CWU Women in Business speakers and attendees gather for a group photo at the end of the Find Your Voice Conference in March.
“Clubs like WIB are important in the business world of today because they help students feel a sense of community and belongingness amongst their peers,” Clausen said. “Many business clubs are career-focused, which is fantastic, but building a network of like-minded peers who commonly face the same challenges as yourself is just as important as practicing your technical skills.” Haji concurs, crediting the club with helping her reconcile the often- theoretical nature of classroom learning with the realities of the real world. “When I started college, I felt an indescribable distance that I couldn’t quite pinpoint,” Haji said. “When I joined the club, I realized that the disconnect was between what we’re taught in classrooms and what’s needed in the real world. We’re taught what to do, but not what we might encounter, and I feel like the Women in Business club really helps with that, through connecting us with women in the field who’re willing to share their experiences, both good and bad.” Ultimately, resources like the Find Your Voice conference and Women in Business amplify that most basic human ability to find strength in community and inspiration in the perseverance of those who came before you. In Penwell’s words, and in a very real sense, “empowered women empower women.”
Find Your Voice speakers Julie Back, left, and Julie Penwell talk to a CWU student after speaking at the March 3 event.
CWU students and Women in Business President Leila Haji, right, pose for a celebratory photo at the end of the conference.
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