UBWA - Blog

Working in Corporate Retail

2/5/2023

Retail is a large component of the current business world. It involves the selling of goods and services to consumers, as opposed to wholesale where companies sell to other companies. Corporate retail, in particular, involves a single business entity operating multiple store locations that sell direct-to-consumer. According to Statistics, the retail space is a $30 trillion industry that includes over 1 million companies. As retail continues to grow in the modern world, it becomes increasingly likely that many of you will work in the retail industry at some point in your career.
   With this in mind, I interviewed Autumn Crum, who graduated this past fall with a major in marketing and a minor in art history. During her time in UBWA, she served as vice president of alumni relations and member relations. Since graduating, she has been working for Bath & Body Works as an intern for the Wellness and Aromatherapy merchandising team. Autumn will also start full time there as a Merchant in Training this summer. Her previous work experience in retail is what inspired her to continue pursuing a career in corporate retail. Autumn cites that there is something “so fulfilling [about] seeing a product you’ve worked on for months out on store shelves and delighting customers”.
   Corporate retail is all about the customer. Companies and their employees must “be responsive to ever changing trends… and the needs of the business”. Working in retail means being able to adapt and overcome obstacles because there are external factors that can affect a business strategy and force you to pivot. Not all projects are going to be carried out in their entirety, and even the ones that are, will often undergo several changes throughout its duration. Autumn, specifically, tries “to go in with an open mind” as she works with design, product development, and inventory to ensure the customers’ satisfaction. Once a product is out on the shelf, it is critical to monitor sales data and collaborate with other teams to gauge how the customers are responding to the product. One way Bath & Body Works likes to do this is by receiving “insights from [their] store associates and customers directly”. Corporate retail is multifaceted and complex, so it takes a lot of teamwork, communication, and planning to ensure the company is able to stick to its timelines.
As with any other industry, it is important to explore your interests and try to gain hands-on experiences. For Autumn, it was incredibly beneficial to have background experience and knowledge of retail, and she encourages others who have an interest in this industry to physically work in a retail store. Directly putting yourself in the field will give you a better perspective of the store side of retail, which will help you transition to the corporate side. Working first hand with customers will also help you better understand consumer behavior as a whole. Another thing to keep in mind is to network and reach out to people whether on LinkedIn or other platforms. Talking to others about their experiences can help you get a better feel for the industry and help you decide whether or not corporate retail is something you want to pursue. Networking is also important for getting those hands-on experiences and job opportunities.
   Autumn is super excited about her future in corporate retail, and she has graciously offered to answer questions and help those interested in entering the space! You can reach out to her via email: autumncrum2019@gmail.com.

hallie szmik

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How to Find Your Passion in the Business World

1/29/2023

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It’s your senior year of college and you’ve already landed yourself a fantastic job for when you graduate. It pays well, has great benefits, and the company values align with yours perfectly. It almost seems too good to be true. There’s just one issue: you don’t know if this is your passion. You don’t see yourself doing this for the rest of your life, but you also don’t know what else you’d see yourself doing, so for now, it seems like the best option, even though you’re in panic mode on the inside. Believe it or not, this happens to many students - and it is completely normal.
What many students don’t initially realize is that no one expects them to know exactly what they want to do with their lives at such a young age. In fact, there are plenty of individuals who have worked in the business world for years and are still trying to figure out exactly what their passion is. It’s important to realize that no one expects you to be perfect, and no one expects you to have a plan for your entire life at age 20.

