Date: October 7, 2026
Time: 12:30 pm - 2:00 pm
Speaker: Nicole Mascera
Location: Hamilton School, 5th Floor, Room E581 (CSE Building)
Professional settings often operate with different norms, expectations, and communication styles than academic environments. In this second session of the Hire Education series, Nicole Mascera focuses on the emotional intelligence skills needed to navigate those differences effectively. Students will explore how to read social and professional dynamics in rooms that do not share their exact framing. Nicole will address practical ways to observe cues, adjust presence, and communicate with clarity when interacting with people from varied backgrounds and industries. The goal is to help participants stay effective and authentic while building stronger connections in interviews, networking conversations, and workplace settings. Drawing on her experience as an HR leader who has evaluated countless candidates, Nicole will share real-world insights into what helps someone stand out positively and what can create unintended distance. Participants will gain strategies for building professional presence, adapting without losing their own voice, and responding with confidence in unfamiliar environments. This session is especially useful for students preparing to enter competitive fields where cultural fit, interpersonal awareness, and the ability to read a room can influence outcomes as much as technical or academic credentials. Attendees will leave with actionable approaches they can apply immediately in upcoming interviews, networking events, and early career interactions. The session will be recorded for those unable to attend in person.
