HBCU First

Congratulations to the 2026 HBCU First x University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of Business Personal Statement Competition winners! Thank you Anthony Whitten, Director of Diversity Admissions for leading a powerful session on #storytelling and helping inspire our students to share their voices with purpose. Thank you Mx. Verse Gabrielle, Senior Associate Director of Accelerated Access for the partnership and for creating meaningful opportunities for HBCU talent. Our students embraced the challenge and shared thoughtful goals and compelling stories. The Winners: First Place: Aryan Luitel of Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University Second Place: Zaria Jackson of Morgan State University  Third Place: Zion Pyner of Coppin State University

More than 40 mentors nationwide connected directly with over 80 students from 23 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) through 1:1 mentorship, creating a lasting impact. Thank you, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Indeed, Corebridge Financial, and WME Group for investing in our students through the HBCU First #Mentoring Experience. Thank you to Rayven A. Bryant of Teachers College, Columbia University, and Spelman College alumna, and Kyndall Jackson of North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University for coordinating a meaningful experience for our interns. #Mentorship gave our students clearer direction and the confidence to take their next steps. Here’s what they shared: SKILLS FOR THE FUTURE “During my session with Tunesia Jackson from Corebridge Financial, I gained clarity on which skills to build, especially how my current experience connects to my long term goals in IT finance.” — Dalitso Nyirenda, Grambling State University EXPLORING CAREER PATHS “My conversation with Ulysses Smith from WME Group showed me the value of gaining experience across different sports departments so I can better shape a career path that fits my interests.” — Khamiyah Lewis, Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University BUILDING CONSISTENT CONNECTIONS “After speaking with Nicholas Wright (Indeed), I will intentionally schedule small daily moments to connect with others so I can build a steady support system that fits my personality.” — Emmanuel Aina, Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University TAKING RISKS AND NETWORKING “One action I will take after learning from Raven Rose at MSK is becoming more willing to take risks and network, even when it feels uncomfortable, so I can access new opportunities.” — Kendrix Murray, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University VALUABLE ENGINEERING INSIGHT “I really appreciated Leo Lansford from Indeed emphasizing fundamentals and explaining that true engineers understand concepts before building, which gave me a mindset I can apply to my future projects.” — Akwasi Nyarko, Grambling State University   REASSURING CAREER ADVICE “Thank you to Stephanie Spotsville from Corebridge Financial for sharing practical advice about workplace challenges and personal growth, which helped me feel more prepared for what to expect early in my career.” — Alaura Brown, Howard University -------- Special thanks to Jenna Sandker, Rachel Martin, MPA, Shanda Vangas, Giana Colon, Anastatia Harrison, SHRM - CP, Matt Berndt, Clint Carrens, Marianne Matarese for your partnership!

Thank you Amanda Meigher Mariner and Vincent Doré for leading a powerful finale to the Spring 2026 HBCU #Luxury #Retail Accelerator with Tiffany & Co., closing with an inside look at Behind the Brand. Over five weeks, the accelerator equipped 100+ HBCU First scholars, representing 25 HBCUs across 22 states, Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, and Washington, DC, with relationship-building skills and exposure to career pathways across the luxury retail industry. Gratitude to Adrienne Group for creating and leading the Tiffany & Co. x HBCU First partnership. Appreciation to Hassan Mehdaoui for leading the program and to Shreya Sidhu for co-leading all five sessions and ensuring a strong student experience. We also recognize Syeda M. for leading The Art of Meaningful Connections, and Timothy Ballenger and Martin O. Tettey for an insightful Career Talk. Student reflections: STORYTELLING DRIVES LUXURY BRANDING “One insight from today’s session was how storytelling shapes luxury branding, especially seeing how creative work like the Frankenstein film project connects brands to major cultural moments.” — Dalitso Nyirenda, Grambling State University CREATIVITY WITHOUT LIMITS “One insight that stayed with me was realizing that creativity has no fixed rulebook. The value comes from interpreting ideas in your own way and building something that feels truly original.” — Joshua West, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University COLLABORATION BEHIND THE BRAND “The session showed me that creative departments at Tiffany & Co. depend on many roles beyond artistry, and how teams collaborate across communication, production, and operations to bring a brand’s vision to life.” — Kamsiyochukwu Olisah, Grambling State University UNDERSTANDING VISUAL MERCHANDISING “Learning how visual merchandising works and the effort behind it gave me a deeper appreciation for the creativity and precision required in the luxury retail industry.” — Psalm Burroughs, North Carolina A&T State University APPLYING DESIGN THROUGH EXPERIENCE “I appreciated the window design exercise, which showed how teamwork and creativity come together to build meaningful visual concepts through image-based storytelling.” — Njabulo Moyo, Grambling State University — Thank you to Alyssa Durm of Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University and Zyni T. of Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University for co-hosting an engaging closing session.

