5 Books to Read Over the Break

By: Anna Martin

Winter break is approaching which means we are so much closer to letting go of the stress and pressure from this semester. It’s also a good time to catch up on any books that you’ve been wanting to read, but haven't gotten to. Today I am sharing a few self-help/business books that are on my bookshelf that I think you should read too. So get ready to fill your mugs with hot cocoa and get comfortable. Happy reading!

The Subtle Art of Not Giving A F*ck by Mark Manson

I feel this is a staple that everyone should read at least once. This book is for people who are looking for self-help, but who want to get right to the point. There’s no extra fluff telling you what to do and what not to do. It teaches you to stop worrying so much and to start focusing on what’s true and important to you. It also teaches you to stop looking for happiness and to start finding happiness with what’s in front of you.

Leave Your Mark by Aliza Licht

“Land Your Dream Job, Kill it in Your Career, Rock Social Media” is the book's motto, and that’s exactly what this book is about. If you’re interested in learning how to build your personal brand (or make it better) and how to shine in your career this book has you covered. Aliza takes you through her career journey with insider secrets and relatable content. I would say this is a must-read for Women in Business.

The Secret by Rhonda Byrne

This book is all about the Law of Attraction and using it to achieve health, happiness, success, and other things. Although it may not be everyone’s cup of tea as it may be controversial, if you find this sort of thing intriguing, it’s definitely worth the read. Stories from actual people are included to help convince you if you’re still skeptical about manifestation. This book is very eye-opening as it encourages people to focus on what they really want in life so that they can live their best life. 

How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie

Another must-read business book that should be on your shelf is this one. This book helps you climb up the ladder in your career in just 3 simple strategies: 6 ways to make people like you, 12 ways to win people to your way of thinking, and 9 ways to change people without evoking resentment. It also helps guide you to make any situation work for you, whether it be good or bad. I feel this is a staple that every person in business should have.

The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz

If you’ve recently found that you’re self-limiting from things that are making you happy, then this book is for you. This book teaches you to let go of your sufferings and helps you to experience freedom, happiness, and love from a new perspective. Whether you’re the type of person who’s always fighting with yourself or if you just need help opening your mindset, you need to add this to your shelf.

Winter WiB Tomorrow!

Happy Sunday!

Just a couple more classes left - push through for finals! You got this!

Tomorrow, Monday, December 6th, at 7pm in Isenberg 137 (Flavin Auditorium), we are having a Winter WiB meeting! Come join us for the last meeting of the semester to relax and destress before finals. We will be playing games, having hot chocolate, and doing other fun things! Let's have a kickoff to the holiday season and winter break!

We will be live streaming on Zoom for our virtual members to attend:

Zoom Link: https://umass-amherst.zoom.us/j/92299580036
Meeting ID:
922 9958 0036

Yoga & Hot Chocolate Bar - Our last social event for the semester will be on Sunday, December 12th from 10am - 12pm in the Isenberg Hub! Join us to destress during finals week and be sure to bring your own yoga mat and mug! RSVP here!

Reminders:

  • Peer Mentorship Program - Our next event is TODAY, Sunday, December 5th at 1:00pm. Get in contact with your mentor/mentees!

  • Fundraising - Come eat at Moe's this Thursday, December 9th from 5:00 - 9:00pm and mention "Isenberg Women in Business" to help support us!

Be sure to follow our social media accounts for more frequent updates, Instagram specifically (@IsenbergWiB), and check out our website here!

Additional Opportunities


Minutemen Alternative Investment Fund
MAIF is currently holding applications for a junior analyst position. Applications will be open on Handshake, or responses can be sent to maif.umass@gmail.com for Freshmen and Sophomores who are looking to apply. Applications close December 8th for the Spring semester. You can access the application here.

Tufin
Tufin is currently holding applications for seniors or recent graduates looking for a career in Enterprise Software Sales. They have positions open in both Boston and Cleveland. See the job description and apply here.

Citibank Early ID Program
Citi is holding an exclusive 5-week virtual program focused on intensive interview preparation, one-on-one mentorship, training & webinars, and accelerated interviews. Applications close December 14th. For more information, click here.

The Benefits of Taking a Break

By: Lauren Hughes

Technology plays a significant role in our everyday lives. Consider how frequently you pick up your phone to check a text message, Snapchat, or Instagram notification. Constantly checking our phones has become a habit; our attention spans are becoming increasingly shorter because of this. Loud phone notifications can be disruptive during class, study time, and time spent hanging with friends. It can even negatively impact your sleep routine. According to eMarketer, “The average US adult spends just over 3.5 hours per day on their phone” (Zalani, 2021). Using our phones is convenient, enjoyable, and allows us to connect with others. However, we could all benefit from taking a break from technology every once in a while.