   To dive deeper into this topic, I recently spoke with Hayley Dougherty and Alli Esker to gain a more knowledgeable and experienced perspective. Both Hayley and Alli are Ohio State alumni, were general members of UBWA, and sat on the executive board their sophomore and junior year. Hayley graduated in 2015 with a major in accounting and now works in real estate and property management. On a slightly different track, Alli graduated in 2020 with a major in finance and now works for Microsoft in professional technical services. Although both individuals went in different directions in figuring out how to go about finding their perfect fit, one thing that Hayley, Alli, and probably most students have in common is that they didn’t - and still don’t - know exactly what is in the cards for them. However, what they do know is how to take steps in the right direction to determine what exactly they are passionate about and ensure that they are doing what makes them happiest.
   When I spoke to Alli, she gave me a piece of advice that I think is very important to remember: “Having a good interview and resume go far, but having real connections go farther.” The reason I bring this up is because when you are still in an exploratory stage of your career, you want to keep as many options open as possible, and the best way to do that is by forming connections. She also shared that if you’re in a position, give it some time and don’t be too quick to assume you aren’t interested, but if you give it a year and still don’t like it, moving on is perfectly acceptable, because it is important to find something you actually enjoy. Similarly, Hayley added “I’ll ask myself if I could see myself doing it for the next 2-5 years. As long as the answer is yes, then I’m right where I need to be. Maybe I’ll do the same thing for more than 5 years, but at least I gave myself the option to leave and do something new if my interests and goals aren’t the same as what they were years earlier.”
Another important concept to grasp is that it’s okay to not know. It’s okay to feel lost, confused, and not have an exact plan. As Hayley explained it, “I know less about my career future today than I did when I was 21, but I’ve learned that it’s not a bad thing to keep an open mind and be willing to change and adjust your course as you go.” As this is such an exploratory stage of life, the key is to “be open to trying and learning new things. You may find a passion in unexpected places. Take classes unrelated to your major. Ask coworkers/leaders from other departments to get coffee with you and tell you about their job. Intern. Volunteer to take on new projects at work, even if they may be a little out of your wheelhouse.” Alli noted another key piece of advice that it “might take a few internships and jobs to actually get to a place where you are finding enjoyment and satisfaction, adding impact and value, and seeing career progress.” Although it may seem stressful to not always know what’s ahead, it’s important to remember to take it day by day, one step at a time, and what’s meant to happen, will happen.

   Lastly, it is important to remember that your job does not have to be your greatest passion. As Alli worded it, “I am passionate about my job, but I am passionate about so many other things outside of my job.” Hayley agreed and added that it is also okay to be passionate about other aspects within the job. Even if accounting, for example, is not your greatest passion, you’re allowed to be passionate about “ the life that job allows you to live (travel opportunities, work/life balance, opportunities to volunteer, etc.) or the skills the role lets you use.” This will hold true throughout your academic and future career because everyone has a life outside of school and their job.
If there is only one piece of advice that you remember after reading this, it should be to find a job that will push you to grow - not only in your role, but as an individual. Don’t do something you don’t love just because it’s easy. Challenge yourself to be the best version of yourself you can possibly be. If you do that, you will succeed. As cliché as it sounds, if you do what you love, you truly will never work a day in your life, so it’s important to find that.

Cassie kobel

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How to find, foster, and flourish a professional menstorship

