Aware of the concern, Bezal Mathew, class of 2026, is leading the student group to solve the problem and ease some concerns.
Mathew is the president of the Fox Professional Speakers (FPS) student professional organization (SPO) at Temple University’s Fox School of Business. Unique in its mission compared to other SPOs, the group is guided by its efforts to promote effective communication through public speaking abilities and leadership skills to student members.
Students who join are provided with a supportive and learning environment where every member is offered the chance to develop key skills necessary for success in today’s competitive work environment, and continuous digital age.
“While our SPO mission might seem simple on the surface, our goal is to not only help students become more comfortable speaking within presentations or public settings, but it’s also about helping Fox students convey strength, confidence and stature through their communication abilities,” Mathew said.
“In my mind, our SPO works to help students understand that public speaking and how to address a group confidently and effectively is a skill that is a vital when preparing for a career in any professional setting.”
With a membership base mostly comprised of finance majors, Mathew encourages any Fox student, regardless of major, to join the group. In addition to hosting regular group meetings,FPS often hosts events like networking sessions or workshops, sometimes collaborating with other SPOs in the process.
Uniquely, the chapter welcomed upcoming standup comic Wyatt Knipe for a speaking engagement last spring. Mathew explained how the event was a success.
“Hosting Wyatt was definitely our most notable event to date,” Mathew said.
“While some people at first didn’t take it too seriously, Wyatt’s advice and engagement resonated with people, especially our members. He gave us all some valuable lessons about public speaking.”
FPS’ mission does not go unnoticed by the Fox community.
“Fox Professional Speakers offers its members a critical educational element and peer experience during their time at the Fox School,” says Teresa Cirillo, an assistant professor of practice and faculty advisor for the group.
“The world is ever evolving, especially in our current digital age, but strong, effective communication and speaking is a skillset that will always remain valuable. I’m proud that Bezal and his e-board recognize this as a key professional trait.”
As Mathew and the team continue to strive toward growth for the group, they feel confident in their ability to offer a crucial educational element to future business leaders of the next generation.
“At a basic level, the professional world has now shifted to working environments that are much more virtual or hybrid,” Mathew said.
“It’s perhaps more important than ever in this model to understand that strong communication skills and strong public speaking skills are critical to overall business acumen—and we are passionate about helping students develop that.”