career Exploration for Student Success (ACCESS) umbrella.
This innovative, professional development program complements the College of Business curriculum by building the business knowledge and skills necessary for professional success.
Earn Diamond Key credit by attending workshops & events!
This innovative, four-year program complements the College of Business curriculum and builds the additional skills necessary for professional success. It is a set of comprehensive experiences, delivered by business experts, strategically woven into the academic curriculum. You will develop poise and confidence, and prepare for real-world challenges.
How do I earn keys?
Keys are earned by attending Diamond Key Program workshops or events. Those finishing will be awarded a certificate of accomplishment and a transcript summarizing all workshops and events completed. This will be a strong addition to your resume.
How do I get started
You can start at any time! Diamond Key is available to all College of Business undergraduates and everyone will be urged to participate. Various workshops or conferences will earn a different number of keys, depending on the length or complexity of the event. Contact Susan Szasz (Sszasz@csumb.edu) to get started.
How does it work?
Over the course of four years, you will have the opportunity to earn 50 “keys” to success. At 50 keys, you will receive a certificate acknowledging your achievement, and one that will boost your resume power.
You can reach the superior Diamond Key Level by earning 75 keys. At the 75 key level, you will be awarded a memento to be worn at commencement. To earn keys, you must complete the required workshops or training sessions.
Only a few driven students will reach the Platinum Key Level, earning 100 keys. To earn keys, you must complete the required workshops or training sessions.
You can achieve these this by attending workshops, events, or experiences.
Diamond Key Workshop Topics:
Workshops
- Business Etiquette
- Dress for Success
- Dinner Formalities
- Internship Basics
- Job Search Strategies
- Networking
- Personal Branding
- Social Media Tools
- Public Speaking
- Presentation Skills
Events
- Conferences
- Other developmental events sponsored by the College of Business (as identified on the Diamond key and COB Flyers)
Experiences
- Internships
- Study Abroad Opportunities
- Start Up Weekend
Golden key level
- Native CSUMB Students: 50 keys
- Transfer Students: 25 Keys
Diamond key level
- Native CSUMB Students: 75 keys
- Transfer Students: 35 Keys
2022-23 Academic Year
9/14/22 – Virtual Otter Raft
9/19/22 – Diamond Key Workshop: Careers in Financial Services - on campus and online!
9/22/22 – Accounting Networking Event
10/3/22 – Hayashi Wayland Mixer - for Accounting and Finance Concentration students
10/10/22 – Hanna Rogge, Senior Wealth Manager at Monterey Private Wealth hosted by the Accounting Society
10/12/22 – Virtual Otter Raft!
10/20/22 – Concentration Information Panel hosted by The Business Club
10/24/22 – Greater Vision and Cultivating Talent & Harvesting Leaders Career Fair
10/26/22 – Virtual Otter Raft!
11/9/22 – Virtual Otter Raft!
12/6/22 – Pizza with Professors
12/7/22 – Virtual Otter Raft!
2021-22 Academic Year
5/4/22 – Diamond Key Workshop: Create Your Professional Resume
3/2/22 – NEST Flight 2021 – Career Development Conference
I2/24/21 – Diamond Key Workshop: Getting Your Dream Job (Part II)
2020-21 Academic Year
5/5/21 – Diamond Key Workshop – Become A Linkedin All-Star Series (Part 5)
5/4/21 – Diamond Key Workshop: Create Your Professional Resume
4/15/21 – Diamond Key Workshop – Networking Through Linkedin
4/7/21 – Diamond Key Workshop – Become A Linkedin All-Star Series (Part 4)
3/16/21 – CSUMB Student Job Information Fair
3/11/21 – Diamond Key Workshop – Become A Linkedin All-Star Series (Part 3)
3/9/21 – Diamond Key Workshop – Why Get an M.B.A?
2/18/21 – Diamond Key Workshop – Become A Linkedin All-Star Series (Part 2)
2/16/21 – Career Gateway: County of Monterey Internship Program Info Session
2/11/21 – Diamond Key Workshop – Dole 2021: Powering You
2/10/21 – Diamond Key Workshop – Become A Linkedin All-Star Series (Part 1)
2/6/21 – Diamond Key Workshop: Get An Internship!