1/22/2023

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Whether it’s the first day of classes at the start of the semester or the first day at a new job, social tendencies push humans to make connections with others in an effort to ground themselves to the new, unfamiliar environment. Even if all an individual achieves is small talk with the person sitting next to him or her, that relationship evolves from merely a stranger to an acquaintance. The business industry is expansive which can be especially overwhelming to students trying to obtain an internship or job. Networking is essential, but certain circumstances call for a more personal professional relationship: mentoring.
What is a Mentorship?
A mentorship is a one-on-one relationship between an experienced and less-experienced professional. Unlike networking, an individual and their mentor will have a set goal or need to be met and discussed. The primary intention is to help an individual grow and be guided, rather than to simply foster and maintain a relationship.
To gain greater insight on the ins and outs of a mentorship, I interviewed Ohio State graduate and former UBWA President, Nicole Balkenbusch. Nicole has an extensive background in Finance and Accounting and currently works in Amazon Customer Service, specifically in Executive Education for Leadership Development. She has exhibited her passion for helping younger business women succeed throughout her time in prominent companies such as Amazon and P&G, as well as her time as an undergrad at OSU. Due to this drive to help others as others have helped her, Nicole has mentored many women and has entailed her advice on how to find, foster, and flourish from a professional mentorship.
How to Find a Mentor
The first step in many tasks, including finding a mentor, can feel daunting especially when it comes to speaking to professionals as a student or newly initiated businessperson. To compartmentalize the process, Nicole detailed three methods to finding a mentor she has used during her career: building a spiderweb network, using a company mentoring program, and asking for a referral.
The spider web is created in a way “where once you meet with someone you click with, you ask to meet again and then ask them for a referral to meet someone new. Over time, you build out your network ‘spider web.’ Nicole advises asking people who have been on a team longer, who have similar experience, or who can give expert advice on a decision.
A more formal way to find a mentor is through a company program. This can look like small group circles with colleagues, peer mentoring, or the traditional mentor-mentee relationship. At Amazon, Nicole expressed how the company has an online program much like online dating, where employees create a profile either looking for a mentor or mentee.
The final method is asking for a referral. Nicole stated how “when [she] was new to Amazon and didn’t know many people, [she] asked for referrals from [her] manager, a peer, or former leader.” A simple introductory email from the referral to a potential mentor helps as well, as she stated that she has “hardly ever gotten a ‘no’ answer.”
Once a potential mentor has been found, one should ask for a brief, 30-minute introductory meeting. The mentee will take time to detail their background and why they are in search of a mentor. Much like an interview for a job, the mentee will have researched prior to this meeting to ensure that the mentor is a good match. Additionally, both individuals should agree upon a specific time commitment, meeting cadence, and goals that are wanting to be met.
The Benefits of Mentorships
In the short-term, mentorships are beneficial in solving a present need or issue. Nicole expressed that it is okay to move on or outgrow a mentor once a goal is met. Mentorships can continue past this stage as well. Nicole explained that a mentor “can help you through big life/career decisions, as they’ve seen you grow in your career and can offer advice that’s specific to you, since they really know you as a person. I’m a big believer in having a ‘personal board of directors’ where you have different mentors for different reasons.” Just like friends, different mentors are in your professional sphere for different reasons. Whether it be to have someone to look up to, challenge you, or rather to “have [a] completely opposite experience than you to help you think differently,” it can be highly advantageous to have a “board” of mentors to guide you through your professional career.
Nicole also expressed how mentorships are not just insightful for the mentee but also the mentor: “I learn just as much from my mentees as they learn from me – I learn about new trends, how younger employees feel about a team or department, so I love investing time in others.”
Figuring out how to be promoted, finding a different position on a team, or deciding on a substantial work or life decision can all feel difficult. Mentors offer guidance, advice, and a relationship that can make these tasks less daunting. Investing time in others, whether it be through networking or a mentorship, ensures a path towards growth and stronger connections with others. Take it from Nicole: “network early & often: when you need a mentor, sponsor, [or] advocate, it’s often ‘too late’ to get one.”

Lacey Jones

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The Value of Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace

4/24/2022

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Having high emotional intelligence is very beneficial in every aspect of life. Emotional intelligence is the ability to understand your emotions in a positive way in order to enhance your connections with others and feel empathy. Emotional intelligence is an interesting topic because it is so important yet oftentimes overlooked in settings such as the workplace since most people focus on the left-brained information side of work. People get so focused on the actual content of their projects and daily tasks and forget that they need to also grow their relationships with those around them. Because of how overlooked the value of emotional intelligence often is, I explored some ways in which it can be beneficial in the workplace.

I talked to UBWA alumni Madison Shimborske, a strategy analyst for River Financial to see how she values and incorporates emotional intelligence into her job. For her job as an analyst, Madison works part-time in client services and part-time doing product and project work as well as process improvement. Madison explains that River Financial is a start-up company that fosters a very fast-paced environment. “In a fast-paced start-up environment, it is essential to be able to read your coworkers’ emotions and adjust your approach accordingly to be able to reach the best solutions and avoid any potential burnout.” For Madison, it is essential to have high emotional intelligence in her job because of the collaboration with her co-workers and the atmosphere of the smaller start-up that she works for. She also suggests that “there tend to be a lot more emotions involved than I have seen at past, larger companies.” The people that Madison works with are “very passionate about [their] business, so emotion runs high in that environment.

