Club spotlight: Women in Business
Founded two years ago by six students, Skidmore Women in Business aims to empower students across all disciplines to engage in leadership roles. WIB’s 40-50 active, ambitious members helped earn it Club of the Year honors from the Student Government Association in 2015.
Co-presidents and founding members Emma Marshall ’16 and Lyssa Jackson ’16 say the club’s mission is based on “four pillars”—leadership, professionalism, connection, and philanthropy. Club workshops and other events connect with the campus community, alumni, Saratoga Springs, and also the national collegiate community. WIB has forged relationships with Harvard’s Undergraduate Women in Business and the Wharton Women at the University of Pennsylvania to share information and best practices. It has sponsored speakers from the Saratoga and Albany regions for its “WIB Talks” and panels about issues related to women and leadership. Informal events—such as 5k races, yoga, and dinners—foster a sense of family among the members. And chairing club events provides an opportunity to gain valuable leadership skills. WIB will host its first Leadership Conference this spring.
Marshall describes the membership as both dynamic and diverse. “We are working across all disciplines, across all backgrounds,” she says. Instead of focusing on a business track, she adds, “it’s more about promoting leadership, women helping women, and the camaraderie that dynamic women have between them.” WIB’s executive board already has a succession plan in place, to make sure new officers keep the club and its legacy going for years to come. ~ By Lisa Fierstein ’16
