By: Jane Tecu
On Saturday, February 10, I had the privilege of attending the 11th annual Women of Isenberg Conference, a full-day opportunity for students to hear directly from professionals, share their experiences, and expand their networks. For those who could not attend the conference, my recap hopefully will give you some insight and motivate you to attend next year.
The conference started with an inspiring keynote address from Shachar Scott, Vice President for Marketing at Meta’s Reality Labs, who shared her empowering journey to reach her current position. I felt extremely lucky to hear how Scott overcame hurdles to achieve her aspirations. Her story and career path seemed to resonate with many of the conference’s attendees.
Next, there was the opportunity to attend a variety of break-out sessions featuring Isenberg graduates and faculty. The workshops emphasized career-building strategies and offered motivational tips to help women navigate the work world. I went to Tech Trailblazers: Woman Shaping the Digital Transformation, with panelists Ashley Scala, a private wealth advisor at Goldman Sachs; Alaina Adams, a senior product manager in sustainability at Google; and Brittany Keller, a strategy manager at PayPal. I came away with a deeper understanding of the importance of clear communication and motivation to continue to learn. Other sessions throughout the day covered topics such as workplace politics, women in entrepreneurship, personal brand strategy, cultural inclusion, building connections, and more.
At lunch, the conference organizers seated undergraduate students, graduate students, faculty, and alumni together, offering the opportunity to strike up conversations and network with your tablemates.
As informative as the conference was, events like this can be difficult for someone who considers themselves an introvert or has social anxiety. Being assigned to a table with strangers and surrounded by successful leaders, CEOs, and entrepreneurs can feel like a lot of pressure. Many of these individuals felt unapproachable and that felt overwhelming in the beginning. At the same time, it’s important to remind yourself that you have every right to approach them and make connections—that’s part of what a conference is for. Once I reminded myself of this, I was able to feel more comfortable and confident with the people at my table and ended up having some meaningful conversations and making some connections.
For me and anyone else who might need to hear it: When building your future, it’s essential to branch out beyond your comfort zone if you want to grow. The Women of Isenberg Conference is a great opportunity to practice doing that.