As the outgoing and incoming presidents of the Women’ Business Association, Laura Maguire (Owen, ‘20) and Katie Poe (Owen, ‘21) lead an organization that strives to provide women with the support and resources to succeed in business school and beyond. In addition to that, the WBA plays a critical role in fostering the spirit of the culture at Owen for the students in the community. In this interview Maguire and Poe provide an overview of the WBA and talk specifically about the programs, resources, and initiatives the organization provides to create a more diverse and inclusive culture at Owen. They share their thoughts on how prospective and current students can benefit from an organization like the WBA.
MBASchooled: What is WBA and what are your goals/mission?
Laura: The WBA is the Women’s Business Association at Owen Graduate School of Management. We are a student organization that strives to provide women with the support and resources needed to excel, not only during business school, but also in their future careers. We serve as the organization that facilitates discussions and learning opportunities regarding topics such as gender equity in the workplace, gender bias, and allyship.
Our mission is to engage with the student body through meaningful events, discussions, collaborations, mentoring opportunities, and the sharing of research and personal stories. We do not charge any dues for membership in an effort to be more inclusive of all women at Owen, regardless of resources, background, or beliefs.
MBASchooled: How does WBA engage with prospective and current students at Vanderbilt?
Laura: Our goal is to meet all prospective and current students where they need us. While we offer a broad range of programming and resources to our current and future members, it is fully up to each individual how she would like to participate and engage with us.
Current students are supported through weekly events on a variety of topics and collaborations with other student organizations. Upon arrival at Owen, new female students are matched with a WBA Buddy to guide them through the transition to graduate school and all things Vanderbilt. While other coaching programs at Owen focus on academics and career planning, the WBA Buddy system is meant to serve as more of an experiential “shoulder to lean on”. We utilize our Instagram (@womenofowen) to communicate news and upcoming events, spotlight our talented members, and share thought-provoking reading material and initiatives we are inspired by or find to be relevant to gender in the workplace.
We also have a strong relationship with the undergraduate Vanderbilt community, hosting workshops and actively serving as mentors for their Women in Business group and the co-ed business fraternity Delta Sigma Pi.
Our interaction with prospective students is centered around on-campus programming, like the two Discover Weekends offered by Admissions. We actively participate in panels, workshops and coffee chats to serve as a resource for potential women. We work closely with Admissions to host the annual Women’s Symposium for prospective Owen MBA students who have traveled to Nashville from afar. At this event, we aim to highlight the resources and opportunities we have at Vanderbilt to empower our female students to thrive in recruiting, academics, leadership and beyond. We also see this day as a great opportunity for prospective students to hear from female leaders firsthand about their experience in the program.
MBASchooled: What role does WBA play in fostering a diverse and inclusive environment at Vanderbilt?
Katie: Cultivating a diverse and inclusive culture at Owen is a top priority for the WBA. On the WBA Executive Board, we have a Vice President of Inclusion who is responsible for planning events, discussions, and other initiatives that are focused on fostering a diverse and inclusive environment at Owen. This year we have decided to take that one step further by adding a new role to our Executive Board – the International Student Liaison.
We are excited to deepen and broaden the focus of our mission regarding diversity and inclusion at Owen by increasing engagement with international students. Through this increased engagement and insight into new perspectives and backgrounds, we hope that we can create unique ways for individuals to connect and strengthen our inclusive culture.
MBASchooled: While WBA plays a role in creating opportunities for women, there are other organizations involved as well. How do you work with these other groups and organizations, and what role do they play?
Katie: In 2018, the Men as Allies (MaA) group was established as an extension of the WBA. After the largest sign-up to date in 2019, MaA has become an official club at Owen. We are enthused by their desire to play a bigger role supporting women and other groups at Owen and beyond by formalizing their status as an organization. The club is co-chaired by Jarvis Werkhaven and Aaj Solanki, both members of the MBA Class of 2021.
“The vision we have is to become an equal organization to the WBA and co-own gender inequality issues,” said Solanki in a recent email to the WBA. As an official club, the organization will have a constitution, increase collaboration with the WBA, and host town hall meetings for its members.
The WBA also actively engages with the Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) team within the Owen Student Government Association (OSGA). Together, we focus on initiatives that enhance inclusivity at Owen through professional and social events that focus on understanding varying perspectives and building relationships with each other. This past year the OSGA D&I hosted a Cosmopolitan week, which gave Owen students opportunities to get to know their international classmates and their unique cultures through a series of events. Each event featured a group of international students who shared stories about traditions, customary foods and beverages, and best business practices from 18 different countries. Next year the WBA plans to take an active role in Cosmopolitan week by sponsoring an event that highlights the unique perspectives and personal stories from women in different cultures.
