Our Guest Today is Laurel Djoukeng. Laurel Djoukeng was born in Washington, DC, and raised in the Metropolitan area. He earned his MBA at Duke University in 2020, where he was a Management Leadership for Tomorrow Fellow (MLT). In 2008 he received his bachelor’s from Hampton University. At Duke University, Laurel launched Sparc, a social network and talent marketplace primarily used by professionals and career-oriented college students; where professionals and college students connect directly with hiring managers for job opportunities and to arrange recruiting events on-demand. On Sparc professionals monetize their knowledge through career coaching, tutoring, and hosting events. Sparc has more than 4,000 members in the community, 2,500 people that have applied for jobs, 600+ people have registered for events on Sparc, and more than 40 Customers that include Facebook, Google, Vista Equity Partners, SoftBank, Insight Partners, and BCG. Djoukeng began his professional career in 2008 as an Associate for Con Edison's GOLD Program. His profession in Finance started in 2010 as an Investment Analyst for PGIM Real Estate, a global private equity firm with $70 billion in assets under management. In 2012, he transitioned to the Carlton Group, an international investment banking firm with more than $150 billion in transactions. In 2011, Laurel founded the Catalyst Network Foundation Inc.(CNF), a 501(c)(3) social enterprise focused on life enrichment and professional development. At CNF, Laurel has arranged business, law, and tech symposiums at Google, college fairs, resume development, career, and college preparatory workshops throughout the academic school year, instructing more than 5,000 high school students. Djoukeng has curated more than 30 professional events and diverse career recruiting sessions for CNF. Through CNF Laurel held an annual summer fellowship for high school underclassmen in New York City and Washington, D.C. More than 200 High School students have become CNF Fellowship Scholars (99 percent have graduated H.S., and 90 percent of them have enrolled in higher education institutions). The Fellows have experienced corporate tours and pitched capstone presentations and interventions for inner-city school challenges to several companies, including Google, Goldman Sachs, NIKE, LinkedIn, Microsoft, GAP, BET, NPR, Infor, The Carlyle Group, Covington & Burling LLP, The Peebles Corporation, Deloitte, and NBC. In August 2016, Hampton University honored Mr. Djoukeng as one of the members of the Inaugural Class of Hampton University's Forty under 40 for leading the way in business, leadership, community, and educational and philanthropic works. Laurel Djoukeng was one of Black Enterprise Modern Man 100 Men of Distinction Features: showcasing 100 diverse men of color who have done exceptional work. In 2013, Djoukeng established; Distant Relatives, the Association, which offers an informal gathering of professionals from diverse disciplines. The 300+ membership includes Grammy Award-winning singers, educators, and entrepreneurs, among other professions. Laurel has cultivated member initiatives' growth, including partnerships with more than 50 Black-owned establishments resulting in contributions of more than $10,000. Mr. Djoukeng has served as a Community Member of the Economic Development Committee and the Youth Committee of Brooklyn Community Board 8 and Eric Adams Brooklyn Borough President's Administration Transition Committee. I am your host, Obi Onungwa, Founder of Powered by Cue. I have the privilege of working with some of the best brand architects in the world. My team and I believe that EVERYONE has a unique VISION. Everyone is a CREATIVE at different points of their self discovery and execution. On The Visionary Leader Podcast, we will explore the journeys of countless entrepreneurs who have overcome fear, procrastination and limitation to make their vision REAL. Be sure to subscribe and share our content if you find it valuable and empowering. #BeVisionary For Strategic Branding Services, connect with our team at: http://bit.ly/3Uw56oL Are you ready to position your brand for greatness? Click below to get started: https://bit.ly/41gGsKQ Follow Powered by Cue on Twitter: https://twitter.com/poweredbycue Follow Powered by Cue on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/poweredbycue Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/poweredbycue
Our Guest Today is Laurel Djoukeng. Laurel Djoukeng was born in Washington, DC, and raised in the Metropolitan area. He earned his MBA at Duke University in 2020, where he was a Management Leadership for Tomorrow Fellow (MLT). In 2008 he received his bachelor’s from Hampton University. At Duke University, Laurel launched Sparc, a social network and talent marketplace primarily used by professionals and career-oriented college students; where professionals and college students connect directly with hiring managers for job opportunities and to arrange recruiting events on-demand. On Sparc professionals monetize their knowledge through career coaching, tutoring, and hosting events. Sparc has more than 4,000 members in the community, 2,500 people that have applied for jobs, 600+ people have registered for events on Sparc, and more than 40 Customers that include Facebook, Google, Vista Equity Partners, SoftBank, Insight Partners, and BCG. Djoukeng began his professional career in 2008 as an Associate for Con Edison's GOLD Program. His profession in Finance started in 2010 as an Investment Analyst for PGIM Real Estate, a global private equity firm with $70 billion in assets under management. In 2012, he transitioned to the Carlton Group, an international investment banking firm with more than $150 billion in transactions. In 2011, Laurel founded the Catalyst Network Foundation Inc.(CNF), a 501(c)(3) social enterprise focused on life enrichment and professional development. At CNF, Laurel has arranged business, law, and tech symposiums at Google, college fairs, resume development, career, and college preparatory workshops throughout the academic school year, instructing more than 5,000 high school students. Djoukeng has curated more than 30 professional events and diverse career recruiting sessions for CNF. Through CNF Laurel held an annual summer fellowship for high school underclassmen in New York City and Washington, D.C. More than 200 High School students have become CNF Fellowship Scholars (99 percent have graduated H.S., and 90 percent of them have enrolled in higher education institutions). The Fellows have experienced corporate tours and pitched capstone presentations and interventions for inner-city school challenges to several companies, including Google, Goldman Sachs, NIKE, LinkedIn, Microsoft, GAP, BET, NPR, Infor, The Carlyle Group, Covington & Burling LLP, The Peebles Corporation, Deloitte, and NBC. In August 2016, Hampton University honored Mr. Djoukeng as one of the members of the Inaugural Class of Hampton University's Forty under 40 for leading the way in business, leadership, community, and educational and philanthropic works. Laurel Djoukeng was one of Black Enterprise Modern Man 100 Men of Distinction Features: showcasing 100 diverse men of color who have done exceptional work. In 2013, Djoukeng established; Distant Relatives, the Association, which offers an informal gathering of professionals from diverse disciplines. The 300+ membership includes Grammy Award-winning singers, educators, and entrepreneurs, among other professions. Laurel has cultivated member initiatives' growth, including partnerships with more than 50 Black-owned establishments resulting in contributions of more than $10,000. Mr. Djoukeng has served as a Community Member of the Economic Development Committee and the Youth Committee of Brooklyn Community Board 8 and Eric Adams Brooklyn Borough President's Administration Transition Committee. I am your host, Obi Onungwa, Founder of Powered by Cue. I have the privilege of working with some of the best brand architects in the world. My team and I believe that EVERYONE has a unique VISION. Everyone is a CREATIVE at different points of their self discovery and execution. On The Visionary Leader Podcast, we will explore the journeys of countless entrepreneurs who have overcome fear, procrastination and limitation to make their vision REAL. Be sure to subscribe and share our content if you find it valuable and empowering. #BeVisionary For Strategic Branding Services, connect with our team at: http://bit.ly/3Uw56oL Are you ready to position your brand for greatness? Click below to get started: https://bit.ly/41gGsKQ Follow Powered by Cue on Twitter: https://twitter.com/poweredbycue Follow Powered by Cue on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/poweredbycue Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/poweredbycue