The Deloitte team welcomed FOSSI scholars Kaila White, Keliy Haynes, Brendan Bryan, Sydney Brown, and Michael Wilmore to their Rosslyn, VA, offices for the third annual FOSSI Scholar Day—a day of networking, learning, and sharing insights.
A day of learning and connection
The program featured leadership journey discussions with Deloitte partners, a panel with practitioners on the transition from university to a career at Deloitte, and an interactive AI case study working session.
Brendan Bryan shared, “The day was filled with meaningful conversations, especially with professionals like Zillah Austin, Saadat Khan, and Kelly Irvin, whose perspectives on higher education and professional growth gave me new ways to think about my career and the opportunities ahead. Their insights, combined with the energy in the room, reinforced just how special this community is.”
Kaila White added, “Coming back to Deloitte as a recent graduate made the experience especially impactful. Over the past few years, I’ve been able to watch the program expand while continuing to reflect Deloitte’s commitment to diversity and to investing in the next generation of leaders. Each year brings new conversations, connections, and opportunities to grow, and I am so grateful to be a part of that journey.”
Scholar reflections
Michael Wilmore noted, “I especially enjoyed the interactive discussion on AI in our everyday work and the thought-provoking talk from Saadat Khan on leveraging a STEM background in consulting. I’m grateful to the FOSSI program and Deloitte team for creating such a supportive space for scholars to explore career paths, develop skills, and expand our networks. I’m walking away from this experience feeling energized and ready to apply what I’ve learned.”
Reflecting on the day, Dave Yankovitz, US Chemicals Leader at Deloitte, said, “When we set out to host our Annual FOSSI Scholar Day, our goal was to provide a meaningful program focused on leadership coaching and career advice. The event has grown into a day that not only inspires our FOSSI scholars, but our Deloitte leaders too. We all leave feeling energized about the future of the chemical industry and the tremendous potential and talent that will lead the way forward.”
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