Attending a Networking Event at the Chicago Sports Museum

Students and professionals attend a panel discussion at the Chicago Sports Museum during the Choose Chicago hospitality networking event.
Networking! Connections! Friends! This is exactly what I’ve been hearing since I stepped foot in DePaul from my first day. At first I was like what is the big deal out of it? Isn’t that what everyone thinks? But turns out I was wrong, for business majors networking is a great opportunity to get to know about huge companies, how they operate, get internships, jobs and especially get the chance to interact with senior executives.
Visitor posing in a Chicago Cubs uniform display at the Chicago Sports Museum.
Through my minor, Hospitality Leadership, I was able to attend the Choose Chicago Event at the Sports Museum of Chicago! The event was attended by an amazing panel of executives from United Airlines, City Cruises, Chicago Department of Aviation, Sports Traveler and much more! This was the perfect opportunity for me to ask questions like: How did Sports Traveler start? What skills does United Airlines look for in a candidate for its job positions?

The most inspiring thing for me was when the host asked each of the members to share how their company started and one story that stayed with me was when Dan Russell, Vice President of City Cruises, shared how their company only started with a few boats and has now grown to over 100 vessels across the U.S. It was inspiring to see how they worked from the ground up to becoming the nation’s largest dining and sightseeing cruise company. 

A display case at the Chicago Sports Museum featuring Chicago Bulls, Cubs, and White Sox jerseys with sports memorabilia.

After the panel, we got to explore the Chicago Sports Museum, and honestly, it was one of the coolest parts of the event. The space was filled with Chicago’s sports history from Bulls jerseys and Cubs memorabilia to a whole NASCAR racing section. Every display was amazing and showed the city’s passion for sports and how it brings people together. It was such a creative way to connect business and hospitality with the energy of Chicago’s sports culture.

 I’ll be honest, I was a little nervous at first. My mind was filled with cloudy thoughts about what to say and how to introduce myself and whether my elevator pitch would sound right. Once I took a deep breath and started talking, everything flowed naturally. I ended up connecting with so many people just by being confident. This event also made me realize that networking isn’t just about handing out resumes but it’s also about learning people’s stories, asking questions, and finding inspiration in how others built their paths. It made me want to step out of my comfort zone more often and start building genuine connections with people who share the same drive.

NASCAR Chicago Street Race exhibit featuring racing suits and helmets displayed at the Chicago Sports Museum.

                                 

~Shahtaj

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