Holmdel Students Tour Microsoft Technology Center in New York City

Holmdel, NJ - Members of Holmdel High School’s Future Business Leaders of America club, along with students enrolled in the school’s accounting course, recently toured the Microsoft Technology Center in New York City.

The trip was led by Holmdel accounting teacher Elliot Cohen, the high school accounting teacher and advisor to the Future Business Leaders of America club (FBLA). Cohen and his students were invited to Microsoft by Amit Panchal, Director of Solutions Strategies for Microsoft, whose daughter, Jocelyn, is a junior and executive board member of FBLA. Jocelyn thought it would be great for the club to expose themselves to the day-to-day activities of a technology powerhouse like Microsoft and tie this information back to what they learn in the classroom.

Panchal showed the Holmdel students all aspects of the business, from development to sales. Students toured the office building, learned about Microsoft's data center, viewed an in-depth presentation on Microsoft's Office 365, and examined emerging technology that will increase data and productivity for businesses. The group also had an opportunity to speak with employees from across the business spectrum. Senior Microsoft account executives Jacqui Cuffe and Jill DeVleming discussed their career paths in the technology business, their roles in generating millions in sales, and resume building.

Technology architects Cat Such and Greg Frank gave students an interactive demonstration of Microsoft tools. Additionally, Venture for America Associate Madeline Stanley discussed fellowship opportunities for students who want to be their own entrepreneurs. The day concluded with a lesson on the importance of collaboration and working as a team in order to complete projects and achieve goals.

Mr. Cohen’s goal for the excursion was to expose his students to a regular work day in a real-world business environment, something that cannot easily be replicated in the classroom setting. The students and the teacher also marveled at how Microsoft leveraged its storage and power capabilities to maintain and support their clients during Hurricane Sandy, and how emerging technology allows sales associates in supermarkets to determine age, gender, and emotions of their customers to assist them in completing sales. All “cool” aspects of the business that help to complement the classroom instruction and make the realities of the business world more tangible for students.