Graduate Women in Business Host ‘Stronger Together’ Annual Leadership Conference

The Graduate Women in Business (GWIB) recently concluded their annual leadership conference for Darden Full-Time MBA students, which featured a blend of in-person programming and virtual opportunities for guest speakers to engage with attendees. The theme for this year’s conference was “Stronger Together.”

The student-led organization serves to “empower women to be the fullest expression of themselves by creating inclusive spaces to grow authentic connections, further gender equity and forge partnerships on and off grounds. GWIB hosts events that provide opportunities for career exploration, community, and wellness, and facilitates opportunities to learn and have conversations about gender and what it means to be an ally.”

The two-day leadership conference kicked off with a dinner and keynote address from Executive Fellow and Professor of Practice Carolyn Miles (MBA ’88). Programming was off to a strong start on Friday, 12 November — Greater Washington Managing Principal at Deloitte Tamika Tremaglio was joined by Professor Melissa Thomas-Hunt. Hunt is the former Head of Global Diversity and Belonging at Airbnb where she led the strategy and execution of global internal diversity, inclusion, equity and belonging programs.

Programming highlights also included:

• Female Entrepreneur Fair
• Workshops on topics such as Intersectionality in the Workplace, Charting a Fulfilling Career Path and Serving as a Social Justice Warrior at Work
• Panels on Women in Sustainability, Manbassadors – Finding Men and Women to Serve as Mentors and Sponsors and the Truth on Burnout

Conference organizers Alex Goodman (Class of 2022) and Bridget Coburn (Class of 2022) joined the Experience Darden podcast prior to the annual event to talk about plans for this year’s Graduate Women in Business (GWIB) Leadership Conference. Goodman and Coburn also reflected on their respective MBA journeys, what GWIB has meant to them during their time at Darden and what led them to serve on the GWIB Board as Vice Presidents of Conference.

Connect with GWIB

GWIB will be hosting a women’s Full-Time MBA virtual coffee chat on 3 December for prospective students and applicants. Join GWIB for this informal question and answer session to learn more about the application process, the case method style of learning, and how to determine if Darden is your best fit. Sign up here. Space is limited.