Tomorrow: Exploring Diverse Career Paths In Corporate Finance Panel!

Happy Sunday! 

Thank you again for joining us last Monday for Smart Women Securities' Personal Finance Meeting! We hope you learned some valuable ways to set yourself up for success financially. Reach out to them on Instagram @swsumassamherst with any more questions!


As a reminder, our next meeting will be held tomorrow Monday, April 29th at 7pm in Mahar Auditorium. We will be having a panel of women in finance, led by one of our co-fundraising directors Abbey Berry, and finance professor Sara Smiarowski! This panel will discuss different career paths within the ever-evolving finance industry! This is an exciting opportunity to hear real industry experts dive into their own career experiences and how they navigated changes over time. These amazing women are sure to share valuable advice for all, not just those interested in finance! We will also be joined by a Lacroix campus rep who will be handing out some samples!


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: 982 6193 7979


Committees:

  • Marketing: The final marketing committee meeting will be "Tiktok Marketing" taking place on May 8th at 7:30 pm in Isenberg 117!

  • Peer Mentorship: PM is collabing with social events for a sunset picnic (+ a photoshoot) on Sunday, May 5th at 7:15 pm on the rec fields (see this map)!

  • Community Service: CommServ is going to be volunteering at Not Bread Alone in the center of Amherst on Wednesday, May 1st, there is a 12-4 shift and a 3:30 to 6:30 shift. Sign up to join them here!


Content:

  • Podcast:  "Out of Office (with WiB)" Episode 19, "Navigating College Crossroads w/ Ryo" is hosted by our Director of Marketing, Lisa Freeley, and our Director of Communication, Megan Hoggins, and features Ryo Nozawa our Blog Chair! 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, "Embracing Creativity Within the Corporate World" by Yasha Devate at this link! If you are interested in writing a blog, sign up here.


Graduation Cords: We are so excited to announce that, for the first time ever, we are offering graduating members WiB chords to wear for commencement! We are so thankful for your contributions to our club, and cannot wait to hear about your next adventure. If you are interested in a WiB cord fill out this interest form, pickups will be at our general body meetings on April 29th and May 6th.
 
 

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

  • SWS Guest Speaker: SWS is having a guest speaker, Jenny Hubbard, do a fireside chat on Wednesday, May 8 at 6 on Zoom. Jenny Hubbard is Co-Portfolio Manager of the Small Cap Strategy and a Research Analyst. This is a great opportunity for students to join and learn from a Research Analyst/Assistant Portfolio Manager! Reach out to smartwomensecuritiesumass@gmail.com for more information. 

Other Opportunities

  • Citi Freshman Discovery Program: The Freshman Discovery program is a workshop dedicated to helping students learn about career paths in finance, gain technical skills, and kick off career planning. This event will be held virtually on Wednesday, May 15, Thursday, May 16, and Friday, May 17, 2024. Open to undergraduate students graduating December 2026-June 2027. Applications are open here!

Next Week: Exploring Diverse Career Paths in Corporate Finance Panel!

Happy Wednesday! 

Thank you for joining us on Monday for Smart Women Securities' Personal Finance Meeting! We hope you learned some valuable ways to set yourself up for success financially. Reach out to them on Instagram @swsumassamherst with any more questions. 

As a reminder, our next meeting will be held on Monday, April 29th at 7pm in Mahar Auditorium. We will be having a panel of women in finance, led by one of our co-fundraising directors Abbey Berry, and finance professor Sara Smiarowski! This panel will discuss different career paths within the ever-evolving finance industry! This is an exciting opportunity to hear real industry experts dive into their own career experiences and how they navigated changes over time. These amazing women are sure to share valuable advice for all, not just those interested in finance! We will also be joined by a Lacroix campus-rep who will be handing out some samples!


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: 982 6193 7979


Committees:

  • Marketing: The next marketing committee meeting is "Tiktok Marketing" taking place on Wednesday, May 8th at 7:30 pm in Isenberg 117!

  • Peer Mentorship: PM is collabing with our social events for a sunset picnic (+ a photoshoot) on Sunday, May 5th at 7:15 pm on the rec fields (see this map)!

