Behind Collegiate Women of Business here at Virginia Tech is an incredible team. Read on to learn more about how these three women embody CWIB’s three main values: Empower, Prepare and Connect.
Lauren Carey
Chief People Officer
Empower:
1. How has this role shaped you as a leader?
“This role has helped me to develop multiple leadership skills and has revealed to me the type of leader I am. While working with the VP of membership and mentorship, I am not one to just delegate tasks and never communicate again. I tried to have multiple meetings to update each other on things and work together on certain tasks. With that, I have definitely become a better communicator through this role as it requires constant communication. I am either emailing, texting in group chats, or getting updated on Slack in order to stay on top of everything that is going on.”
2. What strengths have you developed and/or strengthened since taking on this role?
“This role has helped me to take what I learned while in the VP membership position and apply it to more broad concepts. This position has helped me to see things as a whole and how each position plays a specific role. I learned so much being the VP membership the previous year, especially since I was working under Maddie Blevins, the current Co-CEO. I have been able to use what she has taught me and expand on my position throughout the year. One major strength that I have been able to develop is time management, as I am balancing school and work tasks, along with CWIB tasks. It was not always easy, but I knew I had to get my task complete in order for others to do their jobs. “
3. As you reflect on your time as Chief Admin. Officer, what are your biggest takeaways?
“One major takeaway is that our leadership team is made up of over 20 people, which seems relatively large, but it is necessary for things to run smoothly. Everyone has their specific role and when everyone puts in their maximum effort, it makes CWIB better than anyone could have imagined. I am so happy to be apart of this team and oversee the administrative and mentoring tasks.”
Prepare
1. Can you name specific tasks that you’ve had to do in this role that has helped you in your internships/classes/other jobs?
“In the beginning of the semester we had the information sessions that we held for new members. We discussed the benefits of being in CWIB and requirement for the club. I ran these meetings, utilizing my public speaking skills. Public speaking is important in any job so this role has helped me to develop those skills.”
2. Is there anything you’ve learned/done as Chief Admin. Officer that you believe you wouldn’t have happened if you didn’t pursue this role?
“I have learned so much by just being on the leadership team. There are so many great women on the team who have been this experience so much better than I could have imagined. I would not be as good of friends with some of the other members if I did not take on this role. As far as leading up to becoming CAO, I know I wouldn't be in this position today if I did not run for VP membership the previous year. “
Connect
1. How has being Chief Admin. Officer helped your interpersonal skills (ie: networking, teamwork, leadership)
“This role has definitely helped with the public speaking skills, taking more of a speaking role during certain meetings. It has also helped me to develop more teamworking skills as I am working with the whole leadership team and the VPs of membership and mentorship.”
2. Have you made a connection(s) in this role that has impacted your positively impacted your life?
“I have definitely made great connections from being involved in CWIB and on the leadership team. I have met wonderful women who have become my friends and mentors. They are there for me if I need internship advice, class advice or even just life advice. I am so thankful that I got involved in CWIB my freshman year and have stayed involved throughout my college experience.”
Sara Khorromshahgol.
VP of Membership
Empower:
1. How has this role shaped you as a leader?
“My role as VP of Membership has allowed me to become more proactive. As someone who keeps track of attendance it is my responsibility to reach out to the POC a few days before we have a monthly meeting or workshop to request the iPads for members to check-in. For someone to be in this role, they have to be proactive rather than needing upper leadership to remind me to get the iPads. I’ve learned that mostly everyone in leadership needs access to the membership spreadsheet and it is my responsibility to be proactive and update the spreadsheet after a monthly meeting or workshop. Being proactive has developed into a new leadership skill I’ve learned over the course of the semester.”
2. What strengths have you developed and/or strengthened since taking on this role?
“I have built stronger interpersonal skills. Not only do I record attendance but I also have coffee chats with new members who are interested in joining CWIB. It’s great talking to new members and sharing what opportunities CWIB has to offer and this has helped me carry on an ongoing conversation. I have also built public speaking skills. In the beginning of the semester, I spoke at the first meeting of the semester about membership and Lauren and I conducted our first information meeting for new members. This was my first time speaking to a large crowd of ladies and it has helped me slowly overcome my fear of public speaking.”