2/4/21 – Diamond Key Workshop: Finding Your Dream Job (Part I)
2/3/21 – Diamond Key Workshop: Create Your Professional Resume
12/9/20 – Diamond Key Workshop: Make Linkedin Work for You
12/3/20 - Diamond Key Event: Nate Cameron – Manager, Producer, Musician, Businessman
12/3/20 – Diamond Key Workshop: Create Your ePortfolio
11/12/20 – Restorative Ranching
10/29/20 – Info Session on Target’s Internships & Full-time roles
10/22/20 – Diamond Key Workshop: Giving & Receiving Feedback
10/21/20 – Diamond Key Workshop: How to Succeed in Internships
10/15/20 – Diamond Key Workshop: Building your Personal Brand
10/14/20 – Diamond Key Workshop: Careers in Financial Services
10/8/20 – Diamond Key Workshop: Setting yourself up for success
10/2/20 – Applying for a job during Covid-19
2019-20 Academic Year
5/14/20 – LinkedIn Workshop #2: Take Your LinkedIn to the Next Level
5/7/20 – LinkedIn Workshop #1: Make LinkedIn Work for You
4/27/20 – Diamond Key Workshop: Build A Winning Resumé
4/22/20 – Diamond Key Workshop: Opportunities In A Crisis
2/25/20 – Diamond Key Workshop: LinkedIn Part 2 - Take Your LinkedIn to the Next Level
3/2/20 – Diamond Key Workshop: LinkedIn Part 2 - Take Your LinkedIn to the Next Level
2/19/20 – Diamond Key Workshop: LinkedIn Part 1 - Make LinkedIn Work for You
12/4/19 – Diamond Key Workshop: De-Stress Event
11/19/19 – Diamond Key Workshop: Create Your Elevator Pitch
11/13/19 – Diamond Key Workshop: Making TEAMS Work
11/6/19 – Diamond Key Workshop: Creating the 21st Century Business Powerhouse10/7/19 – Diamond Key Workshop: Careers in Financial Services
9/16/19 – Diamond Key Workshop: Make LinkedIn Work for You
CONGRATULATIONS to the 2019-20 Diamond Key Award Recipients!
Jaskiart (Jessica) Bhardwaj, Jennifer Jaimes, Marlen Magana-Rangel, Sheetal Nand, Kimiko Vaughan, Danifroy (DZ) Zarate
2018-19 Academic Year
4/29/19 – College of Business Spring Student-Faculty Mixer
4/22/19 – Diamond Key Workshop: Continuous Improvement by Kelly O'Brien
4/18/19 – Diamond Key Workshop: All About Business Concentrations Panel Discussion
4/8/19 – Diamond Key Workshop: Get Your Professional Headshot & Pizza! Presented by the Human Resources Club3/26/19 – Diamond Key Workshop: Polish your LinkedIn profile10/22/18 – Diamond Key Workshop: Careers in Financial Services
10/30/18 – Diamond Key Workshop: Why Female Leadership is Key to High Performance10/8/18 – Speed Feedback - Practice your interviewing skills and get feedback from HR and business professionals. Don't miss this invaluable workshop!
8/24/18 – Pizza with Professors by the Business Club and Diamond Key Program
2017-18 Academic Year
May 1, 2018: 4-6pm
Doers - The Vital Few Who Get Things Done - Tom E. Jones, author and COB faculty member, presents on what "doers" DO that makes them so valuable and how you can become a "doer".
April 23, 2018: 12-2pm
Millennials Entering the Workplace - Bettye Saxon, VP AT&T External Affairs on job search strategies.
April 16, 2018: 12-2pm
Presentation by Andy Berndt, VP at Google, on how to use creativity as a competitive edge.
March 29, 2018: 6pm-8pm
Do Your Own Taxes: Income Tax Preparation for Students - David Lopez, COO of Latino Tax Professionals, gives students a tutorial on filing their own income tax return.
March 26, 2018: 6pm-8pm
Speed Feedback - Lesley Everett's 3rd and final workshop on personal branding. Students received feedback from HR professionals on interviewing, resume, and LinkedIn in 5-minute sessions.
February 19, 2018: 6pm-8pm
Managing Your Personal Brand Online - Part 2 of the Personal Branding Workshop series with branding expert and author, Lesley Everett
November 13, 2017: 4pm-5:45pm
How using Robert's Rules creates a fair and constructive meeting. What the rules are and how they are used in meetings. How to use the process to improve your team meetings and what to expect in high-level committee or board meeting.
October 24, 2017: 6pm-8pm
Diamond Key Program - Building Your Professional Brand - Part 1 of the Personal Branding Workshop series, presented by Lesley Everett
October 12, 2017: 6pm-8pm
What is stock? What is the Dow or is it the Tao? Intelligent investing: risk vs returns. Mutual funds, ETF's, or individual stocks- which is better? How to maximize savings and investments.
