From Intern to Industry Leader: How UNCF’s Student Leadership Conference Prepares Diverse Students for the Workforce

Each year, the challenge grows for employers trying to find and hire the next generation of culturally diverse, talented leaders. At UNCF, we believe the solution isn’t just who you hire, it’s also how you prepare them. That’s where the Student Leadership Conference, or SLC, comes in.

Now in its 16th year, the UNCF Student Leadership Conference is more than a professional development conference; it’s a professional transformation. Each May, rising juniors and seniors from across the country, including students from historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), gather for a three-day impactful experience designed to empower, inspire and elevate.

Why the UNCF Student Leadership Conference Matters More Than Ever? 

Gen Z, the true digital natives, have been entering the workforce at a pivotal moment. Shaped by the COVID-19 pandemic, this generation has navigated remote classrooms, virtual internships and evolving definitions of professionalism. While they are tech-savvy and socially conscious, many have missed out on key in-person growth moments.

The SLC bridges that gap. It helps students move confidently from campus to career through workshops, real-time coaching and a one-of-a-kind business simulation that mirrors real-world work environments.

Training Interns to Thrive from Day One

Students may enter the program as interns, but they leave ready to perform like professionals. From mastering hybrid and remote work tools like Slack, Zoom, Google Workspace and Microsoft Teams, to building a presence in digital and in-person environments, SLC prepares students to be seen as valuable assets from day one.

Thanks to a unique partnership with Macy’s, participants also receive professional headshots and are styled in workplace-ready looks. The SLC team truly believes showing up with confidence starts with feeling prepared.

What Sets UNCF’s SLC Apart

• Student-Centered Design: Every session is built with student input and feedback.
• Career Readiness: Students practice real-world skills, from workplace etiquette to executive decision-making.
• Mentorship That Matters: Industry leaders in business, technology, healthcare, nonprofit and more serve as mentors and coaches.
• National Peer Network: Participants gain access to an alumni network of high-performing, like-minded peers.

Student Spotlight: Shaniaya Griffin

Shaniaya Griffin, a finance major at North Carolina A&T State University, attended the 2024 Student Leadership Conference. Originally from Brooklyn, NY, Griffin is the oldest sibling, cousin and grandchild in her family, and she will be the first to graduate from college.

She first discovered UNCF while applying for scholarships in high school, and then through her internship. Reflecting on her experience, she said, “SLC helped me with my overall communication and helped me understand exactly what I want to do when I get older.”

After attending an HBCU, completing SLC and finishing her internship, she added, “I’m able to express myself more. Even my parents said they’ve never heard me talk like this before. They said, ‘You just sound so grown up.’”

When asked if she would encourage her younger siblings and cousins to attend an HBCU and SLC, Griffin said, “I do want them to attend an HBCU because it gives them confidence and lets them see people who look like them crossing these different paths.”

She also believes the conference prepared her for the unpredictability of life and work. “It made me feel equipped and connected,” she said, thanking UNCF and the SLC team for organizing a space that builds real-world skills and lifelong connections.

Building the Future Workforce. One Student at a Time

In a world that’s changing rapidly, preparation is everything. The UNCF Student Leadership Conference is where HBCU interns and diverse students become confident, capable professionals.

By investing in them now, UNCF isn’t just shaping the workforce. UNCF is shaping the future of American leadership.