The Black Business Students Association (BBSA) and its members have a rich tradition of leadership at Columbia Business School and in the broader business community. Today’s business landscape features many BBSA alumni leading some of the country’s most prominent companies. Many of those individuals cultivated their leadership capabilities during their tenures at Columbia Business School. Currently, the BBSA and its members are some of the most visible and active contributors to the campus community. Our board members are widely recognized as campus leaders, holding executive positions in several major student organizations.

This year’s Conference “Looking Back and Moving Forward” will be November 4 – 5, 2011 at Lerner Hall on Columbia University’s campus. We are building an experience that will convene black professionals in a series of conversations, interviews and case reviews designed to foster interactive discussion and easy, purposeful networking. Our goal is to transform our annual conference into the one event that gathers talented, New York City based black executives, from pre-MBA to C-level, in meaningful dialogue, while providing a toolkit designed after the unique strengths of Columbia Business School – balancing innovation with analytical application.

The BBSA’s programming supplements the tremendous education and resources Columbia Business School already provides our members, to ensure they are best prepared to succeed in their careers and add value to the organizations they join. The Real Deal Series and mentorship programs give students in-depth exposure to the necessary steps for success in various fields of interest, while the Resume and Interview Workshops prepare them to secure jobs in those fields. Fireside Chats and Brown Bag Lunches give both the students and sponsoring companies incredible opportunities to learn more about each other in an intimate setting. The financial modeling workshops and additional tutoring services help to ensure the members are prepared to excel in the classroom and their post-MBA careers. The extensive menu of Membership and Alumni events help to foster a strong sense of fellowship and create a powerful network amongst current students and alumni that serves as a critical source of support, knowledge, mentorship and opportunities for our constituency.

In the 2011 — 2012 academic year we intend to continue putting together these great events and programs while focusing on a number of new initiatives we believe will provide additional benefits to current members, alumni, the school and our sponsors.

Please take a moment to browse the site and learn more about our organization. Feel free to contact any of the executive board members listed within for more information.