Walter Panas' Beato Twins Shine at Business Leaders Academy

 From Mercy College: Christopher and Nicholas Beato, of lass of 2013, who are twin brothers from Cortland Manor, were two of 21 students selected for the Mercy College Business Leaders Academy from a pool of more than 85 regional high school students last month.

The Academy was held June 25 to 28 under the direction of the dean of the School of Business, Dr. Ed Weis. Students participated in an intense week-long introduction to the fundamentals of leadership in business.

The curriculum is designed to help students develop the intangible skills required in business, which include self-discovery, public speaking, relationship building, and finding meaning.

The Future Business Leaders Academy is a summer business institute for high school seniors seeking an up-close look at the world of business and new avenues to explore personal and professional development.  The Academy features lectures, site visits, team-building exercises and cultural events.

“Mercy College’s Future Business Leaders Academy gives high-achieving high school students first-hand experience in the exciting world of business,” said Mercy College School of Business Dean Ed Weis, Ph.D.  “The curriculum is designed to help students develop the skills they need to lead in today’s increasingly global and constantly changing world.”

Approximately 20 students participated in the Academy and events including:

• Seminars with CEOs, Wall Street executives, non-profit leaders, and entrepreneurs who serve on the Mercy College School of Business faculty;
• Lectures by professors on a range of topics, such as “Discovering Your Professional Personality,” “The Century of China,” “Evolution of Digital Marketing” and more;
• Young Professionals Panel and other networking events;
• Cultural outings to sites in New York City;
• Interactive exercises to test their potential as business leaders, such as trading games, viral marketing and business plan competitions;
• Outward Bound and team-building activities;
• Student presentations and closing banquet

“The Future Business Leaders Academy offered experiences that brought out the leadership side of our personalities,” saidMercy College Future Business Leaders Academy student and incoming Mercy College freshman Andrew Vatier ’16.  “This week taught me that in business, hard work and the right connections can put you on the fast track for success.”

The Future Business Leaders Academy was a life-changing experience for at least four of students who, based on their time at the Academy, decided to enroll at Mercy College.

“I never expected to form such strong bonds and sense of community with my fellow students and the Mercy College team,” said Mercy College Future Business Leaders Academy student Danielle Crecco.  “In addition to forming these friendships, the Future Business Leaders Academy taught me things I will use in college and beyond.”

About Mercy College

Founded in 1950, Mercy College is a private, not-for-profit higher education institution that offers more than 90 undergraduate and graduate programs within five schools: Business, Education, Health and Natural Sciences, Social and Behavioral Sciences, and Liberal Arts. Mercy College offers an engaging and personalized learning experience that includes the College’s revolutionary Personalized Achievement Contract (PACT) program. The Mercy College PACT is the first program of its kind and now serves as a nationally recognized model for mentoring. The PACT program was featured as a “Best Practice” for retention and career services by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE).  www.mercy.edu/ 877-MERCY-GO.