IE WOMEN IN BUSINESS: A New Chapter
IE Woman in Business, one of the biggest clubs amongst IE Master students, opened its undergraduate chapter and launched its first events last week. Masters wanted to pass on the knowledge to undergraduates and work together to ensure their mission is achieved:
Our mission is to encourage women in business by
providing the tools and skills necessary to engage
members in facing pressing issues women in leadership
positions are challenged with today.
Before opening this chapter, the club had already worked with IE with their dinner series and panel discussions.
“WiB has been working for a time in IE, doing events and dinners on the master’s level, but they decided this year was the best time to open it to an undergraduate level, it was time to pass the wisdom down to us,” said Isabella D’Ambrosio a 3rd-year and Event Coordinator for the club.
Both the undergraduate and Master's women share the same mission.
“The mindset and objective are the same, gender equality in business by empowering women and helping them achieve their personal and professional aspirations,” and to “give them the tools and skills to face the current issues in their life and work,” added Isabella.
This undergraduate chapter has been running for two months and is built with a team of five women from different bachelors, years and backgrounds.
“Working in WiB, alongside with a team of dedicated women has been an incredible experience so far. Being one of the coordinators of such an amazing club has made me realize how much WiB can help empower women and give them the tools they need to continue to empower themselves and others around them,” Anabela Morey, 2nd-year, Coordinator.
The launch events took place Tuesday 5th, February in Aire De Serrano for the Madrid Campus and Wednesday 6th at Pasapan for the Segovia Campus.
The Segovia Launch was a cocktail for the attendants to listen to a panel of speakers and network with them. They also met the team and were invited to have one-on-one conversations with club members.
“I went to the event because, as a club co-leader myself, I know how important it is to go to these events and I wanted to support them… I also consider myself a feminist,” Dario Hasenstab, 2nd year, Co-Leader of Debate Club.
The topic of the event was “Why are Woman in Business important?” and the main points of discussion were,
“How can men be male ally's in the fight for gender equality in work, how can women take the position of leaders, and how to achieve that,” said Isabella.
More than 50 people attended the Segovia launch, which the WiB members described as a very positive outcome.
“The event was structured well, speakers were interesting, and questions weren’t too long. It was the perfect length, this was the sign for a good event,” said Dario.
“After launching our club last week, we realized how many women and men are interested in this initiative, and this only made us all want to work harder in order to give them the best of us and the best of the club,” commented Anabela Morey.
The next event is one of the “Dinner series” with speaker Vanessa Chammah, who has 10 years of experience in Strategy & Product Management in Silicon Valley.
“The discussion will be on how to position yourself in the sector of technology, which is currently heavily dominated by men,” said Isabella.
Dario Hasenstab, male ally, shared his opinion on why this is a club for all genders.
“This is definitely a club that men could and should go to. It is a way to show your support and to raise your own awareness, to be aware of what you can do and what you can change to support women in business. Men play an important role in this,” he confessed.
He explains that this is the way he sees the future and there is no reason for him to not support his friends.
“My parents raised me with the mindset that men and women are equals and we can all achieve anything. This is why I consider myself an alley,” he added.
“At one point I would want my daughters, if I have some, to have the same chances in business, if they want to be in business, as everyone else. I would feel ashamed if I did not do anything or everything I can to enable them,” explained Dario.
WiB said that what they want is to open this discussion to the undergraduate level. And,
“To create a safe environment and help women learn and obtain the skills required to face these kinds of challenges in the workplace and personally,” said Isabella.
“If you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem,” said Dario.
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