Emotional intelligence becomes a necessity in the workplace when one values making connections with their co-workers and having seamless collaboration with team members. As Madison puts it, “I’ve seen how crucial it is while working in a start-up environment where your coworkers also happen to be your friends.” Emotional intelligence is important for networking and forming relationships. It is necessary for high-pressure situations in your job where people feel many different emotions and need to figure out how to control them.

Similarly, it allows you to take criticism easier and understand that it is coming from a desire to help you grow as opposed to a way to put you down. It is also important in leadership roles because others look up to you and depend on you to guide them. Madison shares that “you realize the true importance of emotional intelligence once you experience a manager or leader who embodies emotional intelligence.”

Aside from the workplace, emotional intelligence is just an important trait to have. Having empathy for others and the ability to understand peoples’ situations is very valuable. Madison points out how important it is to be able to create a safe environment for others and to make people feel seen. Without emotional intelligence, people would have a hard time getting along and forming genuine friendships or relationships. Understanding those we work with is crucial to having success in your place of work.

Erin Litzer

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Public Speaking and How to Distinguish Yourself

4/10/2022

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Your business professor tells you that you have an individual presentation assignment to do by next week. It entails you standing in front of your class, speaking and engaging with everyone, for 12-15 minutes. Oh, and let’s say your class is 100 people. What do you do? I don’t know about you, but I’d definitely panic.
It may seem like everyone else is a natural public speaker, and that they don’t get nervous at all, but that is the furthest thing from the truth. Whether it is in front of 10 people or 100 people, everyone gets afraid to speak publicly, and it is a completely rational fear. The key, however, is to continue practicing with presenting, and fake it until you make it.

For advice on how to speak like a professional, I recently interviewed Madi Noel, an Ohio State alumni. Madi graduated two years ago and now works at a company called Western Digital, which is a large data technology company. As a marketing major during her time here at Ohio State, Madi jumped into the world of public speaking early on. In marketing, you have to know how to strategically speak to a group of people in order to represent your product and persuade them to buy it. However, having to learn these skills throughout her career at Ohio State was a critical step to becoming prepared to work in the real world.

When I interviewed Madi, the first thing I asked her, to no surprise, was if she enjoys speaking publicly. Although she replied that she “used to not be a huge fan,” she added that she now has a different perspective. After doing it so frequently, it gets easier and easier to get the hang of, and you learn to appreciate yourself for doing it. She added that “it’s a great way to show knowledge about something and feel confident about yourself,” which could not be more true. After you finish presenting, you feel relieved and powerful, like you can take on anything else that comes your way, and I think most people can relate to this feeling.

To dive deeper into this topic of public speaking, I asked Madi how, once you have the basics down, to take your presentation one step further and really make it stand out in comparison to others who may be presenting on similar topics. First, she mentioned that visuals, which can include graphs, photos, videos, and anything else that will catch the eye of the audience, are key when presenting. Another helpful tip is that you should not just have paragraphs of text listed on the screen. Instead, include a few important words, and leave the rest to explain to the audience, making sure to pause and engage with the audience while presenting. Even small actions like polling the audience or asking them to vote can help make the presentation more interesting and seem less like a boring lecture, especially if you can tell that the audience seems unintrigued.

Lastly, Madi left me with a few pieces of advice that I’d like to share in hopes of making you feel better about your next presentation. Even though presenting in front of people can be nerve wracking, “practice is key.” In addition, she noted that by doing research and really becoming an expert on what you’re presenting, you will instantly “feel more confident,” because you’re sharing your knowledge in whatever it is that you are speaking about. She concluded with “You’re the expert, and that’s the leverage you have in a presentation.” So, next time you have a presentation and begin to worry, take these notes into consideration, and I guarantee you will feel much less stressed.

Cassie Kobel

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Are business Courses actually useful?

