University at Buffalo School of Management

18 Buffalo Business Spring 2019 "There's just one rule," Celine Keefe, MBA '17, announces to the 20 female UB students who stand in a circle around her. "You can't do anything wrong—just jump in." Using her background in the- ater performance, Keefe leads the group through an improvisation- al workshop that pushes them to be confident and think on their feet. In one scene, two hikers are stranded on an Arctic expedi- tion. In another, a woman tries to convince her ex-husband's assis- tant to let her into his office. And throughout, the students make bold decisions, support one an- other—and occasionally erupt in laughter. The improv workshop was just one of the events UB's Women in Management club hosted this fall, oen featuring UB and School of Management alumnae speakers. Through professional devel- opment sessions, volunteer projects and social events, the club provides students with opportunities to build their network and prepare for success in the corporate world. For business student Jenna Behm, the club has been a key part of her School of Management experience, helping her gain new skills and develop relationships with her classmates. A panel dis- cussion with Citi employees even inspired her to consider a career with the company, where she completed an operations internship last summer. "By meeting professionals and learning about their jobs, you can merge what you learn in the classroom with what you'll be doing in the real world," says Behm, the club's 2018-19 president. "The Citi panel, in particular, allowed me to meet current employ- ees and decide what I wanted in a company and where I could see myself working." JUMP IN Stepping Up CELEBRATING THOSE WHO MAKE A DIFFERENCE Women in Management is open to all UB students, and many meetings are applicable to both men and women who aspire to a wide range of careers. Last fall, for example, Claire Petrie, BS '14, talent acquisition manager at Remedy Intelligent Staffing, led a workshop on executive pres- ence and personal branding. Later that semester, three Citi repre- sentatives—Jennifer Frost, Casey Martineau and Andrea Sticht— discussed interview prep. "All of our club members are here because they want to learn— not because they want an activity on their résumé—and our speak- ers are just as excited as our mem- bers," says Gabrielle Lindauer, a senior and the club's vice president of finance. Meanwhile, other sessions are tailored to the experiences of young women in the workplace. Emily Grijalva, assistant professor of organization and human resources, shared her research and ex- pertise on women in leadership, and Gwen Appelbaum, assistant dean and director of the Career Resource Center, taught a workshop on salary negotiation and the gender pay gap. One of last semester's most popular meetings was a hands-on self-defense workshop led by UB police officer and alumna Stacy Tuberdyke. "A lot of women we bring in draw from their own experienc- es of not initially feeling confident in the workforce and growing to see they're just as qualified as anybody else," says Samantha Frank, BS '17, a second-year MBA student. "That message can be really em- powering for our members. For me, I gained more confidence in my skills and learned how to define my skill set by listening to other people share their experiences." Student club prepares young women to climb the professional ladder From left, Women in Management e-board members Jenna Behm, Samantha Frank and Gabrielle Lindauer. Photos: Nancy J. Parisi

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