Experiential Center
Business Education Beyond Boundaries. That’s Whitman.
At Whitman, you won’t just read about business—you’ll do it.
In our experiential courses, you will use what you’re learning while you’re learning it. Outside the classroom, you’ll choose from dozens of programs to explore what interests you, to test yourself and to discover what you’re good at.
Imagine walking into interviews with stories about what you’ve already accomplished—like pitching to real investors, competing in a national business competition, spending a semester in London studying global markets, or working with an industry partner to solve a challenge they’re facing right now.
You’ll learn to be prepared, collaborative, innovative and global. And you won’t do it alone. Faculty, staff, alumni and industry partners show up to mentor, challenge and hire, pushing you beyond the classroom and into your career.
Go Beyond
Four pillars guide every experiential opportunity at Whitman.
Be. Prepared.
Master the professional and technical skills that make you effective from day one. Build your career toolkit through applied experiences.
Be. Collaborative.
Learn to work effectively with others—across disciplines and working styles. Develop communication skills that translate ideas into action.
Be. Global.
Understand how business works across cultures, markets and systems. See the world and recognize how global forces shape decisions.
Be. Innovative.
Think critically, solve problems creatively, and take initiative when you see opportunity. Learn to lead yourself before you lead others.
Experiential Profiles and News
Student Entrepreneur Praises Opportunities to Push Initiative for Positive Global Change
Tahirah Abdul-Qadir ’26
Entrepreneurship and Emerging Enterprises
- Undergraduate
I can’t emphasize enough how helpful the Whitman Career Center and the Blackstone Launchpad have been with creating and growing Fight Like a Girl and helping me develop as a business leader.
Tahirah Abdul-Qadir comes from a legacy of Syracuse University graduates. Leading by example, juggling well-rounded success in elite sports, activism, business, and academics, her father, Dr. El-Java Abdul-Qadir, Ph.D., has been her biggest inspiration to create positive global change.
As an award-winning social justice advocate and member of the World Association of Kickboxing Organization for the USA, one of Abdul-Qadir’s most impressive achievements is her project, Fight Like a Girl. This initiative, born from a desire to reclaim and redefine a phrase often used pejoratively, has become a beacon of empowerment for young girls.
FLAG Empowerment LLC (Fight Like a Girl) aims to empower women physically, mentally and emotionally through a mix of leadership development, self-growth, and kickboxing/ self-defense programs and workshops.
“I can’t emphasize enough how helpful the Whitman Career Center and the Blackstone Launchpad have been with creating and growing Fight Like a Girl and helping me develop as a business leader,” says Abdul-Qadir, who is an entrepreneur major.
“I always knew Fight Like a Girl could make it far,” she adds. Looking ahead, Abdul-Qadir envisions taking her initiative to national prominence, leveraging the Whitman network to collaborate with fellow alumni and expand her reach.
Abdul-Qadir is also a youth advisor for the United Nations Girl Up Campaign. This initiative seeks to change the face of leadership for generations to come, expanding girls’ rights, skills and opportunities. This summer, Abdul-Qadir traveled to Los Angeles to host the 2024 Girl Up Leadership Summit.
Other opportunities have benefited her interests, as well. Abdul-Qadir recently had the chance to learn about business on a global scale through Whitman’s East Asia immersion trip.
"The immersion trip to Japan and Korea taught me about business strategies and how to adapt as a global business leader," explains Abdul-Qadir, who has also participated in other immersion trips to Philadelphia and New York City.
By Bo BenYehuda
Alumni and Partners: Get Involved
Help students experience business by hosting a group at your workplace, sponsoring students’ travel, or guest lecturing in a class. Please contact whitexp@syr.edu.
Industry Partners
Connect with emerging talent through internships, consulting projects, guest lectures, advisory boards, or program sponsorships. Our employer relations team helps your company engage with Whitman students.
Our competitions are impactful because of the expertise of our mentors, reviewers, and judges—over 100 judges volunteer for these meaningful opportunities Whitman each year! Please contact whitexp@syr.edu.
Help us ensure every Whitman student can say yes to transformative experiences. Your support funds study away scholarships, competition prizes, and other opportunities that shape futures.
