This campus organization promotes women in the workplace by inviting local businesswomen to speak year- round.
Sept. 22 will mark National Business Women’s Day, which marks the establishment of the American Business Women’s Association by Hilary Bufton, Jr. The holiday, officially recognized by Congress in 1983 and proclaimed by Ronald Reagan in 1986, honors the vital contributions of women in the workforce and in businesses.
The aim of this day is executed year-round by The University of Tulsa’s Women in Business club. According to the executive officers of the club, the goal of the organization is to focus on empowering women in the workplace by helping and encouraging them to expand their personal networks, achieve success in their careers and establish lifelong friendships.
Through hosting events geared toward celebrating women in the workplace, TU’s Women in Business club helps guide and inspire female business students on campus. The club invites Tulsa-area businesswomen from a variety of professional backgrounds to speak at their monthly meetings and special events. Not only do these women help coordinate programs which align with the club’s mission, they also help members of the club to form a strong and diverse professional network while still in college. These business connections range from independent, locally-owned firms to companies with corporate structures.
Since 2007, the number of female-owned businesses in the U.S. increased by 58 percent (compared to just a 12 percent increase in businesses overall), as reported by American Express. Now, four out of every 10 businesses are owned by a woman. Since this increase in the number of women in business has created more diverse and well-rounded workplaces, the functioning of businesses themselves has changed.
A greater female presence in businesses can help challenge certain identities and social constructions within the workplace: the female perspective can highlight various social needs which warrant solutions. Correlating with the increase in the number of female executives is a dynamic shift in the manner in which companies approach new business models and ideas. These changes extend beyond the office itself, as women are likely to bring new approaches, offering more innovative solutions.
Women in Business at TU encourages students to join their club and attend their meetings, held at noon on the last Wednesday of every month in either HELM 106 or HELM 121. The club provides lunch at every meeting. In addition to these meetings, students are also encouraged to attend various events put on by the club throughout the year, all with the aim of empowering women in business. To stay up to date, follow Women in Business’s Instagram page, @wibtulsa.
