By April Harris (LDS 449)

We all know what the acronym FEI stands for. But it could also be short for “Friendships, Engagement, Involve!” Coming from a person whose Federal career revolves around reading contracts, financial planning, and building spreadsheets, prioritizing conversation used to often fall low on my daily list of priorities. As an executive in government finance, I preferred to review the data myself, rather than listen to a colleague’s explanation of the relevant information. I valued my own independence over having several subject matter conversations that I believed to be unnecessary.  

That was all before FEI! I never expected that my experience would change the way I viewed professional networking. I went from a borderline introvert, who did not take advantage of LinkedIn, to being energized by FEI to update my profile and work to engage with all the new people I was meeting. I never expected that I would have a 1,000 percent increase in my activity on LinkedIn a week after graduating.   

 Since FEI, I have made connections with most of my LDS 449 classmates and professors. Those connections have led to others, and my connections have gone from 100 to about 600 and counting! I have exchanged numerous e-mails and messages, which have led to lunch gatherings and family social activities because of the relationships I formed at FEI. 

 Some may view FEI as just networking, but to me this is an oversimplified way of looking at my experience. FEI was an opportunity to focus on relationships. The monthlong stay in Charlottesville allowed me to make a real connection with each class member, get to know more about the person, and create a partnership within the Federal Government.   

Through group discussions and class activities at FEI, I was encouraged to articulate my thoughts and share my own ideas and experiences. After simple introductions, my classmates and I quickly connected based on shared interests, goals, and professional experiences. This was a unique opportunity to obtain feedback and gain new perspectives that helped me develop a different mindset about not only networking but the way I choose to lead every day.