Meet the Winners of Target's 2022 HBCU Technology & Future Leaders in Retail Challenges
Target | April 11,2022
During Black History Month, Target highlighted their Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Design Challenge winners. Now, meet the winners of Target's HBCU Technology and Future Leaders in Retail Challenges. They’re up-and-coming creators, leaders and entrepreneurs with big passion. And Target is supporting them with opportunities to showcase their skills, earn prizes and build meaningful careers. To top it off, Target’s donating to the HBCUs of the challenge winners, with $5,000 going to first place and $3,000 to second place. It’s all part of Target's ongoing work to cultivate relationships with HBCU students and help develop Black talent.
The goal: explore a detailed case study, then develop comprehensive leadership plans that help the students explore the scope of responsibilities and dynamic challenges that Target store leaders tackle each day, all while further developing their own leadership skills and professional and retail acumen.
And the winner of the leadership challenge is …
Aunjoli V. Myers
Freshman, Florida A&M University
Winning scenario: Bounce Back 2022: Care, Grow, Win Together
About the experience: “While I have always felt like problem-solving is one of my strengths, this competition confirmed my beliefs and challenged me to think outside the box regarding the many aspects of technology and leadership.”
The goal: create technical solutions to real-life projects and problems that Target software engineers are working to resolve while further developing their own technical and professional acumen.
And the winning team of the technology challenge is …
Mahlangu Nzunda
Freshman, Jackson State University
About the experience: “I discovered that I enjoy working with data and using it to solve problems, whether it's coming up with new ways to improve something or looking for loopholes for a new opportunity.”
Khaylah Rose
Freshman, Jackson State University
About the experience: "I learned that I am very persistent when it came to coding. I actually felt like a real programmer when I literally was stuck on an issue/problem for hours. However, it was incredibly satisfying when I was able to solve the issue. Overall, I learned that persistence is key and to never give up.”
The goal: Design artwork and graphics for Target’s 2022 Black History Month campaign, in which the HBCU Design Challenge winners’ work was featured.
Target's behind-the-scenes talent
The talent that made the HBCU challenge possible? Target's very own team members serving as judges and mentors for the students. Guiding them to success, these outstanding leaders volunteered to make this opportunity possible for the students. Take it from Ryan Borre, principal cyber security analyst at Target, who praised the passion each student had: “They helped further spark the passion in myself for this field that got me started in the first place.”
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