On February 6, 2026, Master of Business and Science (MBS) students gathered for a Virtual Friday Student Huddle! This was an interactive session focused on connecting with peers, academic success, and career readiness. Co-hosted by Executive Coach Abbe Rosenthal and Student Success & Engagement Specialist Brenda Rodriguez, the huddle provided students with the opportunity to learn about key campus resources and gain practical strategies for navigating their academic and professional journeys.
After brief introductions from Rosenthal, Rodriguez, and MBS alumna Shefali Singh, attendees were sent to breakout rooms to connect in small groups. Students introduced themselves by sharing their name, concentration, work status, career goals, and a fun fact. The conversations were an opportunity for students to share their experiences and connect. Some students discussed their favorite classes (like ”Capstone,” where students work in teams to identify an intellectual property and develop a plan to take it to market), explored the potential of switching concentrations, made plans to meet in person, and even bonded over fun facts—including one student’s 16-pound cat.
Some attendees were just starting the program while others were nearing graduation, offering a range of experiences and advice.
Rosenthal and Rodriguez shared resources for MBS students:
Key Resources Every MBS Student Should Know
Rodriguez guided students through several campus tools designed to support both academic and professional success.
- Navigate 360
All MBS students have access to Navigate 360, our student success software. This app allows students to schedule appointments with advisors, professors, and career coaches, as well as track their academic progress. The platform also includes a “study buddy” feature that helps students connect with classmates for collaborative studying. Canvas remains the primary hub for coursework and program announcements.
- Financial Support & Fellowships
Students learned about GradFund, which helps graduate students identify and apply for fellowships, grants, and funding opportunities both within and outside Rutgers.
- The MBS Fellowship
The MBS degree program also offers the MBS Fellowship. This fellowship is available to current MBS students who fulfil certain criteria, listed on our webpage. Rodriguez also shared that MBS Fellowship applications for the summer semester are currently open, offering financial support to eligible students.
- Events & Colloquium Opportunities
Students were encouraged to regularly check the MBS events page and Canvas announcements to stay informed about professional development events to earn colloquium points. Attending these events helps students earn points required for graduation while building their networks and gaining industry exposure.
- Leveraging LinkedIn & Job Search Tools
Rosenthal then shared job search strategies and LinkedIn best practices.
Students were advised to:
- Search for job titles directly on LinkedIn and filter by “posts” within the last 24 hours
- Reach out directly to recruiters or hiring managers who post openings
- Avoid “Easy Apply” when possible and instead apply through company websites
- Tailor cover letters by referencing the company’s mission, vision, and values
Students were also introduced to Jobscan, a tool that helps resumes align with Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). Attendees were encouraged to sign up for free demos and contact Shefali Singh or Abbe Rosenthal to request access to a full license.
MBS students can always connect with Brenda Rodriguez for academic support and Abbe Rosenthal for professional development and executive coaching.
“Being in the MBS program grants me the freedom to explore different skills that will open the doors for new opportunities once I graduate. The virtual student huddles allowed me to converse and connect with students to understand how they got their foot in the vast job market while also planning my personal journey,” said Jennah Sadiq, one of the many participants of the virtual student huddle.
The session combined practical resources with meaningful peer connections. By the end of the huddle, students left not only with tools and strategies but also with new relationships and a better sense of how to navigate both the program and the job market ahead.
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