3. As you reflect on your time as VP Membership, what are your biggest takeaways?
As the VP of Membership, I’ve learned that it’s not just about taking attendance but it’s also about meeting and reaching out to new members to share my experiences as a member and why CWIB is the best organization to join. I’ve also learned that my role is also about membership retention. It’s about thinking of ways for members to continue staying involved in this organization and this is something I look forward to the new VP of Membership to take on as a goal when they have this role.
Moreover, I’ve learned that building your network plays a huge role especially in finding an internship or career. As VP of Membership, I’ve learned that connections are important to make and CWIB is a great organization to start building your network.”
Prepare
1. Can you name specific tasks that you’ve had to do in this role that has helped you in your internships/classes/other jobs?
“This isn’t really a specific task but this role has played a factor in getting an internship. I have an internship with Deloitte for next summer and when I was in the process of applying to Deloitte, I signed up to have a one-on-one coffee chat with a Deloitte employee to learn more about the internship, application process, and learning what she likes to do in her job. It turns out, my Deloitte coffee chat was with Catie Kidwell, who was one of the 5 co-founders for CWIB.
When the recruiter checked my resume and saw what organizations I was involved in, she connected me with someone who was involved in the same organization I am now. With my role, this has broadened my network and has helped me build more connections.”
2. Is there anything you’ve learned/done as VP Membership that you believe you wouldn’t have happened if you didn’t pursue this role?
“I have gotten to know more about the members in this organization. CWIB is a large organization that has over 200 paying members. Having coffee chats with new members has made me learn about why these girls’ want to join this organization and what they want to get out of it. If I didn’t have this position I wouldn’t have gotten to know much about the members and would have had limited relationships within this organization.”
Connect
1. How has being VP Membership helped your interpersonal skills (ie: networking, teamwork, leadership)
“This role has helped me build stronger interpersonal skills especially when it comes to coffee chats. I have gotten to know more about our members and their interests and connecting them to other opportunities CWIB offers. I love meeting new members and asking them why they joined CWIB and how CWIB can connect them to their dream job.
This role has also helped me to work as a team and work with other CWIB leaders. It’s interesting to observe how other people lead and what I can take away from each person on the CWIB exec-team. “
2. Have you made a connection(s) in this role that has positively impacted your life
“Yes, getting to know the leadership team has been a positive impact and everyone is uplifting. With my role, I have met alumni and for me to hear that this organization didn’t exist when they were a student and how this organization would have benefitted them, has made an impact in my life and for my future career. “
Muneeba Ahmed.
VP of Meetings
Empower:
1. How has this role shaped you as a leader?
“This role has really helped me enhance my leadership skills. Being able to take charge and assist in planning meetings and other events, I have learned to effectively communicate with peers and professionals. “
2. What strengths have you developed and/or strengthened since taking on this role?
“I think a strength I have developed since taking this role is able to take criticism and learn to better something. Also being able to work with one another and throw around ideas until we choose the best one. I believe I’ve developed being open to criticism and better teamwork.”
3. As you reflect on your time as VP Meetings, what are your biggest takeaways?
“My biggest takeaway is also a strength that I picked up. I think it is super important to be open to criticism and able to better yourself and your work because of it. “
Prepare
1. Can you name specific tasks that you’ve had to do in this role that has helped you in your internships/classes/other jobs?
Event planning takes a lot of effort and the littlest things matter. So being detail-oriented in this role has transitioned well over to my internship where I was asking important questions and making sure I paid attention to detail.
2. Is there anything you’ve learned/done as VP Meetings that you believe you wouldn’t have happened if you didn’t pursue this role?
“I saw my ideas come to life which was really cool. In school, we have group projects, but very rarely do you get to take full control. I appreciate the leadership team’s support in encouraging me to use my ideas and they are always there to help.”
Connect
1. How has being VP Meetings helped your interpersonal skills (ie: networking, teamwork, leadership)
“VP Meetings has really helped me with my communication skills. I am able to be more confident with sending emails to older professionals and talking to people at any level. Also because I hold a position in CWIB, it’s my favorite thing to talk about during interviews.”
2. Have you made a connection(s) in this role that has impacted your positively impacted your life?
“I have made connections, which is truly so amazing. Having had one on one conversations with powerful ladies in the professional world and even men from potential employers, it has definitely benefited me. I am able to ask important questions and reference them during interviews and networking events. “