Staying Connected & Socializing Remotely

Transitioning to college life itself can be stressful and overwhelming, especially when it comes to being virtual. Although classes are very important to your college career, it is not the only part of college. Student life and involvement can still happen remotely. Becoming involved in clubs, organizations, jobs, athletics, etc., within Isenberg and UMass can create pathways to new friendships and lasting connections. These parts of college may look slightly different than usual being virtual, but once you get into the groove, it will definitely enhance your time at UMass as a whole.

I asked some executive-board members from WiB their advice and tips on staying connected with others remotely:

Emily Harding, ‘23 

Joining multiple clubs my freshman year really helped me form friendships with people who share the same interests, and find my place at UMass. Although we can not meet in person with others, still make it a goal to immerse yourself in the UMass community! I suggest joining at least two clubs you find interesting, and find ways to become involved besides just attending general body meetings (such as joining a committee, attending a virtual social event, etc.). Taking that extra step will help you become recognized and get connected with leaders of the club, and other members! These events will also give you something to look forward to each week throughout the semester, and make online learning a little more exciting. 

Mikaela Bowler, ‘21

Class group chats are good for more than just studying! I’m in a class called ‘Feminism and Environmental Justice’ which requires a lot of complex reading. I proposed that we students should have a place to chat, so someone made us a Discord server. We use it to talk about assignments, but more importantly, we check in with each other! The class is a mix of undergrad and grad students across a wide variety of majors; now I’m friends with people who I would’ve never met otherwise. A mini online community for a class can make work and socializing easier — win-win! If you’re nervous about speaking up, post the idea in Zoom chat or suggest it during a breakout room conversation first. Start small and let the group grow!

Tyler Spellman, ‘21

Another good way to stay connected in a fully virtual environment is to continue attending networking events! Firms are still looking to recruit and have completely adjusted their recruiting process according to the current times. The Chase Career Center is also still up in running! Schedule an appointment with a career coach to get your resume perfected and learn how to job search during this time. Although an internship seems out of reach right now, do not give up! Attend all the networking events that Isenberg provides and be open to working in a new way. After taking part in a 5 week virtual internship, I learned anything is possible.

Making new friends and forming your community in college can definitely be stressful especially when you cannot see everyone in-person, but becoming involved is a great way to get your foot through the door and open up new opportunities. Getting out of your comfort zone and diversifying your college experience will definitely come with its perks. Join clubs, stay avid on social media pages, and have fun! College is a completely customizable experience and you have control of it. Make it enjoyable and join those Zoom Calls!

How to Spring Break in 2020

With this year’s recent events, Spring Break this year is up in the air. Where do we go? What do we do? During this pivotal time in our lives, it is important to stay positive and stay safe, especially during this period of Spring Break and the switch over from in-person classes to remote online learning. Here are some tips to spend this year’s Spring Break:

1. Spend time with family: It has most likely been weeks or even months since you’ve last seen your family. Take this week to spend quality time with loved ones.

2. Re-group: These past few weeks have been quite overwhelming. Take some time for yourself over Spring Break for yourself. Whether this be binge-watching a show, spending time with friends, or reading a book, I think we all need time to re-group.

3. Start Something New: Take this time to do something you’ve always wanted to do! For me, I’ve always wanted to start a blog separate from WIB and this is the perfect time to do so.

4. Make In-Home Workout Plans: Stay active by grabbing a friend and making a new workout plan you can do from home. This keeps you motivated in a super fun way.

5. Try Out New Recipes: Whether it be new baking recipes or lighter recipes, trying out new meals is a fun way to spend time with friends and family. 

6. Re-Organize: Anyone else feel extremely disorganized lately? If so, I am right there with you. Take this time to organize your life whether it be cleaning your room or planning out assignments for remote online learning. 

Here are a few suggestions you can take on this Spring Break. It is important to stay safe and positive during this transition and prioritize the things in your life that matter most to you. The E-Board here at Women in Business wishes everyone well!

How the Coronavirus has Affected the Economy

By Ziling Huang

From the New York Post, “How Bad Could It Get? Companies Gauge Threat”, The Coronavirus is affecting the economy from several standpoints. Major companies like Apple, Microsoft, Mastercard, and United Airlines got affected profoundly by this virus. Due to this virus, worldwide companies had lost many profits since most of their suppliers and consumers are from China. Amazon and Nestle have canceled employees’ international trip, and United Airlines got many cancellations from customers on international itineraries.  

This outbreak of virus had also affected the S&P 500 stock index, which the New York Post author explained that the stock hit the lowest one-week performance since the Financial Crisis in 2008. It is shocking how much this virus has influenced the U.S. and the world as a whole so far. Also, because of this outbreak, some small businesses will not be able to get funding since the investors foresee that the virus will tremendously affect the banks.  

