For two University of Akron (UA) marketing students, attending the 2026 National Sales Network (NSN) Professional Conference in Washington, D.C., offered more than professional development. It provided an opportunity to build relationships, gain career insights and envision their future possibilities on a national stage.
 
Abdallah Ndume and David Haydu attended the three-day conference alongside Dr. Vanja Djuric-Zoric, Department of Marketing chair and professor of practice, joining more than 2,600 professionals and leading companies from across the country for professional development, networking, career opportunities and conversations about the future of sales and leadership.
 
For Ndume and Haydu, the experience provided an opportunity to participate in programming designed specifically for young professionals. Sessions explored topics including designing a career that serves one’s life, positioning oneself for future opportunities, navigating the first five years of a career, developing leadership skills without a formal title, and building strategic relationships and professional visibility.
 
The students also had the opportunity to connect with sales professionals and executives from major organizations while gaining new perspectives on leadership and career development. The conference featured keynote conversations with award-winning chef Kwame Onwuachi, Red Lobster CEO Damola Adamolekun, and actors Robinne Lee and Taraji P. Henson, who shared insights on vision, resilience, reinvention, leadership, defining success and building a lasting legacy.
 
“Experiential learning is about opening doors for our students,” said Djuric-Zoric. “Experiences like NSN give them the opportunity to see what is possible, build relationships that can shape their careers, and recognize that they belong on a national and global stage. Our goal is to make sure UA students have access to those opportunities — and are prepared to make the most of them.”
 
For Haydu, the conference offered valuable insight into both personal and professional growth. Through five professional development workshops and four keynote events, he expanded his network and gained a clearer perspective on the skills and habits needed to achieve success.
 
“The collective exposure from these events culminated in an inspiring experience full of highly positive personal, professional and career development outcomes,” said Haydu. “I returned home with a refined perspective on the skills, habits and processes it takes to achieve success in life and in my career.”
 
Haydu said he is looking forward to bringing what he learned back to UA and sharing those insights with fellow students and the campus community.
 
Ndume similarly returned to UA with a renewed perspective on career planning and leadership. One of his key takeaways was the distinction between having a career path and creating a career plan.
 
“A career path is often shaped by an organization, while a career plan is something you create for yourself,” Ndume said. “Getting where you want to go requires more than having a goal. It requires a system that consistently moves you toward that goal.”
 
Opportunities such as the NSN Professional Conference extend learning beyond the classroom, allowing UA students to build relationships with professionals across the country, gain exposure to new perspectives and bring those experiences back to their classrooms, student organizations and fellow Zips.
 
For Ndume and Haydu, representing UA in Washington, D.C., was more than a professional development opportunity — it was a chance to see what is possible and demonstrate that UA students belong on the national stage.

UA’s College of Business is internationally accredited and ranked among the top 1% of business schools worldwide by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). Through experiential learning, career readiness and strong corporate connections, the college empowers every Zip to say “yes” to opportunity and Experience Business.