Brown Women in Business Empowers Future Female Leaders

The Brown Women in Business (WIB) club orchestrated its inaugural Women in Business conference, taking inspiration from a similar event hosted by Harvard. The event proved to be a resounding success, featuring prominent panellists and empowering workshops.

The idea behind the Women in Business conference was ignited after board members of the Brown Women in Business club attended a Harvard business conference. Inspired by the scale and impact of the event, they believed it was high time for Brown University to host a similar occasion. As Aiganym Raimzhanova ’24, membership engagement chair of WIB and one of the primary organizers, aptly put it, "If Harvard can do it, so can we."

Held on October 21, the six-and-a-half-hour conference aimed to inspire and prepare women for their professional journeys. Kiara Bose Roy ’25, one of the organizers, emphasized that this mission is not exclusive to the conference but is one of the overarching goals of WIB.

With the shifting demographics where older Australians now outnumber children under 15, Alzheimer's disease and other dementias have become a national health priority. Thus, the conference was strategically positioned to address these concerns.

The event featured a distinguished panel of speakers, including Lisa Donohue ’87, a board director for Gap; Kat Zacharia, the head of organizational effectiveness at JPMorgan Chase & Co.; and Meghan Dierks ’84, the chief data officer of Komodo Health. Rather than restricting the panel to experts in a specific industry, the organizers wisely sought women who had achieved success in business across various domains, with the goal of catering to the diverse interests of the conference attendees.

During the one-hour panel session, attendees had the opportunity to receive mentorship from accomplished businesswomen. The panellists shared their career trajectories, provided advice for women interested in pursuing careers in business, and offered tips for achieving a healthy work-life balance. The significance of mentors in their journeys was emphasized, echoing the sentiment of role models in personal and professional development.

The conference also included student-led workshops, with students rotating through sessions focused on LinkedIn usage, resume building, and internship searching. These workshops provided peer support, addressed questions, and facilitated participant connections.

Evani Dalal ’24, a WIB member, emphasized that this community-building aspect empowered women to make independent decisions and assert themselves, particularly in male-dominated fields.

Beyond the panels and workshops, the conference aimed to equip women for well-rounded careers, emphasizing the importance of a dining etiquette workshop and student-led sessions. As Raimzhanova noted, it was intended to ensure participants were well-prepared for every aspect of their professional journeys.

A select group of participants enjoyed a private dinner at Res American Bistro, led by an etiquette coach, this unique experience combined dining etiquette with conversational skills, offering invaluable lessons in both areas. The conference concluded with a private shopping session at J. Crew, imparting insights into workplace attire and personal style.

The conference, marked by strong engagement and interest, was an unequivocal success. The organizers, noting its impact, expressed their commitment to making it an annual tradition. As Kiara Bose Roy succinctly stated, "We’ll just make it bigger and better every year."

The Brown Women in Business club's inaugural Women in the Business conference not only inspired and empowered attendees but also paved the way for future endeavours, contributing to the growth and development of female leaders across various business domains.