One of Northeastern’s defining qualities is that it prepares students for career success. Now Northeastern faculty and staff can also practice what the university preaches by joining Northeastern University Future Leaders, a professional development group for university employees.

On Friday, the group will host a welcoming event for young professionals affiliated with the university. The event will take place at Northeastern Crossing from 3 to 5 p.m.

Attendees can expect free professional headshots, food, and a business card raffle.

In July, Audrey Grace from the Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion created the group for Northeastern faculty and staff to network with their colleagues.

The goal is to encourage Northeastern staff and faculty from different departments to connect with other employees at the university and receive mentorship from other professionals on campus, said Anika Ferdoush, who co-chairs the group.

The group is primarily for young professionals, but anyone from the university is welcome to join. “It’s for anyone from the university who wants to develop their career, meet other people, and network with like-minded individuals,” she said.

Ferdoush knows from experience that the university needs a group like this.

“As someone who works with students and sees all the experiential learning opportunities they have, sometimes we feel left out as staff,” said Ferdoush, who is the assistant director of the Husky Call Center. “We want to cultivate a space where we can talk to other faculty and share whatever knowledge we have.”

Ferdoush said that if she could give young professionals one piece of advice, she’d tell them, “Don’t be afraid to go to events by yourself.”

“You never know who you’re going to meet, and you never know whether or not those people could introduce you to your next career,” she said.

So take her advice and register for the Welcome Party on Friday. You could meet your future boss.