3/27/2022

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Here at Ohio State, business students studying at Fisher College of Business can all bond over the shared experience that is business core classes. All OSU business students must take these classes in order to become a well-rounded professional in the corporate world. This week, I asked UBWA members Morgan Sousa, Adriana Mendoza Vargas, and Katarina Ifantis what is one impactful business class you’ve taken and how has it prepared you for the business world? Whether you’re a first-year trying to plan next year’s schedule or a junior trying to get through these last five weeks, their insightful responses should provide some inspiration.

Morgan Sousa is a second-year finance major. This is her first year in UBWA. One of her favorite UBWA memories was going on the thrifting trip at the beginning of the year. “I met many awesome people then and immediately felt welcomed into UBWA,” says Morgan. Two classes that helped prepare Morgan for her future career in finance were Introduction to Accounting I and II (ACCTMIS 2200 and 2300). Taking accounting provided Morgan with relevant skills and information for the business world. As Morgan states, “Accounting became a subject I enjoy and it opened up more paths of interest for me after college.” Even if you’re not a finance or accounting major, Introduction to Accounting can help you develop analytic skills and give you a greater understanding of the financial reporting all businesses must do.
Similarly, Business Skills and Environment (BUSMHR 2292) is an impactful course for students across specializations. Adriana Mendoza Vargas is a second-year logistics major with a minor in Spanish for business. She has been a member of UBWA since her freshman year. One thing Adriana enjoys about UBWA is the opportunity to connect with and support her fellow women in business. Her favorite UBWA memory was painting tote bags and getting to meet new people at the recent cozy meeting.

Adriana would say BUSMHR 2292 was her most impactful class because of its real-world application. Knowing that the work she did in class would prepare her for the future, made the class more enjoyable. In addition the ongoing group work and discussion-based nature of the class, “forced me to come out of my shell a bit more and force myself to talk in class and with people outside of class”, says Adriana. Impactful classes go beyond transferring information into boosting student confidence and preparing them for the future.
Katarina Ifantis is a second-year finance major. She joined UBWA at the beginning of this year. One of her favorite UBWA experiences was preparing for the career fair during Business Boot Camp. As Katarina states, “It was one of the first times I really experienced the association as a community of supportive women that want to help each other above anything else.” Katarina also found BUSMHR 2292 to be one the most impactful business classes that she’s taken. One reason for this is that BUSMHR 2292 helped her to become more confident. According to Katarina, “I learned so much about the value of my voice in the work environment and how to use it to the best of my abilities.” In a business world where women’s voices too often go unheard, learning how to speak up is a game changer.

While we may feel far away from our future goals, rest assured that the work you do today is helping you prepare for tomorrow. Don’t forget to appreciate all the ways you’ve learned and grown this year, whether you’ve become a better communicator or finally figured out the difference between assets and liabilities. Though business classes may be difficult, they’re hopefully preparing us for a future we might not yet realize.

Allie Caldwell

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Developing a global mindset

3/20/2022

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The desire to travel, see the world, and experience new cultures is a very common dream and aspiration among people throughout the globe. Instead of feeling content with staying in one place, there is a yearning for more. I would know, because I am one of these people that have this extreme wanderlust. A dream I have had since I was young was to visit a foreign country and experience the different lifestyles of people unlike me. Once I found out I had the chance to visit Italy for a short trip during the summer, I knew I had to jump on it. Through the Fisher Global Immersion Program, I will be visiting Italy for 8 days in May. During these 8 days, our group will be visiting multiple large companies throughout Italy to learn about their inner workings. While my excitement is running rampant, I, of course, also have a healthy amount of nervousness. How do I adjust to the new culture? What are the differences in etiquette between Italian companies versus American ones? Will there be a language barrier? And overall, how do I develop a global mindset?