Credit by: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/28/business/economy/companies-coronavirus-economy.html

What exactly is the coronavirus?

• It is a virus mostly from livestock or dead animals.

Where did it come from?

• It began in Wuhan, China where someone was diagnosed with an unknown virus. Later on, doctors found out that this virus is contagious, which the hospitals started the coronavirus quarantine, and separated them.

• Soon, it spread to European countries, other Asian countries, and eventually the United States.

How does it spread?

• The virus spreads through coughing from those infected.

• Touching the surface with the coronavirus

How can we prevent it?

• We should clean our hands with soap around 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer with alcohol-based.

• Avoid contact with the face without washing your hands. 

• When you know your family members or your friends might get the virus, call the doctor or hospital on the front to clarify the situation.

• Spread the knowledge to people around you and let them know the facts of coronavirus in order to help stop the spread of the virus.  

Check out the Videos below about more details of the Coronavirus, 

https://youtu.be/yN_vbPo1DUI 

http://allworldnewschannel.com/facts-about-what-coronavirus-is-where-it-came-from-how-it-spreads/

Fundraising at its Finest

By Kajal Rohatgi 

Fundraising takes place everyday and everywhere. Millions of dollars have been raised for many different causes and reasons simply from going on a club trip or helping a family in need. No matter what the cause, people are always willing to help out if promoted correctly. With the three fundraisers I had planned over the past two years, I am here to share my tips on how to host a successful fundraiser.

1. The first step is to identify who you are targeting and what their demographics are. For example, are you looking at a crowd of only females, or both males and females? What age range do you target? Are they adults with families, teens in college, or seniors? 

2.  After you have figured out who you are targeting, the next step is to brainstorm ideas that would attract the demographic you have chosen. For instance, hold a get together at a restaurant in which adults would pay ahead of time for tickets. This is a great idea as adults crave to go out more but lack events to go to, and this also brings communities together. 

3. Secure a venue and set a date. Once ideas are flowing, contact nearby businesses and explain what your cause is and if they would like to donate either a monetary value or maybe even a venue. 

4. After securing the venue or event activity, plan how the night will go, meaning what other activities will be taking place during the night. Will there be music? Will there be food, raffles as a good time passer, or a bar for the guests? Questions like these are to be asked before you start promoting the event so that you can include all the details on flyers. 

5. Once the event has been set, the next step is to promote the event to the right audience while advertising one needs to make sure it will reach the correct community. If you are targeting adults, join local town facebook groups and send online flyers to the closed group. 

The last and most important step is to relax a little bit and not stress out too much as all the pieces will come together and create a fun environment for people while supporting a good cause. With that being said, don’t forget to go to Panera on Wednesday, 2/26/20, to support Women in Business as part of your purchase is given back to the club. Just show this flyer at the register! Isenberg Women in Business is also FTK! WIB is participating in the Dance Marathon again, and we need your support! Sign up here to be a part of our team, and keep on fundraising! We have raised $2,964.28 so far and we know we can raise more!

My Experience at the WOI Conference

By Rachel Hall

It’s that time of year again! The Women of Isenberg Conference is TOMORROW, and we are beyond excited. With our very own Dean Anne Massey as the keynote speaker and several new and returning speakers to run the breakout sessions, it looks like it will be another great year. 

Last year, I attended for the first time and had an amazing experience. If you haven’t been before, the day starts with breakfast and introduction by the conference team, followed by the keynote speaker. Last year we were lucky enough to hear from Diane Isenberg about how she made her way in a male-dominated finance industry, along with several accomplishments in public health and other fields. This year, we will hear from Dean Anne Massey to start off the day. The keynote address is followed by the first breakout session, where you will have the option between a few different themed panels to hear from various speakers. This year, the topics will include defining success, intelligent interning, workplace politics, and so many more! After this, everyone will reconvene for another speaker session from Isenberg professor Nora Junaid, then head to breakout two for more panels. 

After the panels it’s time for lunch! Not just any lunch, but a presentation by the Women for UMass Amherst network and a panel on Organizational Culture with speakers from United Technologies. This is followed by the networking lunch where students and professionals are seated together to participate in guided networking activities. Not only is the lunch totally delicious, but you get to gain valuable life skills while you eat! This lunch helped me so much with my networking skills and for me, was one of the best parts of the conference last year. 

After lunch is a third breakout session which consists of workshops hosted by single speakers. These workshops focus on honing specific business and life skills and all of the hosts will provide amazing insight into the business world. These workshops are each so worthwhile, you will wish you could attend them all!

The third breakout session is followed by some closing remarks and MORE amazing food, and that’s pretty much a wrap! We can’t wait to see you there!

https://womenofisenberg.com