Women in Business Club Launches Inaugural Networking Event
By Sue McMurray
Whether introverted or gregarious by nature, students felt empowered at the Women in Business inaugural networking luncheon this fall. The event brought together 60 students and 20 business professionals including Carson alums, faculty, and staff to discuss career preparation and goals.
The event was the brainchild of the Women in Business Club executive board and Carson Center for Student Success advisors, who designed it to allow students to network in an environment where they felt comfortable but were also asked to step out of their comfort zone a bit.
“There are not a lot of opportunities where students can practice networking over a meal, a common scenario in the business world,” said McKinzie Turner, club advisor and career consultant in the Carson Center. “Gaining networking experience during lunch is an essential skill for any businessperson.”
WSU roommates, Alyson Weyer and Nyssa Lee, founded the Women in Business Club after switching their majors from engineering to business.
“As new business majors, we were looking for ways to get involved in a club or business fraternity. We looked for a business club for women, like the Society of Women Engineers,” Weyer said. “After we realized there was no WSU club for women in business, we decided to create our own.”
Weyer and Lee researched how to create a student club and sought out two of their friends who had also transferred to business to help them cofound the club.
Creating a community of business-driven women
The goals for the Women in Business Club are to create a community of business-driven women at WSU and help other WSU students succeed in networking and their future careers.
“To accomplish these goals, we hold events and meet every other Thursday. We do a range of things from get-to-know-you activities to hosting guest speakers from various business fields, to holding workshops,” Lee said. “We want our club to be fun yet professional. We try to engage our members in many ways, so they feel comfortable reaching out to us.”
“As an alum, I feel it’s my privilege and opportunity to encourage the next generation,” said Kristi Gutierrez, a human resource director at Boeing who attended the event. “I believe strongly in the power of connections.”
Prior to the event, students were prompted to share details about their majors, professional goals, and what makes them unique.
“I liked that there were outlined questions to go over,” one student noted. “I am not the best at selling myself, so having questions provided was amazing practice.”
Paige McKenzie, a business and entrepreneurship major, plans to go to cosmetology school and eventually own a hair, skin, and nail salon. “I offer organizational skills and leadership,” she said. “I just need experience on the business side.”
“I am not a college graduate. My life has taken many turns in the last 40 years, but I was able to learn skills and self-educate along the way,” said Marie Dymkoski, executive director of the Pullman Chamber of Commerce. “I appreciate that our university can help build those skills and get women on the fast track to become business owners, CEOs, and leaders in nonprofit organizations.”
Connections may lead to future business career opportunities
Business professionals at the event shared insights and advice about their educational and professional backgrounds.
“When women in business gather, it’s a great opportunity to share our stories, encourage one another, and receive support,” said Nicole Weynands (’01 English & Arch.) project manager and team lead for Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.
Featured speaker Judy Kolde spoke about her 20-plus year career in technology and consulting and her experiences as a business leader and owner.
“You can start building your network now through clubs and just getting to know people,” she said. “Remember, this works both ways. During the interview process, I often hired candidates someone on my team knew, even if it wasn’t in a professional capacity. Having someone who can vouch for you is very powerful.”
She also advised students on how to deal with gender bias in the workplace.
“Your career is what you make it,” Kolde said. “You have to be better. Be more professional than your male counterparts and show confidence through your words and actions. Avoid phrases that may sound emotional like ‘I’m trying…,’ or ‘I just need to…’. Practice good communication and eye contact. People respond to strength.”
“I enjoyed the opportunity to talk to other women in the hospitality industry and hearing about the disadvantages they face in the workplace due to just being a woman,” student Emma Harms said. “I also loved hearing what inspired them and how they overcame these challenges. It was my favorite, because even though people argue that women have equality in the workplace, it has been proven they don’t.”