Before going to Italy, I have to answer the question of how to adjust to the new culture gracefully. Since our group will be representing Ohio State as we visit these companies, I knew I should have a better understanding of a global mindset. To gain more knowledge on the subject, I reached out to Beth Blue, the founder of UBWA and a 2003 alumni of OSU. Beth has an extensive and impressive career in business, and more specifically, finance. Beth began her career at Procter & Gamble in Cincinnati, where she spent 8 years in 5 different positions. Two of those years were spent in Minneapolis, where she explains that she was “first bitten by the relocation bug”. After leaving Procter & Gamble, Beth next worked for Cardinal Health in 6 different roles in 9 years. For 3 of those years, Beth worked as an expat in Zurich, Switzerland. She is now the Finance Director of Global Consumer Payments at Amazon as of 2021 and is currently living in Seattle, Washington.

The decision to work abroad is significant and is often met with apprehension. When I asked Beth if she had planned to become an expat or whether it was spontaneous, she answered that it was a mix of both. Being so spontaneous can be intimidating, but Beth explained that “...the most exciting opportunities in life are unexpected, so while I generally know what I want (goals, values, etc.) I don’t plan every step”.

Another aspect to consider is the culture shock of living and working in an entirely new place; it can be difficult to adjust. Beth explained that one way she was able to adjust was to live in an area that was made up of around 25% of other expats. This helped her surround herself with people who she could relate to. Beth added, “ We also took a culture class, which was very helpful. A teacher came to our apartment and helped us understand Swiss culture (and those rules) and how it differs from American culture”. One of Beth’s last suggestions was to read books about how different cultures work professionally. One that she suggested was “The Culture Map: Decoding How People Think, Lead, and Get Things Done Across Cultures”.

Aside from the general differences in cultures between countries, there are also differences in company cultures. Although Beth was still working for an American company while she was in Switzerland, there were differences that she noted. She stated that, “one general difference between working in Europe and the US is that time was taken at the beginning of each meeting to formally greet one another, shake hands, kiss cheeks, and celebrate that we were together before getting to the formal agenda”. This is an example of being able to adjust from the “get-to-the-point” American way of business compared to the way many other countries first build relationships. In addition to the differences in professionalism, one also must adjust to working in such a diverse team. Beth suggested “We need to respect the individuality that each and every person brings to a team, as a diverse team simply delivers better results”.

My last question for Beth, and one of the most important, was what her main piece of advice for developing a global mindset was. The overarching theme that Beth encouraged was simply to embrace each experience and to learn from it. Beth stated “With every role you take, you will learn a new aspect of business, and with every team you are a part of, you will need to flex to a new organizational culture”. Beth recommends accommodating international colleagues, such as thinking about the time differences and remembering non-American holidays. Welcome diversity and new experiences.

Beth left me with a quote from Eleanor Roosevelt that I would like to share:

“The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.”

Lea Dunn

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5 Tips for a Great Cover Letter

3/13/2022

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For many of us, now is the season of applying for summer internships or our first job after graduation. Applying for these positions can be stressful, especially if you have never applied for a professional internship before and don’t feel you have a lot to put on your resumé. On top of that, many jobs require you to submit a cover letter with the application. When I was first applying to internships my sophomore year, I had no idea how to even start writing a cover letter. Now I have written quite a few and I want to share with you all some tips on writing a really great, professional cover letter. I asked fellow UBWA junior, Lauren Zeck, to share some advice as well.I have compiled all of this into 5 tips for a great cover letter.

Tip #1: Start Strong
Lauren’s first word of advice is to “write a good hook that catches their attention and sets you apart from the beginning.” Recruiters have to read through an entire stack of cover letters, so having a first sentence that stands out will make them want to keep reading. Lauren also suggests that your “first sentence mentions how excited or interested you are in the position.” The company you apply to wants you to be excited about working for them. Don’t tell them that you are applying simply for the experience or because you think you have to have an internship. Even if you aren’t entirely convinced this job will be a good fit for you, find at least one reason you might like it. For example, you can talk about how you enjoy the company’s values or mission statement. Or if the position is somehow related to your hobbies, mention that. I am a film studies minor and have written a few cover letters for marketing jobs in the entertainment industry, so my first sentences usually tell the recruiters that I am extremely passionate about the industry and am excited to learn more about it.

