The Damietta Cross-Cultural Center regularly organizes events designed to nurture and foster relationships between Saints. But this first-of-its-kind event focused on a whole new kind of relationship building.
A robust professional network exponentially increases a student's access to career opportunities. The MacDonnell Career and Internship Center routinely facilitates those connections, and this month, they found a new partner in the Damietta Cross-Cultural Center.
The It's Giving Network event, in collaboration with S&S Capitol Consulting, an Albany based consulting firm led by young professionals, united Siena campus leaders along with students from other area colleges and universities with business leaders from throughout the community.
"One of the most meaningful parts of the night was seeing students from other colleges, including HVCC, Union, and UAlbany, come together in the same room," said co-organizer Talia Narzymski '26. "We were especially grateful for the number of student leaders who attended to represent their campuses. It showcased that students across the region are eager to collaborate and learn from one another beyond institutional boundaries."
Students who attended the event learned some practical skills, like tips for leveraging LinkedIn. But most importantly, they made connections with community nonprofits and local organizations.
"Those conversations came easily and naturally, making the experience both educational and genuinely fun," said Narzymski. "What stood out most to me was how quickly the space shifted from nerves to real connection. By the end of the night, it didn’t feel like a traditional networking event, it felt like a community."
Fellow event organizer Rebecah Leonard '26 considered the primary goal to be creating a space where students could have real conversations, ask questions, and start building connections in a low-pressure environment.
"We prepared conversation starter questions to help guide discussions in case anyone felt stuck or nervous about networking," Leonard said. "This made the event feel more approachable and helped students feel more confident jumping into conversations. The value for students was learning about different career paths, internships, and community work while practicing networking skills. It was really rewarding to see students making connections and engaging with professionals from across the Capital Region."
The organizers of It's Giving Network hope the event turns into an annual tradition.
