6 Reasons Students Love Guest Speakers

My practice of inviting working professionals to speak to my students is consistently ranked as one of the favorite aspects of my courses.  Why is that?  It’s because they learn about:

1. The real-world application of the theories and tools that are discussed in class. They better understand why each subject we study is important and the benefits of knowing them.  What better motivation for learning!  Plus, they see these practices in action from the case studies the speakers share.  This includes how to adapt implementation to each situation.
2. A wide variety of career paths that led to the professional success of the speakers; the common elements of them; and the lessons our speakers have learned over their careers. The path to success is never a straight line.  The road is littered with challenges, bumps and bruises.  So, the stories they tell of their pasts serve as terrific motivation for the students, no matter what their circumstance.
3. What these managers look for in making their hiring decisions and what is their advice for preparing to enter the workforce. This gives students specific recommendations for their career and for making themselves more employable.  Another great motivator for completing the projects I assign!  In fact, many of my assignments are a direct result of recommendations from these professionals.
4. Job and internship opportunities. I’m amazed how many of my students get internships and/or jobs directly from connecting with a speaker in my class.  This is because students are exposed to the company and manager, so know if it will be a fit.  And they have an entrée into the company based this connection, giving them a leg up on someone cold calling the company.  Of course, the company benefits from this recruiting platform as well.
5.  Useful networking connections, groups and events. I reinforce the importance of networking and using LinkedIn to my students, so connecting with the speakers and with the resources they recommend goes a long way to expanding their horizons.  It opens a whole world for the students to explore:  other professionals, applications and websites, thought leaders, books, events to attend and groups to join.
6.  Differing opinions. While most of the topics discussed help reinforce what we are studying, there is a healthy amount of differing opinions.  The speakers help us sort through what’s important and what’s irrelevant in the text, where they disagree with what is taught, and the importance of adapting everything to the situation at hand.  Often, they even disagree with each other and with me.  That’s okay!  Because in the real-world, there are always differing opinions and multiple right approaches.  While I share my experiences in the real-world of business, I’m only one person.  Now my students have over a dozen experiences, careers and opinions to add important substance to their learning.

What started as an occasional practice of having a few guest speakers has turned into a key aspect of my courses because of the above reasons and feedback from students.  While learning the fundamentals from the texts, articles and certifications I assign is important, it is amplified exponentially by the lessons students learn from the working professionals who generously give of their time to speak to my classes.