National Association of Women MBAs Partners with Smith School
The Smith School will lead discussions on women in finance, marketing and consulting at the National Association of Women MBAs Conference and Career Fair at the Hyatt Regency in Crystal City, Va. Overall, 19 Smith School alumnae and staff members will participate as panelists and moderators.
One of them will be Smith School Vice Dean Joyce Russell, author of the weekly Career Coach column for the Washington Post.
“For women to ascend and break through to the top, they must succeed at negotiating,” Russell said. “Yet research shows that women often do not ask. When they do, they do not ask for enough and are not persistent in their requests.”
The conference and career fair will provide a friendly environment for participants to network, share stories and draw strength from each other.
“Women face special challenges in the workplace,” Abigail Zaniel, who served as president of the Smith Association of Women MBAs until her May 2014 graduation, said. “We need opportunities for candid conversations about work-life balance and other issues.”
Women in Finance panelists will include Smith MBA alumnae Kristie Bradford, GE Capital; Uduak Essien, Export-Import Bank of the U.S.; Lanta Evans-Motte, independent financial adviser; Leisy Justiz, IRS; Mari Nishi, Inter-American Investment Corporation; and Johanna Polsenberg, Conservation Investment and Finance Advisers.
The Women in Marketing panel, moderated by Smith’s Executive MBA director of recruiting Shelbi Brookshire, will feature Smith alumnae Kristina Bailey, Capital One; Stephanie Bauer-Marshall, Verizon Wireless; Laura Bennett, independent screenwriter; Asuntha Chiang-Smith, U.S. Department of Housing and Community Development; and Katie Cleary, Campbell Soup.
The Women in Consulting panel, moderated by Smith’s director of graduate alumni relations Sharon Strange-Lewis, will feature Albertina Brett, Booz Allen Hamilton; Kara Hedges Sasse, Gallup; Andrea Keating, Crews Control and TeamPeople; Valerie Lubrano, Overseas Private Investment Corporation; and Nashira Nicholson, PricewaterhouseCoopers.
“We are committed to supporting women MBA students, so it is an honor to serve as academic sponsor for this event,” Smith School Dean Alex Triantis said. “Our participation will help us meet our goals of attracting and advancing more women in business careers.”
About the Author
Max Pulcini
Max Pulcini is a Philadelphia-based writer and reporter. He has an affinity for Philly sports teams, Super Smash Bros. and cured meats and cheeses. Max has written for Philadelphia-based publications such as Spirit News, Philadelphia City Paper, and Billy Penn, as well as national news outlets like The Daily Beast.