October 2, 2017: 12pm-2pm
How to network, Power of linkedIn, Informational Interviewing, CSUMB resources, Presented by Mr. Alfred Budris & Ms. Susan Szasz
September 25, 2017: 12pm-2pm
Get Tech Ready! The Tech Skills You NEED as a Non-tech Professional, Presented by Dr. Shwadhin Sharma
2016-17 Academic Year
February 7, 2017: 12 pm — 2 pm
Podcasting for the Rest of Us: How to get started recording, producing, and distributing your message or your music Presented by: Ms. Kelly O'Brien
February 27, 2017: 12pm - 2 pm
Igniting Your True Purpose and Passion: A Businesslike Guide to Fulfill Your Professional Goals and Personal Dreams. Presented by Mr. Robert Michael Fried
March 13, 2017: 12pm-2pm
Why Isn't "Rainmaker" on the Syllabus?: The Important Role of Sales in Organizations, Presented by Mr. David Bethea
April 4, 2017: 6pm-8pm
Millennials Entering the Workplace: Uncovering Your Unique Self, Presented by Ms. Bettye Saxon
April 10, 2017: 12pm-2pm
Networking: Practice Over Hors D'oeuvres with COB Faculty., Presented by Mr. Al Budris
April 24, 2017: 12pm-2pm
Write Like A Corporate Professional: Improve your Professional Writing Skills, Presented by Ms. Susan Szasz
2015-16 Academic Year
May 5, 2016, 6-8 PM
GET READY TO GET RICH! Financial Strategies for College Students and graduates Presented by Wells Fargo
Apr. 25 2016, 12-2 PM
Executing Powerful and Effective Presentations, Presenter: Al Martin
Apr. 12 2016, 6-8pm
Outclass the Competition: Confidence and Poise to Navigate Professional Situations Presenter: Cass Antle
Apr. 11 2016, 12-2 PM
Meet Your Professors - for Business Majors & Minors. This is a great opportunity to get acquainted with your professors and ask questions about classes, majors, etc. There will be free pizza, fun activities and a chance to win a Starbucks gift card. Hosted by the CSUMB Business Club. 1 Key
Apr. 7 2016, 6-8 pm
Raising your EQ: Harness The Power of Emotional Intelligence! Presenter: John Avella
Mar. 10 2016, 6-8 pm
Write Like a Corporate Pro! Presenter: Susan Szasz
Mar. 3 2016, 6-8pm
Get An Internship Today! Presenter: Suzanne Kroeze
Feb. 15 2016, 12-2pm
Finding Your Dream Job (Through Social Media & Beyond) Presenter: Tonya Antle
2014-15 Academic year
February 25, 6-9pm
High Impact Selling: Developing Outstanding Sales Skills, Presenter: Lou Panetta 3 Keys
March 25, 6-7:30pm
Become A Millionaire: Financial Literacy And Success In Life, Presenter: Wells Fargo Associates 2 Keys
April 6, 6-9pm
Developing Global Win-Win Negotiating Skills, Presenter: Dr. Shyam Kamath 3 Keys
April 16, 6:00 - 7:30pm
Real-World Business Etiquette: Modern Manners For Today's Business and Beyond, Presenter: Carrie Glenn 2 Keys
2018 Winners of Diamond Key Professional Development Program Awards
The 2018 Award winners are (L to R) Gabrielle Cowdery, Ginger Gilliam, Jennifer Young, Kiari Young-Collie, Nathan Rossi. (Award recipients not pictured: Sarah Stangle and Salvador Ornelas-Reynoso.)
The Diamond Key award is presented to students for consistent attendance at workshops, as well as for participating in developmental experiences, such as internships, study abroad, the annual Ethics and Greater Vision Forums, and COB Career Gateway events. This innovative professional development program offered 11 powerful workshops in 2017-18. Over 1000 students have participated in Diamond Key workshops since 2015.
Andy Berndt, VP of Google Creative Labs, presented “Creativity in the Workplace: How Google Uses Creativity in Pursuit of its Mission” to a crowd of students and faculty from across CSUMB. He shared some projects his team has created, what he learned from his career journey, and his advice for students heading out into the work world: be a problem-solver. “The takeaway from this workshop was that people who can problem solve, and do it well, can really make a difference,” wrote student Joshua Atkins.
Bettye Saxon, AT&T External Affairs Regional Director, helped students identify their authentic self in her presentation “Millennials Entering the Workforce.” Students were moved by her presentation, “In the age of social media things are thrown at us daily that [have] either a positive or negative impact. This workshop helped [remind me] who I really am,” said student Autumn Giles.
President and CEO of Walking Tall and internationally recognized personal branding expert, Lesley Everett, led a three-part series on personal branding. In the fall she introduced students to the concept of a “personal brand” and helped them start to craft their own. In February, she added the element “online presence.” Finally, in March, a “Speed Feedback” workshop was held where Lesley worked one-on-one with students, providing feedback on their LinkedIn profiles. HR professionals Maxine Gullo of the City of Carmel, Kimberly Schnader of Bernardus Lodge, plus faculty members Jill Hosmer, Martha Kostas, Susan Szasz, and Tom Jones, held 5-minute interview sessions with students, giving instant feedback. In this fast-paced, feedback-rich, and fun workshop, students got the opportunity to be in the “hot seat” as well as observe other students.
I think this program sets students up for practical after-college readiness. It also allows me to go into interviews more confidently.— CSUMB Student