Are you interested in the basics of business, connecting with successful women, and business opportunities? Columbia’s Women’s Business Society aims to create an all-women business environment to help women achieve their personal and professional goals in the business world. Meet the sophisticated president of CWBS, Jane Dong, ’14. Get her take on the CWBS, getting involved, and Columbia in general.
Her Campus Columbia (HCC): So what does the society do?
Jane Dong (JD): The Society aims to help women achieve their professional goals in the business arena through our mentorship program, educational events, recruiting events, and networking resources. We aim to make events less intimidating and create an environment in which more women are comfortable speaking up. Additionally, every February we hold a conference with two keynotes and panels in Finance, Consulting, Entrepreneurship, Marketing, and Social Enterprise that hosts over 300 women. This event is aimed to educate women about the opportunities there are out there and to connect our members with successful women.
HCC: How did you get involved?
JD: I got involved with the society my freshman year because I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do career-wise. I thought it would be a great way to learn about different sectors of business as well as meet new people. I also really liked the type of environment that an all-women business society created in regards to the events, so that’s why I decided to stay and get more involved. I started out on the marketing committee, became one of the marketing chairs my sophomore year, Vice President Corporate my junior year, and President my senior year.
HCC: As president, what do you do?
JD: As president, I have the responsibility of doing more delegating, thinking about the big picture, and basically picking up wherever anyone else needs help. There is a lot more brainstorming and thinking about how to improve what we do. We don’t confine our board to doing specific roles, and we all contribute as much as we can to the society.
HCC: Why did you come to Columbia University?
JD: I chose to come to Columbia because I realized that I wanted to be a student first. I was recruited at a few other schools, and I felt that I would only be able to have a one-dimensional college experience as solely an athlete if I chose to attend those schools. I wanted the best education I could get, and I knew that I had a lot to gain from putting myself in a place that was a bit out of my comfort zone, as I had never lived anywhere but California.
HCC: What do you think makes your Columbia experience unique?
JD: I think being an athlete and having the privilege of being president of a society for a cause that I really believe in (helping women become more confident in regards to the business world) really gives me a unique Columbia experience. My team is full of my best friends, and we’re a very tight knit team. We definitely take care of each other, and I think that I was lucky to find so many close friends in CWBS as well. Being in the city has given me so many opportunities from professional development to far too many concerts and downtown exploring. I think it’s what makes my experience unique compared to my friends at other colleges.