Students took charge of their future at this year?s virtual IMA Student Leadership Conference (SLC2021), held on November 5. More than 1,000 students and educators from around the globe registered for this day-long event. The experience offered attendees inspiring, educational sessions, plus a chance to connect with potential employers for internships and full-time positions at a virtual career expo.

The presentations covered a wide range of topics, including leadership; technology and innovation; diversity, equity, and inclusion; and the value of the CMA^? (Certified Management Accountant) certification.

Attendees also enjoyed two fun cooking demonstrations by ?Chopped? Champion Chef Eliza. The day concluded with an exclusive concert by The Oscillators, a Nike band featuring several musically inclined CMAs.?

CHRIST (Deemed to be University), with its theme ?sailing against all odds,? and Athens State University, with its theme ?take charge of your future,? shared top honors in the T-shirt design competitions. Both student chapters will receive a $500 prize. See a photo of the winning designs below.

?Thanks to everyone who helped make this year?s conference such a success,? said Jodi Ryan, CAE, IMA director of student engagement. ?We were pleased to see once again that the virtual format enabled many individuals to participate who might not have been otherwise able to attend an in-person event.?

Ryan continued, ?An event like this only happens because of the support of so many people and organizations. We?re grateful to the presenters for sharing their time and expertise, as well as to the sponsors and exhibitors who gave students the opportunity to learn more about their organizations. We also thank SCMS and the many IMA members, chapters, and councils who financially supported the event. We hope that attendees enjoyed the conference and made valuable new connections.?

The 2022 SLC is currently scheduled to be held in person on October 20-22 at the Wyndham Grand Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, Pa. Watch your email as the date draws near.

You can view highlights and photos by visiting #VirtualSLC2021 on IMA's Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter pages.