MBASchooled: One of the key areas of focus for the WBA is gender equity. Can you share more about how you are focusing on this in the upcoming year?
Katie: The WBA strives to advance gender equality at Owen and beyond. By engaging with Men as Allies (MaA) through a series of Lean-In discussions, we hope that a safe and open dialogue will raise awareness of how gender and other inequality issues affect students in an academic setting and in the workplace.
In addition to raising awareness, we want to use these Lean-In discussions to explore how to take action to promote gender equity. Furthermore, through workshops and seminars focused on negotiation, networking, and more, we want to provide female students with the tools and resources they need to achieve their goals.
MBASchooled: As President of WBA, what is your role and what do you enjoy most about this experience?
Laura: My role as the President is to serve as the most devoted representative of the WBA to current and prospective students, faculty, staff, and outside organizations. I strive to inspire my team of board members to develop a balanced agenda of meaningful programming that will impact the members of our Vanderbilt community. I aim to encourage my peers to attend our events through my enthusiasm and dedication to our mission, and I actively seek ways in which we can continuously improve our engagement with the student body.
Over the past year, I have appreciated the chance to collaborate with my classmates, faculty, and staff through this leadership role. As much as it has been a passion project for me, it has also been one of my greatest learning opportunities in leading others and influencing change. I truly enjoyed the opportunity to leave a lasting impression on the student experience at Owen.
MBASchooled: How do you help prepare WBA students for their future careers?
Laura: The WBA prepares students for their future careers by acknowledging that gender biases do exist, by providing programming and tools to actively mitigate against some of these, and by generating meaningful conversations about gender in the workplace so that students can step into the workforce as champions of change themselves.
While the Career Management Center and industry clubs focus attentively on the technicalities behind recruiting and career planning, the WBA aspires to round out that preparation by fostering confidence and empowerment through our resources and events.
MBASchooled: What are some of the key programs or resources that WBA offers?
Laura: We offer programming and resources in the arenas of professional development, personal development, allyship, mentorship, social connection, philanthropy, and more. A few favorite professional sessions from the past year include the annual Deloitte Communications Workshop, a Women in Consulting Lunch & Learn hosted by PwC, and a Negotiation Workshop taught by Professor Tim Vogus.
We were also lucky to have a few distinguished speakers visit Owen and share their wisdom with our members, including Sarah Trahern, CEO of the Country Music Association, and Jenneen Kaufman, CFO and SVP of the Tennessee Titans.
To cultivate personal development, we host meaningful discussions on topics such as gender bias in the workplace, intersectionality, being your authentic self at work, creating space for difficult conversations, and being an ally in the era of #metoo. Collaborations with our Men as Allies are unique opportunities to bring diverse perspectives into the conversation about gender equity.
Serving as active mentors to the undergraduate Women in Business and members of Delta Sigma Pi, we teach workshops about planning for graduate school, resume building, interviewing, and initiating mentor relationships in their early careers out of college.
We also strive to provide social opportunities for members of the student body to connect, as we believe that empathy leads to a closer-knit community. Over the past year, our members and allies have enjoyed Bikes & Brews (participating in a CycleBar class and trip to Yazoo Brewery), Song Suffragettes (attending a female-only songwriter session at The Listening Room Cafe), a self-defense class, holiday cookie decorating, and Burpees & Brunch (completing a member/ally partner workout hosted by Kate Moore). To give back to our community, we have volunteered time and raised donations for Second Harvest Food Bank and Dress for Success.
MBASchooled: What advice do you have for prospective or admitted MBA candidates when selecting a business school?
Laura: My advice for prospective or admitted MBA candidates when selecting a business school is that the environment is invaluable. For me, it was extremely important to find a business school that empowered me to bring my authentic self to the program. The rollercoaster of stress that will ensue once the experience begins is inevitable, and Vanderbilt provided me with the resources and the relationships necessary not only to feel supported, but also to thrive the entire journey.
Before making a final decision, I would aim to connect with current students and hear real perspectives about their time in the program. You will be able to get a sense of the camaraderie (or lack thereof), the accessibility of faculty and staff, and the overall community that will become yours if you attend.