For the first time, Florida State University students took part in an FSUshadow program at the university’s Republic of Panama campus. Twenty-one students shadowed professionals at five Panama-based employers, gaining firsthand experience in fields such as technology, aviation, logistics, media and insurance.
FSUshadow connects students during winter, spring and summer breaks with employers to explore career options, allowing them to get a closer glimpse of the industry they hope to pursue. Through the program, students learn directly from experienced employees who share insight on standards and trends in the workplace. This helps students make more informed decisions about their career options while growing their professional network.
The participating employers in the first FSUshadow in Panama were ARPIA Technologies, ASSA Compañía de Seguros, Circle Logistics, Copa Airlines and TVN Media. They represented disciplines of college study in information technology, engineering, aerospace, news media and supply chain management.
Anissa Ford, senior assistant director for Experiential Learning at FSU’s Career Center, said that since its start in 2016, the FSUshadow program has continued to grow. This year, she said they took the opportunity to try something new.
“We used the successful structure we have in place for FSUshadow and worked with our partners in the Republic of Panama to recruit shadowing hosts,” Ford said. “Then we reached out to students who studied at the Republic of Panama or are from Panama and invited them to participate.”
Ford credits The Career Center’s Republic of Panama Liaison Li Pon, who is from Panama, for her help in making this experience happen. Pon traveled to the country in January for their career fair and worked closely with colleagues Anubis Espino, Valeria Tovar and Carlos Langoni from FSU’s Republic of Panama campus, to make this international FSUshadow program a success.
“The FSUshadow session in the Republic of Panama was a powerful step forward in connecting students with Panama-based employers eager to build a future talent pipeline,” Pon said. “This program not only strengthens our global footprint, but also creates meaningful, hands-on experiences that prepare students for career success.
FSU Panama offers five undergraduate degree programs (computer science, Latin American and Caribbean Studies, international affairs, social science and environment and society) and a master’s degree program in international affairs. Many students from the FSU Panama campus transfer to the Tallahassee campus after two years.
Sophomore Daniella Salerno, a Republic of Panama degree-tracking student who intends to major in marketing and management information systems, described the experience as an “incredible opportunity.”
“Participating in the FSUshadow experience was an incredible opportunity to explore my career options, gain insight into the tech industry, and learn how companies operate from the inside,” Salerno said. “I walked away with valuable technical, communication, and teamwork skills as well as meaningful professional connections.”
Jorge Canaveral Ortiz has a passion for mechanical engineering, and he echoed his appreciation for the opportunity to job shadow.
“FSUshadow was an amazing experience that allowed me to network with professionals in the aviation industry and could be the key to getting a job in this industry in the future,” he said.
“It’s been fantastic to collaborate with the FSU Republic of Panama campus to expand career readiness opportunities for students, both on the campus completing their degree and those planning to transfer to Tallahassee,” Ford said. “We were thrilled with the turnout and delighted by the shadowing days that the hosts put together.”
Host company TVN Media offered seven job positions for seven students to shadow. Each host recorded a special welcome message for their student match, which was sent in advance of their arrival. They provided an overview of the daily work they could expect in that career path and shared a detailed schedule of events for the day.
“They had seven different welcome messages go out. It was really special,” said Ford.
“As someone genuinely interested in learning how companies consider ideal candidates for each role, it was profoundly influential to get familiar with ASSA’s recruitment considerations, core values, and the skills and mindset they seek in potential team collaborators,” said student Camilla Barrios Castaneda. Her intended major is psychology.
FSUshadow has also helped students to recognize areas of studies that might better align with their passions. Carolina Atencio was studying industrial engineering while a student at FSU Panama. She transferred to the Tallahassee campus and, after taking some classes related to her major and attending career fairs, realized engineering wasn’t the right fit for her. She is now majoring in management information systems and plans to add marketing as a second major.
Atencio had participated in three FSUshadows in Florida, but when the opportunity to join the FSU Panama summer job shadow experience came up, she jumped at the chance.
“Every experience I’ve had through the program has reassured me that changing majors was the best decision I could’ve made,” Atencio said. “It showed me that success comes from aligning with your interests, not just following the money. These experiences have been very life-changing and enriching for me, and I know I want to participate in them until I graduate. Each time I leave with new connections and newfound interests for my career.”
The Career Center is part of FSU’s Division of Student Affairs. For more information about FSU’s Career Center, visit career.fsu.edu. To learn more about FSU’s Division of Student Affairs, visit studentaffairs.fsu.edu.
To learn more about the FSU Panama campus, visit the International Programs website.