  • Community Service: CommServ is going to be volunteering at Not Bread Alone in the center of Amherst on Wednesday, May 1st, there is a 12-4 shift and a 3:30 to 6:30 shift. Sign up to join them here!


Content:

  • Podcast: "Out of Office (with WiB)" Episode 19, "Navigating College Crossroads w/ Ryo" is hosted by our director of Marketing, Lisa Freeley, and our Director of Communication, Megan Hoggins, featuring Ryo Nozawa our Blog Chair! 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, "Embracing Creativity Within the Corporate World" by Yasha Devate, at this link! If you are interested in writing a blog, sign up here.

 

Graduation Cords: We are so excited to announce that, for the first time ever, we are offering graduating members WiB chords to wear for commencement! We are so thankful for your contributions to our club, and cannot wait to hear about your next adventure. If you are interested in a WiB cord fill out this interest form, pickups will be at our general body meetings on April 29th and May 6th.

E-Board Applications: If you applied to our 2024-2025 e-board, please check your emails. If we received your application you should have a confirmation email in your inbox from Monday 4/22 at around 5:45 pm. If you believe you submitted an application but did not receive a confirmation, please reach out immediately. We will be reaching out to candidates for interviews in the next few days!

UMass Gives: UMassGives is an online fundraising event on April 24th and 25th when alumni, parents, faculty, staff, students, and friends of UMass come together to support organizations. WiB is participating this year so please share this link with your friends, family, professors, etc. 

 

Click below to watch our most recent meeting! 

 

 

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 Sustainability Club: ISC is an exciting new addition to Isenberg and their first club meeting is tomorrow April 25th from 7-8 in Isenberg 119. Come hear three students share their advice and pathway on sustainability in business in a panel discussion and support a new club!

  • SWS Guest Speaker: SWS is having a guest speaker, Jenny Hubbard, do a fireside chat on Wednesday, May 8 at 6 on Zoom. Jenny Hubbard is Co-Portfolio Manager of the Small Cap Strategy and a Research Analyst. This is a great opportunity for students to join and learn from a Research Analyst/Assistant Portfolio Manager! Reach out to smartwomensecuritiesumass@gmail.com for more information. 

Additional Opportunities

  • Citi Freshman Discovery Program: The Freshman Discovery program is a workshop dedicated to helping students learn about career paths in finance, gain technical skills, and kick off career planning. This event will be held virtually on Wednesday, May 15, Thursday, May 16, and Friday, May 17, 2024. Open to undergraduate students graduating December 2026-June 2027. Applications are open here!

Tomorrow: "Personal Finance With SWS!"


Happy Sunday! 

Thank you again to all who joined us on Tuesday for our external event with Liberty Mutual's Alyssa Nogueira! She led us through an exercise to test our current mindsets and shared some helpful tips for how to develop a growth mindset in school, our future careers, and our personal lives. It was fantastic!


As a reminder, our next meeting will be held tomorrow Monday, April 22nd at 7pm in Mahar Auditorium. This meeting will be all about personal finance put on by the Smart Women Securities Club! SWS is a club on campus whose mission is to educate undergraduate women on finance and investments! Their presentation will include some incredibly valuable advice on how to set yourself up for success financially. All are welcome to join, regardless of what your current familiarity with finance is!


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: 982 6193 7979


Committees:

  • Marketing: The final marketing committee meeting will be on May 8th at 7:30 pm in Isenberg 117 topic TBD!

  • Peer Mentorship: Stay tuned for information about an end-of-semester event!

  • Community Service: Keep an eye on your email for upcoming volunteer opportunities!


Content:

  • Podcast:  "Out of Office (with WiB)" Episode 18, "Career Guidance w/ Jan Goodman (Botanical Boss)" is hosted by our director of Marketing, Lisa Freeley, and our Director of Communication, Megan Hoggins, featuring Jan Goodman the President of Boston Cityscapes! 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, "Why Bravery Should be a Highly-Desired Attribute" by Elise Porter, at this link! If you are interested in writing a blog, sign up here.


