The Professionalization Sessions seek to strengthen students’ skills and confidence ahead of the Opportunities Fair.
By Institutional Communications
Each student’s journey is marked by decisive moments, both big and small, that bring them closer to their professional goals. Beyond academic training, Sagrado actively engages in developing students’ professional competencies by creating spaces for guidance, exchange, and exploration of opportunities, such as the Professionalization Sessions.
This initiative was created in February 2025 by the Center for Professional and International Experiences (CEPI, per its Spanish acronym) with the goal of preparing students for the Opportunities Fair, a semester-based event that brings together organizations offering job and internship opportunities. This event series includes talks, workshops, and orientations on both practical topics (such as entrepreneurship competitions or how to deliver an elevator pitch) as well as exposure to perspectives from various career fields where students can explore opportunities.
“We aim for students to gain greater confidence when envisioning their professional future through talks with individuals who have well-established career paths and by learning about accessible opportunities. Additionally, we want them to feel more prepared to approach employers during the Opportunities Fair,” said Lorena Franco, director of CEPI.
The most recent events included activities such as professional document reviews and a presentation by EnterPRize, a business building competition created in 2005 by Grupo Guayacán to support entrepreneurs. The main programs presented to Sagrado students are I-CORPS (focused on validating business ideas) and EnterPRize (dedicated to startups). As part of the competition, students receive educational workshops, coaching sessions, access to service providers, and the opportunity to win more than $160,000 in seed capital for their ventures.
This edition of the event also included panel discussions from various professional sectors, such as Beyond Filming: Building Worlds on Screen (featuring Fernando Rodríguez, creative president of DYAD and co-owner of Circa1985; Ángel Manuel Soto, director, producer, and screenwriter of Blue Beetle; and Brian Epps, vice president of DYAD and co-owner of Circa 1985), and From Puerto Rico to Washington, D.C.: My Professional Journey in Parks and Recreation with Edwin Rivera, park guide for the National Park Service.
Although the Professionalization Sessions are held once per semester, CEPI offers support resources throughout the academic year for any student interested in developing their professional skills. Services range from guidance in preparing professional documents and exploring career interests to individualized mentorship for interviews or job searches. Through these resources, Sagrado reinforces its commitment to developing professional competencies for every member of its academic community.