Tomorrow: Post-Grad Panel!

Happy Sunday! 

Thank you again for joining us on Monday for our meeting in collaboration with the American Hotel and Lodging Association Club! We hope you enjoyed getting to practice the hospitality mindset. Their club meets every other Thursday at 7 pm - be sure to check them out! Email acicone@umass.edu with any questions about the club or the major!

As a reminder, our next meeting will be held on Monday, March 4th on ZOOM. We will NOT be in Mahar. For this meeting, we will be hosting some of our old WiB members for a post-grad panel! We have alumni from many majors so come build connections and see what opportunities are out there for you!


Here is the Zoom link:
Zoom Link: https://umass-amherst.zoom.us/j/96538284375
Meeting ID: 965 3828 4375


Committees:

  • Marketing: The next marketing committee meeting is a marketing internship panel on Wednesday, March 27th at 7pm in Isenberg 118! Come hear about the marketing internships our upperclassmen members have had to learn about what options may be available to you!

  • Peer Mentorship: Stay tuned for information about the next meeting!

  • Community Service: The next meeting is Wednesday, March 13th at 7:30 pm in Isenberg 124 topic TBD! 


Content:

  • Podcast: "Out of Office (with WiB)" Episode 17, "Exploring Life After Graduation w/ Laura & Abbie" Director of Marketing Lisa Freeley, our Director of Communication Megan Hoggins and featuring last year's Co-Presidents Laura Balinski and Abbie Stevenson! Stream on Spotify using this link, or on Apple Music using this link! If you are interested in being on the podcast, working behind the scenes, or just learning more, fill out this form!

  • Blog: Check out, "To Be Little Women" by Ryo Nozawa, at this link!


Headshot Fundraiser: We will be hosting a headshot fundraiser on Friday, March 8th from 10am - 2pm in the Isenberg Hub. For only $5, come get some professional headshots taken by our historian, Hannah Berry! Perfect for your LinkedIn profile!

Boston Trip:  We are so excited to announce that this year, our trip will be held on Friday, April 5th! We will be visiting the EY and Wayfair Boston offices, and engaging in a variety of networking and professional development activities, including a panel session, office tours, and case studies. Breakfast and lunch are provided, and we can give out excusal letters for your Friday classes. Tickets are $15, so register here before spots fill up!

WiB Formal: We are so excited to officially invite you to our Spring Formal on Thursday, April 18th from 7:30pm-10pm at Monkey Bar! Our theme is masquerade, so wear black or white and masks will be provided at the door. Tickets are $15, you can either bring cash to our next meeting or pay on Venmo (for Venmo payments please include your name, UMass email, and include "formal" in the caption). Currently, our form is only open to WiB active members (with the option to bring a guest), but a new form will open for non-Wib active members in two weeks. Register here, but please note that this form is BINDING, filling it out locks in your spot and refunds will not be available. Email cbuonacore@umass.edu with any questions!


 

If you would like to learn more about WiB, check out our website and follow our Instagram (@IsenbergWiB), where we post regular updates about meetings, events, and opportunities.
 

Have a comment or concern? Please don't hesitate to fill out this anonymous feedback/report form.  

UMass Opportunities

  • Isenberg Marketing Career Networking Night: MCNN is Umass' annual marketing-oriented career fair where recruiters and students can walk around and engage with each other on a personal level. This will be March 5th from 5:45-8pm at the Mariott Center (11th floor of the campus center). Register here and check out the Student Development Package here. 

Other Opportunities

  • Citizens' Spotlight Series: Citizens' is hosting "The Parallel Worlds of Corporate Finance and Consulting," a conversation led by professionals from Citizens' Corporate Finance team. This will take place on March 13 at 6pm and it is a great opportunity for those interested in a Summer 2025 internship with their investment bank or summer analyst program. Come hear about these exciting career opportunities! RVSP here. 

  • Seaboard International Forest Products: Jeff Kern, former trader and current Director of Marketing & Recruiting, and Julia Stabile, Marketing & Recruiting Associate at Seaboard International Forest Products will be on campus Tuesday, March 12th tabling in the Isenberg Hub from 10:00am - 1:00 pm. If you are interested in open career positions, want to learn more about Seaboard, or just looking to network, be sure to stop by! 