Thank you Anastatia Harrison, SHRM - CP, Maggie Gaspar, and Bahar Momin for an impactful finale to the Spring 2026 HBCU #Wealth Accelerator with Corebridge Financial. And special gratitude to Shanda Vangas for leading the Corebridge Financial x HBCU First partnership, now serving 900+ HBCU First students. This 5-week accelerator equipped over 100 students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities with wealth-building skills and exposure to career pathways across the financial services industry. We also extend our appreciation to the Corebridge Financial team who shaped this fall’s experience — including Ramona Dalton on being a millionaire, Tia Jinks on your future starts now, Matthew Salvatore and Charles Samuel, CLU, ChFC on life insurance and annuities, and Darryl Knox Sr. CFP® on wealth transfer. Here’s what resonated most with students in our final session: INTERVIEW MINDSET SHIFT “The session helped me realize that getting an interview already means I am qualified, so I should focus more on showing my personality rather than trying to prove my technical abilities.” — Amir Bland, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University PREPARING WITH INTENTION “One insight from the workshop was how important it is to prepare ahead by researching the company, reviewing interviewer profiles, and using small details to build meaningful conversation during interviews.” — Zaria Jackson, Morgan State University RESEARCHING FOR ALIGNMENT “After the conversation, I will research companies more deeply by understanding their mission, values, and structure so I can better align my goals with the opportunities I pursue.” — DeAsia Leslie, Fort Valley State University BUILDING INTERVIEW CONFIDENCE “One step I will take after today’s conversation is creating a structured interview cheat sheet with prepared answers so I can walk into interviews feeling confident and ready.” — Hailey Conner, Howard University INSPIRING PANEL EXPERIENCE “I appreciated how Ms. Harrison, Ms. Gasper, Ms. Momin, and Ms. Vangas shared practical interview advice, and learning from such a strong team made the session encouraging and impactful.” — Kaliyah Y. Carter, Spelman College REAL TIME FEEDBACK VALUE “Thank you to the Corebridge Financial team for providing live feedback on interview responses, which helped me better understand how to improve my answers and feel more confident in future interviews.” — Liya Campbell, Morgan State University ----- And thank you to Donald Lee and Zyni T. of Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University for co-hosting the session.

North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University's Joshua West learns to explain the results of what he’s done in previous roles at the HBCU Wealth Accelerator with Corebridge Financial!

Morgan State University's Oluwanifemi Bajela learns the importance of practicing in front a mirror for interviews at the HBCU Wealth Accelerator with Corebridge Financial!

Winston-Salem State University's Amiya Jones learns how to research the company that she would like to work for at the HBCU Wealth Accelerator with Corebridge Financial!

Thank you Shreya Sidhu for leading an insightful HBCU #Luxury #Retail Accelerator session with Tiffany & Co. on thinking like an interviewer. Special thanks to Adrienne Group and Hassan Mehdaoui for your continued partnership. HBCU First scholars representing 25 HBCUs across 22 states, Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, and Washington, DC, walked away with a deeper understanding of how authenticity, preparation, and clear communication make a successful interview. Here’s what resonated most with students: AUTHENTICITY IN INTERVIEWS “The Tiffany & Co. session showed me that being honest in interviews matters more than trying to impress, and expressing a willingness to learn is more powerful than giving false answers.” — Dillon Atkins, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University COMMUNICATING YOUR VALUE “One insight from the workshop was that how I communicate my experiences matters more than what I have done, and clear, focused answers will help me stand out as a candidate.” — Sanora Floy, North Carolina A&T State University STRUCTURING MY RESPONSES “One step I will take after today’s workshop is using the STAR method to organize my answers so I can clearly show my actions, results, and problem-solving skills in interviews.” — Dawnyelle Smith, Alabama State University PREPARING WITH PURPOSE “After the session, I will prepare authentic stories using the STAR method so I can give well-structured answers and build stronger connections during interviews and follow-ups.” — Kendrix Murray, North Carolina A&T State University INTERACTIVE LEARNING EXPERIENCE “I appreciated how Ms. Sidhu made the session interactive and helped us see interviews from an interviewer's perspective, which made the experience engaging and practical.” — Donald Lee, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University VALUABLE INTERVIEW INSIGHT “Thank you to Ms. Sidhu for sharing how interviewers evaluate candidates and for guiding us on structuring responses to demonstrate preparation and strengthen our candidacy.” — Njabulo Moyo, Grambling State University ---------- And thank you to Ambria S. of Tennessee State University and Zyni T. of Florida A&M University, for co-hosting the session.

We extend our gratitude to Darryl Knox Sr. CFP® for an insightful session on Wealth Transfer as part of the Spring 2026 HBCU #Wealth Accelerator with Corebridge Financial. Special thanks to Shanda Vangas for supporting the session. HBCU First scholars, representing 25 HBCUs across 22 states, Africa and Asia walked away with a stronger understanding of how wealth transfer strategies and early financial conversations can have generational impact. Here’s what resonated most with students: UNDERSTANDING WEALTH TRANSFER “This workshop helped me understand the difference between intergenerational and intragenerational wealth transfer, showing how wealth can move across generations or within the same generation in different ways.” — Basit Kadelu, Xavier University of Louisiana PLANNING FOR LONG-TERM SUCCESS “One insight from the Corebridge Financial session was how trusts can be more effective than wills by avoiding probate and protecting assets, while also highlighting the importance of planning to sustain wealth across generations.” — Precious Nwofor, Grambling State University STARTING IMPORTANT CONVERSATIONS “I will talk with my parents about wills and trusts so I can better understand our family’s plans and ensure we are prepared for the future.” — Kamille Williams, North Carolina A&T State University LEARNING EARLY STRATEGIES “One step I will take after today’s conversation is learning more about wealth transfer options like gifting and charitable giving so I can make more informed long-term financial decisions.” — Orator Murambiwa, Grambling State University POWERFUL LEGACY LESSON “I appreciated how Mr. Knox used real examples like the Vanderbilt family to explain why planning matters and how tools like trusts and insurance protect long-term wealth.” — Dawnyelle Smith, Alabama State University EYE-OPENING GUIDANCE “Thank you to Mr. Knox for sharing practical tools and explaining the importance of wills, which helped me better understand how planning can impact my family’s future.” — Ella Bisono, North Carolina A&T State University ----- And thank you to Psalm Burroughs of North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University and Zyni T. of Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, for co-hosting the session.