We serve as a catalyst for the potential of each of our members. As Women in Business, our mission is to empower exceptional future leaders.
Our History
In the spring of 2015, six undergraduate women sought to disrupt Vanderbilt’s business community by founding Vanderbilt University’s first Women in Business organization. In the past six years, Women in Business (WiB) has expanded to an executive team of nine, a leadership team of over 30, and a community of 600 students.
We have developed programming in line with our mission, including our Speaker Series, Mentorship, Externship, and Career Services. Our annual Speaker Series events feature keynote speakers, including Marne Levine (VP, Global Partnerships of Facebook & former COO of Instagram), Emily White (President, Anthos Capital & former COO of Snapchat), Bridget Blaise-Shamai (VP Loyalty of American Airlines), Suzanne Guaron (MD of “Launch with Goldman Sachs”), and Richelle Parham (President, Global eCommerce of Universal Music Group & former CMO of eBay).
Our Mentorship Program occurs every semester, selecting a small cohort to be individually matched to Nashville industry leaders. The Mentorship Program has led to long-term relationships and even job offers. The Externship program, our newest addition, places our participants at internships at Nashville-based companies. As WiB continues to grow, we look for avenues through which we can improve and expand our programming to best meet the needs of our community.
Our Culture
Vanderbilt Women in Business values the curiosity, kindness and dedication of all members in our 600+ community. Our internal team members, lovingly called WiBbers, create lasting friendships beyond our professional ties through celebrating and supporting each other. Collaboration, passion, and initiative are traits that bring us together and motivate the work we accomplish.
Organization-wide, we are committed to principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Our programming is intersectional in nature, elevating historically underrepresented identities. We aim to create an empowering and safe space to foster brave ideas through critical discussion. As a mission-forward organization, we uplift women and marginalized groups, advocating for a more just campus and workplace. Most of all, we set ambitious goals for progress, leading with love and openness along the way.
Our Mission
Vanderbilt Women in Business stands out as an affinity space rooted in the principles of equity, intersectional feminism, and opportunity for those traditionally underestimated in this industry. WiB aims to become the one-stop shop for non-judgemental professional development and leadership training. While other organizations may be outcomes-oriented, WiB is first and foremost community-focused. In doing so, we hope to keep standards high for programming while removing the bureaucracy involved in launching initiatives to promote a more gender-equal workplace.
Our Principles
Community
True to the core of every woman in our organization is a fundamental focus on being part of something bigger than oneself. At Vanderbilt WiB, we recognize that every one of our members has a unique story to tell. It is this very complexity of our members and membership that drives the strength of our community: every different story is a piece of what defines Vanderbilt WiB, and through our internal programming, like WiBuddies, picnics, team dinners, team workouts, and so much more, we are constantly striving to build Vanderbilt WiB’s story, too: a story—first and foremost—of community.
Career Development
Vanderbilt WiB helps set each and every member up for success in whatever career that they choose. With career-oriented programming such as interview workshops, exclusive networking events, and financial literacy workshops, WiB provides its members with the necessary resources, knowledge, and network for them to pursue the career of their dreams. Professional development resources and employer relations are emphasized as a benefit to all WiB members, not just our internal team.
Connection
Vanderbilt WiB is about so much more than just a community—we are a community focused on connection. This connection extends beyond our organization, beyond our members, and beyond the Vanderbilt community. Through programming like our Mentorship Program, the speakers who join us to share their own experiences with our community, and our focus on giving back, connection is at the heart of who we are and what we do.