  • UPenn x Capital One Case Competition: UPenn is hosting a consulting case competition with Capital One’s Corporate Strategy and Business Analyst programs with $10,000 in total prizes & exclusive information and networking sessions. The competition will be held virtually from April 4th to April 13th, 2024. All undergraduate students will be able to enter in teams of 3 - 5. Individual entries are also allowed and participants will be matched to a team. The registration deadline is March 23rd at 11:59 PM. Register and learn more here. 

To Be Little Women

By: Ryo Nozawa

The Little Women story has influenced and followed me in every step of my life. From reading it in Japanese as a child to seeing it on the big screen years later, it never ceases to leave me wide eyed and warm. A story written by Louisa May Alcott-showcasing the lives of each member of the March family-its lines, speeches, and emotional prowess continue to imbue me with vigor, hope, and grace for the world around me. At her core, Jo is a dynamic and impassioned young woman, representing the possibility for more than the confining standards of the nineteenth century. She is “boyish”, hot-tempered, and impulsive but she is curious. Jo is consistently lured and seduced by the world around her, as she navigates her path and purpose in life. She acts as a beacon of hope and early-feminism for those who wanted more than what was expected of them. To evidently juxtapose her, Meg stands as a wife, a mother, and a girl who hopes for the simplicity of a nuclear family. She is a parallel of her mother, compassionate and temperamental. By taking these two contrasting characters, I hope to solicit understanding and empathy for both of their paths. 

Growing up is a daunting experience for all, as it works to reconcile our fluid passions with reality and its seemingly cemented molds. For Jo, she finds solace in writing and taking a more unconventional approach to life. At that time, a woman was expected to fall in love, marry, and bear children. However, she-and many other women-found that expectation to be unfulfilling. We all know her story. We understand what it means to be a woman and to want more. Post-war modernity allowed for a long-awaited transformation for women, especially in western countries, but just how much has changed? The deep cracks in our everyday lives and our minds-well-solidified by the patriarchy and thousands of years of indoctrination-still stand to remind us of our society’s flaws. Yet, emerging from all of this, Jo’s raw vulnerability has always inspired me to be ambitious and chase for independent success but also allow myself grace for the simpler things in life. For her, it was wanting to be loved. Perhaps, her story teaches us that making a name for yourself is important especially as a woman, but independently, it may not always be fulfilling. Finding a balance could be the key to true happiness.

I believe that it would be a disservice to the discourse if I did not mention the more neglected March sister, Meg. She is compassionate and good, she is feminine and dutiful. I believe that she is largely forgotten because of what she wants. Her dreams are dimmed by Jo’s commanding aspirations but Meg confronts this notion and reminds Jo that “just because my dreams are different than yours, it doesn’t mean they’re unimportant”. This quote struck me to be significant and ultimately inspired me to write this. Despite approaching life in a more traditional fashion than Jo, it does not suggest that her dreams of being a mother and having a family should be relegated to her being a docile wife. It does not take away from her as a person and more importantly, as a woman. I think that as discussions of making oneself into something and creating a world for women to become successful, it can be easy to grimace at those who give up their jobs or economic opportunities to fulfill other aspects of their lives. However, we all want different things and I think that for me, Meg is a character that represents a girl hoping for a family like the one she grew up in and dreaming of another kind of fulfillment than Jo-and that is okay. Jo is enlivened by books and Meg by unconditional love. 

I suppose the point of this commentary is to say that it is okay to want different things, even at different times of our lives. You do not have to just be a ‘Meg’ or a ‘Jo’, you can be both! We are never confined to just one path and they are never set in stone. Being a woman during this time is to understand and offer grace to those that do not “fit” all the values you possess. Never be quick to judge another person and never assume that your aspirations are more important. If we establish more confining molds for ourselves beyond the ones already placed, we soon will lose space to grow. The Little Women story continues to offer hope for all individuals navigating a world of endless possibilities and like Meg reminds us, just because your dreams may be different from the person beside you, it does not mean they are any less important.

