A Sisterhood of Success

Baylor’s Women in Business group offers nurturing environment for mentorship, networking and service

By Leila Grant

Women in Business at Baylor (WIB), the largest student organization at the Hankamer School of Business, strives to provide women with community and foster both career and personal growth. One of the many ways WIB serves its members is hosting professional development events where students are given career guidance from industry experts.

“WIB helps women navigate the business world with career advice on things such as how to interview, network and transition into their career from Baylor,” Kaylee Hackney, a Management professor and WIB faculty advisor, said.

Another way students gain career knowledge is through attending the annual Professional Development Summit, where students can seek advice from and network with experts. WIB also offers a mentorship program that partners underclassmen with juniors and seniors who help them make decisions about selecting a major and setting career goals.

“In our mentorship program, we try to match people up with similar majors and career interests,” Jada Sleet, WIB social chair, said. “This especially helps freshmen and sophomores who are still trying to figure out what they want to do and gives them confidence in their future.”

Sleet benefited from this program, being matched with former WIB President Whitney Johnson. Through their connection, Johnson offered her career advice and pushed her to join WIB’s board.

Sleet’s role as the social chair is to promote unity within the organization and create opportunities for these women to connect with one another. When planning events for her fellow members, Sleet often thinks back on her favorite event she attended as a freshman: a Valentine’s Day cookie decorating party.

“I met so many people there that have become my friends, and I still talk to them today,” Sleet said. “The fact that I still remember this day was my driving force for becoming social chair because I want other people to experience the same thing I did.”

In addition to promoting community and professional growth, WIB encourages personal improvement through philanthropic events. In partnership with Christian Women’s Job Corps (CWJC), students are able to support women who need assistance rejoining the workforce. Some of the ways students help CWJC include setting up for the Basket of Hope fundraiser and creating gift baskets for its silent auction. They also guide Bible study meetings.

WIB’s commitment to service goes hand-in-hand with their strong emphasis on Christian values, Hackney said. These values have created a tight-knit community among WIB’s members, continuing past their time at Baylor. “The goal is to create a network of women who lift one another up personally and professionally,” Hackney said. “We want to be a community that extends beyond just their years here at the Business School.”

Baylor Business Review, Fall 2022