For Rollins students, preparing for a future in business often means networking, studying aboard, or securing internships. But for some business majors, the Business Student Leadership Council (BSLC) is surfacing as the center for business student development at Rollins.
In 2018, BSLC was constructed within the Department of Business. The council has evolved from just being an undertaking into Rollins’ official business student organization. Today, it represents what BSLC president Chloe Gignac (‘26) calls “the official hub for business students on campus.” Its goal: to provide leadership opportunities for students, professional growth, and a community that reaches even farther than just the classroom.
“Last year we went through a transition period,” Gignac said. “We revisited our constitution, our mission, our purpose. We really wanted to go back to the basics and make clear who we are on campus.” The temporary step back hardened BSLC’s role as the bridge between faculty, students, and local business representatives.
Committees That Create Interrelation
BSLC works by means of committees solely for recruitment, events, community involvement, and marketing. Collaboratively, they oversee social media outreach, plan networking events, and enlist powerhouses of affiliates. “Community is the key to success,” Gignac said. “As president, my job is to make sure information flows across the board, and everyone feels set up for success.”
Signature occasions such as the annual Business Forum Series emphasize constructive interaction. BSLC also has mixers and site visits, including a Global Experience Mixer that takes place on September 17 in the Rice Family Pavillion Rotunda, where Rollins students can hear about the experiences of study abroad from students who had their own personal encounters. “We want to create meaningful networking opportunities for students,” Gignac said. “Every year we try to make our events bigger – not necessarily in size, but in impact.”
Membership That Will Go a Long Way
Students seeking involvement must hold at least a 3.0 GPA and convey a passion for professional and personal development. The time commitment includes two monthly gatherings and flexible opportunities to support events.
Gignac affirms the value of joining BSLC. “As students, we are all busy. But in the council, you really see the rewards for your work. Your time makes an impact,” she said. People involved typically find that more than just resume-building, they are becoming part of a network of like-minded people who are partners and friends.
Simultaneous Growth
An example of BSLC’s influence is Gignac’s personal story. She joined the council back in her sophomore year after she saw a flyer for BSLC’s recruitment, made her way into recruitment chair, and is now the current president leading the organization. “I have grown so much professionally and personally,” she said. “Networking used to intimidate me, but now it feels like second nature. And being in a leadership role here has given me confidence I will carry into my career after Rollins.”
Her story illustrates the opportunities BSLC gives every member: the opportunity to turn classroom comprehension into drills while creating the type of confidence professionally that directors look for.
Beyond the Resume
For Gignac, one memorandum is significant: “I wish more students knew it’s not just about your resume,” she said. “It is about community – connecting with people who share your major, your interests, your classes. You find friends here, and you build relationships that last.”
With a developing presence at Rollins and an extension of events, the Business Student Leadership Council is working to prepare the next generation of business leaders. BSLC’s goal is to offer an entry point for students at Rollins to go into business with confidence.
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