Fall classes had not yet begun, but 43 FIU students were already interviewing with major employers, meeting executives and thinking seriously about the careers they hope to build.
The students traveled to Charlotte, North Carolina, for the Association of Latino Professionals for America’s 2026 national convention, held one week before the start of the semester. More than 3,500 students and professionals attended the multi-day event, which included workshops, keynote presentations and a career expo.
FIU’s chapter sponsored travel and lodging for 43 students, its second-largest delegation to the convention. The group secured more than 35 interviews with employers, said chapter president Pavlo Filyanov, a finance and business analytics major.
In a job market where companies often recruit interns years before graduation, Filyanov sees early preparation as essential.
“Some students think, ‘I’m a freshman. I have three more years. I can come back to this during my senior year,’” he said. “It doesn’t work that way. The best time to start is your freshman year.”
Finance major May Yoon Nadi Kyaw joined ALPFA soon after completing hers. An international student from Myanmar, she was still exploring where a finance degree might take her.
“I had no idea what to do with my major or what skills I needed,” Kyaw said. “ALPFA gave me a clear framework for how to improve, gain experience and prepare for an internship.”
In Charlotte, that preparation accelerated. At 10 p.m. one evening during the conference, Kyaw received an email inviting her to interview the next morning. She had never completed an in-person internship interview, so she spent the night researching the company, the position and the questions she could expect.
The experience sharpened more than her interview skills. Kyaw, who describes herself as shy, made a point of approaching recruiters and speaking with other convention attendees.
“It was inspiring to see so many students willing to push themselves and grow professionally,” she said.
International business major Malin Weitze also arrived in Charlotte determined to make the most of the opportunity. Earlier in the year, the German international student participated in an ALPFA case competition that required her team to learn the Bloomberg Terminal. They won.
“I had never worked with a Bloomberg Terminal before,” Weitze said. “The competition made me learn how to use it, but it also gave us visibility with recruiters.”
That work paid off at the convention, where a Bloomberg recruiter recognized her name.
Weitze had initially wondered whether she would fit into an organization founded to support Latino professionals. She found a chapter that welcomed students from across the university and a national network whose members readily shared advice.
“I thought everyone there would be my competition,” she said. “Then I realized people wanted to help each other. Everyone had the same ambition, and I felt like I had found my community.”
That mix of backgrounds is especially visible at FIU. Filyanov is from Ukraine, while Weitze and Kyaw come from Germany and Myanmar. The chapter’s 314 active members study finance, accounting, marketing and business analytics, as well as computer science, cybersecurity and engineering.
“We have people from Asia, Europe and the Americas,” Filyanov said. “Ethnicity, gender or major doesn’t determine who can lead here. What matters is the willingness to learn.”
Members spend the year building technical and professional skills through employer presentations, case competitions, financial markets discussions and workshops on Excel, SQL and artificial intelligence. Last spring, the chapter brought 29 companies and about 100 professionals to campus.
Filyanov understands the value of those connections. He submitted roughly 350 internship applications beginning in his sophomore year. Two led to interviews, and one produced an offer. Through ALPFA, he later secured an internship with engine manufacturer Cummins.
“The network is the biggest asset you can have,” he said. “It can lead to a job, but it also gives you access to people whose experience can help you understand the industry.”
The ALPFA FIU chapter is hosting an orientation on September 4 at 5:30 p.m. in CBC 155. To learn more, visit alpfafiu.org.