Tell us a little about yourself — where are you from, what do you study, and what do you enjoy doing in your free time?
I hail from sunny San Diego, CA. I’m currently a junior in Adams House studying history. Right now I’m training for the New York City Half-Marathon. In my free time, I enjoy yoga, dancing and reading Vogue and Vanity Fair.
How did you first get involved with Women in Business, and what have been some of the most rewarding experiences you’ve had?
I comped WIB the fall of my Freshman year. I didn’t know much about it then to be honest, but I knew I liked business and I was a woman so it kind of made sense! My first real introduction to WIB was at the Intercollegiate Business Convention that October. I was blown away. I had never been to a conference of that size before and I couldn’t believe it was entirely organized by undergraduates. I knew then that I wanted to be more involved in HUWIB. That December I applied for a committee position and I was selected to be the Co-Director for Make It Happen, HUWIB’s annual magazine. This past year, I served as the chair for the Intercollegiate Business Convention and it has definitely been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life so far. Having the opportunity to present the opening remarks and introduce one of my idols, Marissa Mayer, in front of 1,000 undergraduate women, was exhilarating.
Last year you planned the Intercollegiate Business Conference. What was that process like, and what were some of the most challenging things you encountered?
This to date has been the largest project I have ever undertaken. I don’t think I’ve ever received so many e-mails in my life! I used to have nightmares that no one would show up. I even dreamed once that only old people came! At times it was overwhelming, but my parents have always taught me that stress is not a productive emotion. So once I dropped the phrase, “I’m so stressed,” from my vernacular, things actually seemed a bit easier and I was able to remain calm. Of course, I did have a few bumps along the way. I think the biggest challenge I faced was working with the hotel. Whenever you’re working within a strict budget, you’re going to have to negotiate and make some sacrifices. It’s difficult to be firm and still maintain a good relationship, but, as I learned, it’s do-able. Ultimately, I had a fantastic team of nine impressive women who contributed to the success of this convention. I also had the support of the two Co-Presidents and the entire HUWIB Executive and Alumni Boards. This conference would not have been a success without their help and guidance.
As WIB co-president, what new changes do you see the organization making under your oversight?
Danielle and I are very lucky to be leading this organization through a time of tremendous change. This past year we had our inaugural meeting with our new Advisory Board, a group of five impressive women in business who help us with our long-term strategy and vision for our organization. This year, we are focusing on strengthening the network of HUWIB. We want our members and alumni to be resources for one another. We also restructured our Executive Board so that our programming would be more tailored to suit the needs of our members.
What are your plans for after graduation?
I’m not sure where I’ll be after graduation to be honest! I just accepted a summer internship offer with Bain & Company in Los Angeles and if everything works out, I will probably join them full-time upon graduation.