BBA Hosts Business Etiquette Dinner

Students at the University of Maryland's Black Business Association (BBA) write about the Business Etiquette Dinner on April 17, 2017.

On Monday, April 17, 2017, the Black Business Association (BBA) hosted a Business Etiquette Dinner for members, prospective members and alumni. Lisa Punter, a renowned professional etiquette instructor, led the attendees through a series of powerpoint slides that addressed areas in etiquette which include but was not limited to first impressions, shaking hands, attires, and proper eating etiquette. Within the Black Business Association, our mission is to enhance the brand and professional network of business students through the promotion and education of professional and personal development skills. This event was a perfect example of living out our mission.

The goal of the Business Etiquette Dinner was to teach our members the dos and don’ts of etiquette in a business setting. The dinner addressed areas that attendees might encounter as young professionals. For example, dining with potential employers, recruiters, and/or mentors, company holiday parties, after work happy hours, as well as interview lunches or dinners. The event was a twist on the typical etiquette dinner. Instead of the attendees simply getting a full course meal and learning how to eat and use the utensils, it will focus on topics such as, how to order from a menu, what to order, when to start eating, what to wear, what not to wear etc.

Several members expressed their new found knowledge on how to properly carry themselves in a professional setting. Alumni provided a realistic perspective of how the information being learned can be translated into the business world.

In conclusion, we would like to expression our most sincere thanks to everyone who made this event possible. To Dean Mullins, for your financial contribution and wisdom towards creating the vision of the program. To Jeanette Snider, for the continual support and advice towards aiding BBA to achieve our goal and fulfill the expectations of our mission. To the alumni and members, for taking the time to attend and be apart of the first ever BBA Business Etiquette Dinner. There was a lot to learn from the first event, and given the opportunity to repeat this style of Etiquette Dinner, we plan to implement all the lessons learned by transforming the challenges encountered into a better action plan to executing a successful event.

For more information at the undergraduate program at Smith, visit: www.rhsmith.umd.edu/undergrad.