A group of Brookdale Community College students got an unforgettable, behind-the-scenes look at how a global leader in finance and technology protects its data when they visited Bloomberg’s New York City headquarters for a daylong cybersecurity and professional development immersion.
The trip, organized and led by Brookdale student Adam Deinhardt in partnership with physics lab instructor Michelle Paci, marked the first time Bloomberg’s information security team has hosted a community college group for this type of program.
“This experience was more than just cybersecurity,” Deinhardt said. “It was about helping students see themselves in a professional environment, build confidence, and start forming the networks that will shape their futures.”
The visit grew out of planning that began last spring, when Deinhardt, president of the Computer Science Club and a mathematics major who has completed the computer science and physics curricula, leveraged a family connection at Bloomberg to explore the possibility of a visit.
What started as a club idea quickly evolved into a multidisciplinary effort. In addition to Computer Science Club members, students from physics and astronomy, and other STEM areas, joined the trip, along with several alumni. More than 100 students expressed interest; ultimately, 26 students and four alumni attended, accompanied by three Brookdale faculty and staff advisors.
To ensure students were prepared to make the most of the opportunity, the Computer Science Club partnered with Brookdale’s Career Center to host a “First Day Jitters” workshop before the trip. Career Center staff led sessions on professional dress, networking etiquette, and how to talk with industry professionals. Students were encouraged to bring résumés and CVs, which Career Center staff helped refine in advance.
“We wanted students to walk into Bloomberg feeling ready,” Paci said. “They practiced how to introduce themselves, how to ask thoughtful questions, and how to use their résumés as a springboard for conversation. The trip was the capstone to months of intentional preparation.”
Brookdale’s Student Life & Activities office also played a significant role, offsetting most of the transportation costs to New York.
Upon arrival at Bloomberg’s glass-walled headquarters, the Brookdale group passed through security and was welcomed in a central gathering space known as “the Link,” a bustling hub where employees from across the company meet over complimentary snacks and coffee.
From there, professional tour guides led students through several areas of the building, including a live newsroom and studios, and shared stories about the company’s culture, history, and architecture.
Each floor of the building features large fish tanks with a deliberate design choice that, students learned, reflects Bloomberg’s commitment to environmental sustainability and helps create a calming atmosphere within the high-energy workspace. “Seeing those aquariums on every level was fascinating,” Deinhardt said. “It was a reminder that even in the most advanced tech environments, well-being and sustainability are built into the design.”
The day’s core programming took place on an upper floor with sweeping views of Central Park, where students were welcomed by members of Bloomberg’s global information security organization, including the company’s chief information security officer.
“Hearing directly from the person responsible for safeguarding such a large, complex enterprise was incredible,” said Paci. “He emphasized that cybersecurity is fundamentally about people and about communication, collaboration, and trust as much as it is about code and systems.”
Over lunch, students sat at tables alongside cybersecurity professionals from across the organization, engaging in informal conversations about educational paths, career journeys, and day-to-day responsibilities.
One of the strongest messages students heard throughout the day: you don’t need a degree labeled “cybersecurity” to build a career in the field. Panelists described backgrounds in computer science, mathematics, sociology, criminal justice, business, and more, and explained how diverse perspectives strengthen their teams.
“Each major brings its own way of thinking,” Deinhardt explained. “You have people who love data, people who focus on human behavior, people who are passionate about policy, and they all work together to keep systems secure. That really resonated with our students from different disciplines.”
A career panel highlighted roles in incident response, risk analysis, internal security, product security, and offensive security (ethical hacking). While technical skills like Python, Java, databases, and data structures were discussed, panelists repeatedly returned to the importance of “soft skills” such as communication, adaptability, teamwork, and resourcefulness.
“They told our students, ‘Your ability to write clearly, explain a problem, and work with others is just as critical as your ability to code,’” Paci said. “As an instructor, that was incredibly validating and inspiring for our students.”
At the end of the program, Bloomberg’s cybersecurity professionals invited students to stay in touch and provided contact information for ongoing mentoring and networking. Because many Brookdale students are in their first or second year and not yet eligible to apply for internships, building those relationships early was a key goal of the trip.
“Bloomberg encouraged students to start the conversation now,” Deinhardt said. “Then, when they reach junior status at a four-year institution or complete additional coursework, they’ll already have a network they can reach out to about internships, fellowships, or early-career opportunities.”
The experience has already sparked additional connections. Following the trip, one of Brookdale’s faculty advisors began working with a statewide cybersecurity organization to create more opportunities for Brookdale students to participate in professional events and join student membership programs.
For many in the group, the visit was their first time in New York City, their first experience in a major corporate headquarters, or both. Standing high above Manhattan, looking out over Central Park and the city’s skyline, students reflected on how far they had come and how far they could go.
“Being on the top floor of that building, surrounded by people who started out at community colleges or in completely different fields, really opened our eyes,” Deinhardt said. “It showed us that if we take chances on ourselves, we can end up in places we never imagined.”
Paci agreed that the trip perfectly captured Brookdale’s mission. “This is what community colleges do at their best,” she said. “We open doors. We give students transformative learning experiences that connect what they’re doing in the classroom to real careers and real people. Watching our students step into that world and be so welcomed there was one of the most rewarding moments of my career.”