Next Week: Post-Grad Panel!

Happy Wednesday! 

Thank you all for joining us on Monday for our meeting in collaboration with the American Hotel and Lodging Association Club! We hope you enjoyed getting to practice the hospitality mindset. Their club meets on Thursdays at 7 pm so be sure to check them out! Email acicone@umass.edu with any questions about the club or the major!

As a reminder, our next meeting will be held on Monday, March 4th on ZOOM. We will NOT be in Mahar. For this meeting, we will be hosting some of our old WiB members for a post-grad panel! We have alumni from many majors so come build connections and see what opportunities are out there for you!

Here is the Zoom link:
Zoom Link: https://umass-amherst.zoom.us/j/96538284375
Meeting ID: 965 3828 4375


Committees:

  • Marketing: MarComm will be hosting consulting firm ALKU for a LinkedIn workshop TONIGHT Wednesday, February 28th at 7pm in ILC 311 (please note the location change)! There will be a raffle for a JBL speaker at the meeting and pizza provided, so definitely join us! 

  • Peer Mentorship: For the first event of the semester, peer mentorship will be attending the Umass Hockey game on March 2nd at 6pm at the Mullins Center! We will also be having dinner beforehand at 4:30pm in the Berk Private room. 

  • Community Service: The next meeting is Wednesday, March 13th at 7:30 pm in Isenberg 124! 


Content:

  • Podcast: "Out of Office (with WiB)" Episode 17, "Exploring Life After Graduation w/ Laura & Abbie" Director of Marketing Lisa Freeley, our Director of Communication Megan Hoggins and featuring last year's Co-Presidents Laura Balinski and Abbie Stevenson! Stream on Spotify using this link, or on Apple Music using this link! If you are interested in being on the podcast, working behind the scenes, or just learning more, fill out this form!

  • Blog: Check out, "Branching Out and Building Connections: A Brief Recap of the 2024 Women of Isenberg Conference" by Jane Tecu, at this link!


K's Nutrition Cafe Fundraiser: We are having a fundraiser at K's Nutrition Cafe on Friday, March 1st from 7am - 4pm! Come by to help us lower the costs of events while also enjoying some delicious teas and shakes! Be sure to say that you are there for our Women in Business fundraiser when you order.  


Boston Trip:  We are so excited to announce that this year, our trip will be held on Friday, April 5th! We will be visiting the EY and Wayfair Boston offices, and engaging in a variety of networking and professional development activities, including a panel session, office tours, and case studies. Breakfast and lunch are provided, and we can provide an excusal letter for your Friday classes. Tickets are $15, so register here before spots fill up!

WiB Formal: We are so excited to officially invite you to our Spring Formal on Thursday, April 18th from 7:30pm-10pm at Monkey Bar! Our theme is masquerade, so wear black or white and masks will be provided at the door. Tickets are $15, you can either bring cash to our next meeting or pay on Venmo (for Venmo payments please include your name, UMass email, and include "formal" in the caption). Currently, our form is only open to WiB active members (with the option to bring a guest), but a new form will open for non-Wib active members in two weeks. Register here, but please note that this form is BINDING, filling it out locks in your spot and refunds will not be available. Email cbuonacore@umass.edu with any questions!

 

Click below to watch our most recent meeting! 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHmlO_tcUhA
 

If you would like to learn more about WiB, check out our website and follow our Instagram (@IsenbergWiB), where we post regular updates about meetings, events, and opportunities. 


Have a comment or concern? Please fill out this anonymous feedback/report form. 

UMass Opportunities

  • Isenberg Marketing Career Networking Night: MCNN is Umass' annual marketing-oriented career fair where recruiters and students can walk around and engage with each other on a personal level. This will be March 5th from 5:45-8pm at the Mariott Center (11th floor of the campus center). Register here and check out the Student Development Package here. 

Additional Opportunities

  • Citi Bank Virtual Information Session: Citi Bank will be hosting a virtual information session about their Summer 2025 internship TONIGHT Wednesday, February 28th from 6-7pm. They will talk about the different roles available, what to expect as an intern, and answer any questions. See this flyer for more information and how to register! 