Spring-Cleaning Thrift Store Fundraiser: In celebration of Earth Day, WiB will be tabling in the TOMORROW in the Student Union from 10am - 2pm hosting a pop-up thrift store! Come by to shop as clothes will be heavily marked down and there are sure to be some great finds! Proceeds will go towards lowering the cost of events and opening them up to more members. 
 
 

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

  • Smart Women Securities Guest Speaker: SWS is hosting Julia Mines for a session on the topic of confidence called "'Just Do It!' A Workshop for Women in Optimizing Confidence" TONIGHT Sunday, April 21st from 6-7pm in Isenberg 106.  

Other Opportunities

  • Citi Freshman Discovery Program: The Freshman Discovery program is a workshop dedicated to helping students learn about career paths in finance, gain technical skills, and kick off career planning. This event will be held virtually on Wednesday, May 15, Thursday, May 16, and Friday, May 17, 2024. Open to undergraduate students graduating December 2026-June 2027. Applications are open here!

Embracing Creativity Within the Corporate World

By: Yasha Devate

In a world void of superheroes and instead full of fast-paced technological advancement and innovation, the journey for competitive edge and market power has become the modern-day hero's adventure for most corporations. However, within the bustling corporate world, where efficiency, productivity, and relentless advancement often dominate the conversation, sometimes a culture of creativity can be a company's secret weapon. Forgotten by many in the pursuit of operational excellence and profit margins, creativity holds the key to unlocking brand potential, profit surplus, innovation, and fostering sustainable growth.

However, simply explaining isn’t as efficient as giving specific examples - a prominent one being Zara. Using creativity in the form of cultural exchange and market research, Zara has allowed its ‘fast fashion’ brand to expand, the principles of growth and innovation embedded in every aspect of the company’s work. Instead of looking into what’s trending in the market currently, Zara pushes its employees to look beyond and understand what will occur in the future and how to pander to that. By planning and extending past boundaries to churn out new and innovative designs that resonate with customers everywhere, Zara has allowed their brand name to grow extensively.  

Alongside this, unlike many traditional companies, where employees are given a specific team and are stuck in singular departments, Zara follows a cycle system in which there is a constant switching of team members. Said to drive continuous improvement and foster creative ideas within trends, Zara believes that this constant switch allows the company to embrace the diverse array of skills and viewpoints among its staff. This approach fosters collaboration across all departments and inspires creativity throughout the organization - and is one of the primary reasons the company is able to beat out competitors in this “all for one” economy. 

As portrayed by Zara and many other top brands, creativity isn't just limited to artistic expression or design. Actually, it’s more about thinking differently, challenging norms, and finding novel solutions to complex problems. By allowing employees to feel confident, empowered, and supported enough to take risks and challenge operational norms, companies will be able to foster an environment rich with growth and collaboration. Netflix is one of the prime examples of this mentality and a major player in the field of creativity and consumer trends. 

While initially trashed and belittled, Netflix has managed to build its empire, rising into the sky with its excellent customer service, creative content, and trend management. With a high focus on data being supported by innovation, the company ensures that consumers are both entertained by their long-tailed selection and so accustomed to the site that the switching cost is too high to leave. If the company had continued to grow and develop the same products as most other companies at that time, it wouldn’t have reached the level of success that it has currently. It’s this mentality and culture which is what allowed them to beat out Blockbuster during the early days, and continue to improve against other streaming services.

Moving past profit-driven achievements, embracing creativity within the workforce also allows employees a bigger opportunity to contribute to their jobs in another manner. In fact, there are multiple studies stating that employees who feel like they’re making a bigger impact on their company have more loyalty, motivation, and engagement within their company, as work cultures that celebrate creativity and difference allow people a sense of belonging and purpose, leading to higher levels of job satisfaction, and overall productivity.

Thinking outside of the box simply doesn’t cut it. It’s when a company truly pushes past societal norms and embraces creativity as a form of creation (whether that be regarding products, clients, advertising, etc.) that innovation is able to progress. Therefore, in today’s society, creativity isn't just a competitive advantage - it's an important factor in staying relevant and thriving in the long-run economy.

