Women in Business’ mission is to nurture the personal and professional development of all Foster MBA students, with a specific focus on obstacles women frequently encounter and how both women and men can work to combat them.  

Leafing through the leadership roster of Fortune 500 companies leads to a painfully obvious observation: there are very few women sitting in the executive offices.  Despite the advancements women have made in education and the workplace, these numbers are not reflected in corporate America's corner offices.  We are left to wonder: Why?

The answers to that question can be complex and controversial.  While Women in Business cannot fully answer it, we can strive to create opportunities to discuss the career challenges women face and how both they and men can help break down those barriers.  Through a variety of programming including engaging speaker events, alumni networking, and development workshops, Women in Business intends to provide students with the tools and insight necessary to recognize and seize opportunities, and find personal success in the business world.    The speakers WiB has selected and the events WiB will host in 2011-12 will focus on providing Foster women and men the opportunity to explore the kind of businesspeople they want to become and help them develop the skills they need to reach their goals.  Women in Business gives Foster MBAs the opportunity to connect with and learn from students and members of the business community who are facing or have overcome similar challenges on their paths to success.

Themes and Events for 2011-12:
Fall

Leadership Development: Being an effective leader means

understanding your own strengths and weaknesses, identifying your personal leadership style, and developing your leadership skills.  This is a never-ending process.  Our fall events are aimed at providing practical leadership programs that will help build a foundation for development you can utilize throughout your career. 

Planned Events: Half Day Leadership Summit, Women in Consulting Field Trip, Undergraduate Mentor Reception, several interactive speaker events.  

Winter

Networking: Winter quarter will focus on finding the right people, organizations, and activities to reach your personal and professional goals.  Winter quarter's events will help WiB members learn to network effectively, target people who will help you develop your career, and maintain those relationships beyond the initial meeting. 

Planned events:  Female CEO Panel, Alumni Reception, several interactive speaker events, Women in Finance Field Trip.

Spring

Career Development: Now that you have identified your leadership style and learned how to network, the spring quarter brings those two together by offering career advice specific to women, but also applicable to anyone in the workplace.  These events will focus on career development throughout your lifetime, not just in the short-term.  We wrap up the 2011-2012 school year with our annual Spring Retreat, which is always a great opportunity to welcome the new board, say goodbye to the upcoming graduates, and just generally have a great weekend away from campus. 

Planned Events: Spring Retreat, career development workshops, several interactive speaker events.