I was inspired to limit the amount of time I spend on my phone after listening to the TedTalk: “A Simple Strategy to Reclaim Your Time”. This talk was given by Ashley Whillans, a Harvard Business School Professor who describes herself as a “Happiness Researcher”. Whillans discusses the concept of “time poverty”, which is when people feel as though there are not enough hours in the day to complete all the tasks on their to-do list (0:32). One of the main reasons American’s experience time poverty is due to excessive cell phone usage. As Whillans explains, “Our iPhones, tablets, and laptops create “time confetti”, fragmenting our leisure into small distracted minutes of time that are easily squandered and lost” (1:25). She goes on to list simple steps that can be taken to reclaim our time. Following these steps will likely result in an increase in overall happiness and satisfaction in life. 

In order to become “time rich” Whillans suggests that individuals spend at least 30 minutes a day engaged in activities that promote happiness (7:40). Some examples of activities I engage in include:

  • Going for a walk: A short walk in nature, around the neighborhood, or even across campus allows time for self-reflection. I often choose not to bring my phone with me on walks, to eliminate the urge to check my notifications.

  • Reading a book: I find that time spent reading feels more productive and beneficial than aimlessly scrolling through my social media feed.

  • Spending quality time with friends: When meeting friends for dinner, I make a conscious effort to put my phone down. This allows me to be present in the moment, and truly engage with friends in conversation.

As classes wind down and you get ready to go on winter break, consider trying one of these activities in lieu of spending time on your phone. 

As college students with busy schedules, we often get caught up in the day-to-day activities and wonder where all our time went. Although smartphones are a great resource, sometimes they work to our detriment, causing us to be constantly distracted. Becoming aware of how frequently we use our devices is the first step to changing our habits. Using simple strategies such as putting your phone on silent mode while studying, setting time limits on social media, or engaging in one of the above activities will allow you to reclaim your time, and increase overall productivity and happiness.


Ted Talk: https://youtu.be/C36WaLcHpEY

Winter WiB Next Meeting!

Happy Wednesday!

Thank you to everyone who came to our meeting this past Monday's meeting, where we collaborated with Jewish Leaders in Business to listen to Ada A, a Holocaust survivor, tell us her amazing and impactful story. As she mentioned, our generation is responsible for ridding our country of the hate it currently has so we can all live in peace. That being said, make it your own personal goal to make those who surround you feel welcomed and loved no matter what their background is. Do your part - it makes a difference!

If you would like to learn more about the Holocaust, join Jewish Leaders in Business or watch / read these recommendations from Ada: A Century of Ambivalence by Zvi Gitelman (Book) and Persona Non Grata (Movie).

Next Monday, December 6th, at 7pm in Isenberg 137 (Flavin Auditorium), we are having a Winter WiB meeting! Come join us for the last meeting of the semester to relax and destress before finals. We will be playing games, having hot chocolate, and doing other fun things! Let's have a kickoff to the holiday season and winter break!

We will be live streaming on Zoom for our virtual members to attend:

Zoom Link: https://umass-amherst.zoom.us/j/92299580036
Meeting ID:
922 9958 0036

Yoga & Hot Chocolate Bar - Our last social event for the semester will be on Sunday, December 12th from 10am - 12pm in the Isenberg Hub! Join us to destress during finals week and be sure to bring your own yoga mat and mug! RSVP here!

Reminders:

  • Community Service Committee - Our next meeting will be TONIGHT Wednesday, 12/1 at 7pm! We will be going over Not Bread Alone sign-ups!

  • Purple Plus One - Please check your emails from Lara to make sure you have all of your action items completed. Venmo @larapereira $10 by this Friday 12/3, write your name and UMass Email in the description as well as your guest name if you are paying for them! If you need any assistance paying let us know! Doors open at 10pm at Monkey Bar and ends at 1 am! Feel free to contact lpereira@umass.edu with any questions!

  • Fundraising Committee - Join us tomorrow, Thursday, 12/2 at 7pm for our next meeting on mask tabling sign-ups and year in review!

  • Marketing Committee - Our next meeting will be tomorrow, Thursday 12/2 at 7:15pm to talk about Holiday/Winter Marketing!

  • Peer Mentorship Program - Our PM Director, Kelly Davis, sent out an email with updates on our next event which will be this Sunday, December 5th at 1:00pm! Get in contact with your mentor/mentees and be sure to RSVP here!

Be sure to follow our social media accounts for more frequent updates, Instagram specifically (@IsenbergWiB), and check out our website here!