Alongside singular company benefits, embracing creativity in the workforce also has extensive benefits for society as a whole. Encouraging creative thinking and problem-solving abilities within the workforce can help organizations develop a more capable and critical team of employees. This, in turn, makes people naturally more equipped to tackle the challenges they encounter during their lives, and open to understanding other perspectives – a concept which is especially important, in today’s age of globalization and interconnectedness. 


Next Week: "Personal Finance with SWS!"

Happy Wednesday! 

We hope you enjoyed the long weekend, and if you were able to, thank you for joining us last night for our external event with Liberty Mutual's Alyssa Nogueira! She led us through an exercise to test our current mindsets and shared some helpful tips for how to develop a growth mindset in school, our future careers, and our personal lives. Thanks, Alyssa!

As a reminder, our next meeting will be held on Monday, April 22nd at 7pm in Mahar Auditorium. This meeting will be all about personal finance put on by the Smart Women Securities Club! SWS is a club on campus whose mission is to educate undergraduate women on finance and investments! Their presentation will include some incredibly valuable advice on how to set yourself up for success financially. All are welcome to join, regardless of what your current familiarity with finance is -- don't miss it!



Committees:

  • Marketing: The next marketing committee meeting will be "Mastering Networking" TONIGHT April 17th at 7:30 pm in Isenberg 117!

  • Peer Mentorship + Community Service: The next event is a Peer Mentorship x CommServ campus cleanup competition! We will meet at Isenberg on Sunday, April 21st at 11 am and teams will be created. Each team will be provided with trash bags. All teams will return to Isenberg at 12:30 pm, and the team with the most amount of trash will win a prize!


Content:

  • Podcast: "Out of Office (with WiB)" Episode 18, "Career Guidance w/ Jan Goodman (Botanical Boss)" is hosted by our director of Marketing, Lisa Freeley, and our Director of Communication, Megan Hoggins, featuring Jan Goodman the President of Boston Cityscapes! 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, "Treating Your Mind & Body as Separate Mechanisms" by Caroline Tierney, at this link! If you are interested in writing a blog, sign up here.


WiB Formal: Our formal is TOMORROW! Just a reminder the formal will be at the Monkey Bar in Amherst from 7:30-10:30 pm. Please check your email for a message from Camryn Buanacore with important information about the event!

E-Board Applications: Our 2024-2025 E-Board Applications are open! We encourage members who are dedicated to WiB, and willing to devote their time to contributing new ideas, to apply. Being a member of our executive board is a great opportunity to get more involved on campus, work with an incredible group of women, and make a difference in our club! All majors and grade levels are invited to apply. We are so excited to see your applications! Check out the position descriptions here and apply here by 11:59 on Friday, April 19th. Reach out to isenbergwib@gmail.com with any questions. 

Spring-Cleaning Thrift Store Fundraiser: In celebration of Earth Day, WiB will be tabling in the Student Union on April 22nd from 10am - 2pm hosting a pop-up thrift store! If you have any extra clothes lying around feel free to bring them to the Isenberg Hub on Friday, April 19th from 12-3 pm (someone will be there collecting). If you don't have clothes to donate just come shop our thrift store, clothes will be heavily marked down and there will definitely be some great finds! Proceeds will go towards lowering the cost of events and opening them up to more members. 

 

 

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

  • Minutemen Fixed Income Fund: Fall 2024 Junior Analyst Program applications are now open. The Minutemen Fixed Income Fund is a student-run credit research fund that strives to fill the gap in traditional undergraduate curriculum through its focus on the credit market. Applications will be open until 11:59 P.M. on Friday, April 19th. First-year UMass Amherst students of all majors are encouraged to apply by the deadline, download the application here, and email in their completed applications to MFIF. 

  • Smart Women Securities Guest Speaker: SWS is hosting Julia Mines for a session on the topic of confidence called "'Just Do It!' A Workshop for Women in Optimizing Confidence" on Sunday, April 21st from 6-7pm in Isenberg 106.  

Additional Opportunities

  • Citi Freshman Discovery Program: The Freshman Discovery program is a workshop dedicated to helping students learn about career paths in finance, gain technical skills, and kick off career planning. This event will be held virtually on Wednesday, May 15, Thursday, May 16, and Friday, May 17, 2024. Open to undergraduate students graduating December 2026-June 2027. Applications are open here!