Public Speaking and Programs
Preparing young adults for what comes next.
The transition from school to independent adulthood brings a whole new set of expectations—at work, with money, and in everyday life. The Graduate’s Guide™ offers practical workshops, presentations, and speaking engagements designed to help young adults approach that transition with greater knowledge, confidence, and good judgment.
Program Areas
Programs can be built around one topic or customized across the three core areas of The Graduate’s Guide™.
Career
Ready for the Workplace
Workplace expectations
Professional communication
Work ethic
Office behavior
First-job mistakes
Supervisors and coworkers
Email and digital communications
The HMWK framework
Money
Ready for Financial Independence
Paychecks and taxes
Banking
Emergency funds
Credit and credit scores Student loans
Employer benefits
401(k)s and Roth IRAs Insurance
Building a personal financial system
Life
Ready for Independent Adulthood
Personal responsibility
Everyday manners
Thank-you notes
Apologies
Handling conflict
Reliability
Appropriate dress
Being a good guest or host
Practical adult responsibilities
Sample Programs
Welcome to the Workplace
What every young professional should know before the first day.
A practical introduction to the expectations of professional life from communication and workplace manners to reliability, work ethic, professional judgment, and the everyday behaviors that build a reputation.
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The HMWK Formula
Humility. Manners. Work Ethic. Kindness.
A workplace-readiness presentation based on the central framework from The Graduate’s Guide to Grace in the Workplace.
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Professionalism: It’s the Little Things
The everyday behaviors that shape how others see you.
From showing up on time and following through to communicating respectfully and knowing when to put the phone away, this program explores the small habits that build or undermine a professional reputation.
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How to Be the Employee Want to Work With
You don’t have to know everything on day one. But you do need to know how to work with people.
A practical look at attitude, teamwork, taking direction, receiving feedback, accountability, initiative, and the interpersonal skills that help young employees earn trust and respect.
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Money 101
The financial basics every young adult should understand.
A practical introduction to understanding a paycheck, taxes, banking, emergency savings, budgeting, credit, debt, insurance, investing, and the financial decisions that begin arriving with adulthood.
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Credit: Your Financial Reputation
How to build it, protect it, and avoid the mistakes that can follow you for years.
Students learn how credit scores work, how credit cards and interest really work, why payment history matters, how debt can grow, and how to begin building strong credit responsibly.
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Your First Job, Your First 401(K)
Why starting early may be one of the most important financial decisions you ever make.
An approachable introduction to employer retirement plans, matching contributions, Roth versus traditional accounts, compound growth, vesting, and why young workers have an enormous advantage: time.
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Some Things Never Go Out of Style
Courtesy, consideration, gratitude, and good manners still matter.
A modern look at timeless social skills: introductions, thank-you notes, apologies, invitations, being a good guest, appropriate dress, table manners, punctuality, and treating other people with consideration.
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Don’t see exactly what you need? Programs can be customized around the age, experience level, goals, and needs of your audience.
Who We Work With
Programs can be designed for students preparing to enter the workforce, recent graduates, interns, new hires, and young adults beginning to navigate independent life.
High Schools
Colleges & Universities
Trade & Technical School
Career-readiness Programs
Employers & New Hire/ Internship Programs
Community and Young-adult organizations
Program Formats
Speaking Engagements:Engaging presentations for assemblies, conferences, orientations, student organizations, and special events.
Interactive Workshops: Smaller-group sessions that allow for discussion, exercises, questions, and practical application.
Multi-Session Programs: A series of workshops built around Career, Money, Life or a customized combination of topics.
Virtual Programs: Presentations and workshops for organizations outside the local area.
Meet Anna Paine
Anna Pikounis Paine, CPA, MAcc, is creator of The Graduate’s Guide™ and the author of The Graduate’s Guide to Grace in the Workplace. Drawing on decades of experience in business, finance, and accounting—as well as experience teaching at the college level—Anna created The Graduate’s Guide to provide young adults with the practical guidance that is too often missing from formal education. Her approach is straightforward: explain what young adults need to know, tell them why it matters, and give them practical advice they can actually use.
Bring The Graduate’s Guide™ To Your Organization
Planning a student program, orientation, career-readiness event, internship program, or young-adult workshop?
Tell us a little about your audience and what you’d like them to learn. We’ll work with you to identify the program and format that best fits your needs.