Date
Oct. 22
Location
Psychology (PSY) 154
Time
6 to 8 p.m.
Description
Don’t just meet people — make connections that matter.
Join Beach Pride Events (BPE) in collaboration with the Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (IIE) for Networking Like a Pro on Oct. 22 to learn how to turn conversations into real internship opportunities.
With experts from engineering, media/PR, and local government, plus networking pro Emmanuel Rivera, you’ll walk away with tools to network confidently and effectively.
Make sure to RSVP for this FREE event on Events & Orgs as spots are limited to the first 30 attendees.
This event is only open to current LBSU students.
Meet Our Panelists
Emmanuel Rivera
Rivera is a networking specialist with extensive experience in guiding students and young professionals in career-building strategies. He is also the co-founder and designer of Naturewise Regenerative Design. His expertise lies in fostering authentic connections, personal branding, and effective communication skills to help individuals thrive in professional settings. Emmanuel was part of the Career Development team in the College of Business (COB), where he played a key role in networking with external stakeholders to support graduate business students in expanding their professional networks and honing their networking skills.
Stephanie El Tawil
Stephanie El Tawil serves as the Economic Development & Policy Manager for the Downtown Long Beach Alliance (DLBA). In addition to establishing working relations with Downtown businesses and property owners, financial institutions, commercial brokers, developers, and local economic development officials, she plays a key role in the implementation of office and retail recruitment strategies, supervising the production of market reports, and supervising the business navigator position to assist small business owners with permitting approvals. Before her arrival to DLBA, El Tawil’s previous roles included managing career and leadership development programs at the UCLA Anderson Graduate School of Management, Director of Innovation & Entrepreneurship at Growth Alliance for Greater Evansville, and Project Manager for the Evansville Regional Economic Partnership. She received her MBA and M.A. from the University of Southern Indiana.
Sergio Baez
With over 20 years of experience in marketing, promotions, and licensing, Baez is a driven and successful executive who leads the food and beverage NBCUniversal licensing strategy across North America. His leadership spans into business development, account management, and strategic thinking skills to cultivate new opportunities and expand relationships with national and regional brands in the licensing sphere, while optimizing NBCU’s breadth of properties and franchises. Baez is also a passionate educator, diversity champion, and community leader. He teaches Advertising and Marketing courses at two California State Universities, serves on the MBA Advisory Board at CSULB Long Beach, and advocates for diversity, equity, and inclusion in the entertainment industry. He is always curious and eager to learn, inspire, and be inspired. His mission is to disrupt, create, and innovate with top-tier CPG and entertainment brands, and to make work more fun and enjoyable through clear strategy and great vision.
John El Yahchouchi
John El Yahchouchi is a fourth-year Aerospace Engineering student and an exchange student from France. He is currently working on a startup focused on developing an AI-powered chatbot that helps students connect for networking and project partnerships. John is passionate about tech, collaboration, and building innovative solutions that bring people together.
Lisa Mae Brunson
Lisa Mae Brunson is a Creative Visionary, Speaker, Author, and Social Innovation Architect dedicated to driving impact and inclusion. She is the founder of Wonder Women Tech, Hiring Humans, the Mentor Magic Program, and host of the Wonder Women Tech Show podcast and ROAR with Lisa Mae. A 2024–2025 Obama Foundation Leader, Lisa Mae has developed STEAM programs for underserved youth and the Deaf and hard-of-hearing.
She serves as Chair of the Commission for Technology and Innovation for the City of Long Beach and sits on the Board of CSULB’s Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Lisa Mae is a Duke Corporate Educator and has created hackathons including Hacks 4 Humanity and Wonder Women Hacks.
Her work has earned recognition from Entrepreneur Magazine, Create & Cultivate, the Long Beach Post, and government leaders, highlighting her impact in leadership, technology, and social good. As a Black, Latina, and Indigenous woman, she champions culture, belonging, and transformative leadership across organizations, schools, and Fortune 500 companies.
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