Tomorrow: WiB x AHLA!

Happy Sunday! 

Thank you all for joining us for our resume and cover letter workshop last Tuesday! We hope you got some helpful tips, and for those who may have missed the meeting check out this example resume, the Isenberg resume guide, and the cover letter guide! Be sure to check out the Chase Career Center for additional help. 

As a reminder, our next meeting will be held tomorrow, Monday, February 26th at 7pm in Mahar Auditorium. This meeting will be in collaboration with AHLA (the American Hotel and Lodging Association) for "Experimenting with the Hospitality Mindset". We share many e-board members with them, so join us to hear some of our own amazing leadership team talk all about the AHLA club and the hospitality major! 


We also will be live streaming this meeting on Zoom for virtual viewers to attend at the following link:
Zoom Link: https://umass-amherst.zoom.us/j/96538284375
Meeting ID: 965 3828 4375


Committees:

  • Marketing: MarComm will be hosting consulting firm ALKU for a LinkedIn workshop on Wednesday, February 28th at 7pm in ILC 311 (please note the location change)! There will be a raffle for a JBL speaker at the meeting, so definitely join us! 

  • Peer Mentorship: For the first event of the semester, peer mentorship will be attending the Umass Hockey game on March 2nd at 6pm at the Mullins Center! Keep an eye out for more details.

  • Community Service: The next meeting is Wednesday, March 13th at 7:30 pm in Isenberg 124! 


Content:

  • Podcast: "Out of Office (with WiB)" Episode 17, "Exploring Life After Graduation w/ Laura & Abbie" Director of Marketing Lisa Freeley, our Director of Communication Megan Hoggins and featuring last year's Co-Presidents Laura Balinski and Abbie Stevenson! Stream on Spotify using this link, or on Apple Music using this link! If you are interested in being on the podcast, working behind the scenes, or just learning more, fill out this form!

  • Blog: Check out, "Branching Out and Building Connections: A Brief Recap of the 2024 Women of Isenberg Conference" by Jane Tecu, at this link!


Boston Trip:  We are so excited to announce that this year, our trip will be held on Friday, April 5th! We will be visiting the EY and Wayfair Boston offices, and engaging in a variety of networking and professional development activities, including a panel session, office tours, case studies, and a luncheon event. Tickets will be $15 and registration for this opportunity will open tomorrow Monday, February 26th during our general body meeting! 

WiB x Active Minds: We are so excited to be collaborating with Active Minds, a club passionate about mental health advocacy and education! We will be having a meeting called "Imposter Syndrome and Work-Life Balance" on Tuesday, February 27th at 7pm in Isenberg 210. This is such an exciting new partnership so definitely join us!

K's Nutrition Cafe Fundraiser: We will be having a fundraiser at K's Nutrition Cafe on Friday, March 1st from 7am - 4pm! Come by to help us lower the costs of events and open them to more of our members! Be sure to say that you are there for our Women in Business fundraiser when you order. 


 

If you would like to learn more about WiB, check out our website and follow our Instagram (@IsenbergWiB), where we post regular updates about meetings, events, and opportunities.
 

Have a comment or concern? Please don't hesitate to fill out this anonymous feedback/report form.  

UMass Opportunities

  • Isenberg Marketing Career Networking Night: MCNN is Umass' annual marketing-oriented career fair where recruiters and students can walk around and engage with each other on a personal level. This will be March 5th from 5:45-8pm at the Mariott Center (11th floor of the campus center). Register here and check out the Student Development Package here. 

  • Center for Student Business: The Center for Student Business is hiring freshman and sophomore Isenberg students to be financial consultants for student-run businesses. Get some hands-on experience with financial reporting, accounting, budgeting, and more. See this flyer for more information and click here to apply. 

Other Opportunities

  • Citi Bank Virtual Information Session: Citi Bank will be hosting a virtual information session about their Summer 2025 internship on Wednesday, February 28th from 6-7pm. They will talk about the different roles available, what to expect as an intern, and answer any questions. See this flyer for more information and how to register!

Branching Out and Building Connections: A Brief Recap of the 2024 Women of Isenberg Conference

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.