Additional Opportunities


Beacon
Beacon, an immersive pre-consulting educational program, is hosting a webinar meant to introduce you to the world of consulting. Our presenter, Allen Xu, is a Stanford graduate who consulted with BCG. He will be answering your questions during the second half of the webinar, so come prepared! The webinar is on Thursday, December 2nd at 8pm EST. Save your spot by registering here. If you’re unable to make that time, you can still register to ensure you receive a link to the webinar recording!

Minutemen Alternative Investment Fund
MAIF is currently holding applications for a junior analyst position. Applications will be open on Handshake, or responses can be sent to maif.umass@gmail.com for Freshmen and Sophomores who are looking to apply. Applications close December 8th for the Spring semester. You can access the application here.

Tufin
Tufin is currently holding applications for seniors or recent graduates looking for a career in Enterprise Software Sales. They have positions open in both Boston and Cleveland. See the job description and apply here.

William & Mary Women's Stock Pitch
The Boehly Center for Excellence in Finance and the W&M chapter of Smart Woman Securities (SWS) are hosting the W&M Women's Stock Pitch consisting of first and final rounds of pitching, a networking session, a dinner with industry professionals, and a keynote speaker. For more information, click here. Please apply by December 3rd here.

ALPFA UMass Amherst Gerena Toy Drive
ALPFA UMass is raising money to fund a toy drive that allows us to supply gifts for 60+ kindergarten students at the Gerena Community School in Springfield, MA. The majority of these children, if not all, come from underrepresented backgrounds and have faced hardship in their lives. You can help provide gifts to children by donating to ALPFA's GoFundMe by December 3rd.

Citibank Early ID Program
Citi is holding an exclusive 5-week virtual program focused on intensive interview preparation, one-on-one mentorship, training & webinars, and accelerated interviews. Applications close December 14th. For more information, click here.

How Fast Fashion is Ruining Us

By: Ayesha Devani

Hasan Minhaj, in an episode of his Patriot Act, sheds light on the fact that the average American buys 68 new pieces of clothing in a year. Just this past Friday, we witnessed yet another Black Friday; the Friday of Thanksgiving that traditionally indicates the beginning of Christmas shopping. Especially as teenagers, myself included, Black Friday is the best opportunity to catch up on fashion trends at a lower cost. As shoppers, fast fashion is everything we need. Cheaper, trendier, and convenient fashion is what we have collectively chosen for ourselves resulting in the exponential increase in the popularity of brands like Shein, Boohoo, Fashion Nova, and Zara. Sales on Black Friday and Cyber Monday actively promote engagement with fast fashion brands, but what is this engagement really doing to us and our environment?

Let’s begin with what fast fashion really is. As fashion trends rapidly change, companies have adopted a design, manufacturing, and marketing model that makes use of rather low-quality material to produce inexpensive garments. This method has allowed brands to be on top of every trend, every season, and every loophole there is in the fashion industry. As consumers, we get affordable and trendy looks. Why would we not engage in a deal like that? In order to maximize profits and retain brand image, companies only give us one side of the fast fashion coin. However, the flip side is what we should be talking about. The use of toxic chemicals, synthetic fabrics, and harmful dyes is what makes the production of these clothing items affordable. 11 million tons of clothing is known out to be thrown into the environment in the United States. Full of various toxic elements, these garments fail to break down. Instead, they begin releasing these harmful toxins into the environment. The very same environment that gives life to us. Chemicals like these are known to result in several human illnesses including threatening types of cancer alongside various respiratory illnesses. These toxins further seep into our waters impacting not only human life but marine life too. How do we still continue to promote these brands?

Black Friday and Cyber Monday are mediums that allow us to actively engage in this vicious cycle. In the year 2020, holiday sales were predicted to increase from 8.5% to 10.5%. On an individual basis, this might seem insignificant. It is only truly significant when we consider nationwide spending. Spending that continues to peak over the years. Cyber Monday, a rather convenient method of shopping, involves shipping that is said to be responsible for over three percent of global anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions. In turn, this worsens the quality of air disturbing our ecosystem and feeding into the cycle of pollution.

As teenagers, we subconsciously practice and promote fast fashion. Post reading about the impacts of these companies, we may feel that our role is insignificant. However, it’s not just about discouraging fast fashion. It’s about promoting ethical fashion culture. Ethical and sustainable fashion, despite being less popular, is practiced. All it needs from consumers like us, is recognition. By recognizing and validating brands that practice sustainability, we are moving a step towards eradicating this cycle that will one day destroy us.


Sources:
https://www.sustainably-chic.com/blog/fast-fashion-brands-to-avoid

https://www.thegoodtrade.com/features/what-is-fast-fashion

https://www.npr.org/2021/11/26/1059427267/retail-sales-surged-this-black-friday-though-the-days-impact-is-diluted

https://www.epa.gov/international-cooperation/reducing-air-pollution-international-transportation