Tip #2: Relate back to your experience
For the body of your cover letter, it is important that you show the recruiters why you would be a good choice. Lauren explains that you should “be specific about what past experiences you’ve had that you could apply to this specific role.” Let them know that you are capable and that you have some knowledge of the kind of work you will be doing. This is where you can cite some of your past jobs/internships if you have had any. If you haven’t, don’t worry. You can talk about student organizations you are involved with or community service opportunities you have had. Think of this as the evidence backing your claim in an essay.

Tip #3: Show your personality
Let’s be honest: Resumés are boring. They are a great, concise way to show all of your achievements, but they are just words thrown onto paper. Your successes and work experience are not the only things recruiters want to know about you. They care a lot about what your personality is like and how you view yourself. Therefore, as Lauren advises, “don’t focus too much on using professional ‘business-y’ language.” The cover letter should be a way to showcase how friendly and approachable you are. Definitely keep the cover letter serious and avoid using slang words, but don’t be afraid to add some personality to it.

Tip #4: Stray away from the Resumé
As we all know, a resumé should be one page of your most recent and impressive achievements. The recruiters have already read your resumé, so tell them some things they don’t know about you yet in your cover letter. You can go into detail about your favorite work experiences, talk about other opportunities that didn’t fit on the one-page resumé, or show how you translate your professional skills into other parts of life. Lauren also adds that “it is important to relate your experiences to the company.” It is helpful to look at things from the company’s point of view and consider what they will find most interesting about you that they don’t already know from your resumé.

Tip #5: Keep it simple
Recruiters don’t want to read a book about your life. You should highlight the most important things that you think they should know about you. Make sure to keep the whole letter one page or less. Lauren’s tip for ending the letter is to “thank the hiring manager for the opportunity to apply, and finish off with a final statement of why you would be a great addition to their company.” This is a great way to end your cover letter, as it shows both respect and gives them an incentive to hire you.

Hopefully, these 5 tips will help you feel more confident about your cover letters. If you have any questions about this topic or want to talk to me more about writing a cover letter, you can reach out to me at Litzler.7@osu.edu. Also, thank you to Lauren Zeck for sharing some great advice that helped me write this post.

Erin Litzler

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How Does Engaging in Philanthropic Activity Benefit Business?

2/27/2022

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When I hear the word “philanthropy”, for whatever reason, I instantly think of famous people who create charities or donate large sums of money to a cause. However, that is not the only way to define philanthropy. Throughout the world, regardless of age or socioeconomic status, many people find ways to give back to their communities and volunteer to help a greater cause. Whether these actions or donations are large or small, they have an enormous impact on people in need. According to the Glossary of Philanthropic Terms, philanthropic activity is technically defined as any charitable act or other good work, such as volunteering your time or efforts to help others or contribute to the overall well-being of society. So, even though people like Bill Gates and Warren Buffett make immense philanthropic contributions, so do everyday people like me and you.

I recently interviewed Lily DeOliveira and Ashley Goldberg, who are both currently freshmen here at Ohio State. Since they are both business majors who also happen to be on the Philanthropy Committee for UBWA, I thought they would be the perfect people to give more insight on this topic and explain how beneficial philanthropy really is.

When I first asked them why they joined the philanthropy committee in the first place, they both had similar responses. “I wanted to try something new and become part of a bigger community, and I knew I could do that by joining UBWA and then becoming part of this smaller committee”, Lily expressed. Ashley and Lily also shared that although they have only been on the committee for a few months now, they have already participated in and planned numerous events, allowing them to really get a feel of what it is like to have this important position. Some highlights of events include the second annual Gala x Bricc Foundation, which both girls said is “by far” their “favorite event to have been able to help plan this entire year”. Lily also added that she is “super excited for this event, as we have spent so much time planning it and we can’t wait to see all of our hard work finally pay off”. They informed me that in the “near future”, they will be “helping to coach girls in the Columbus area through the Girls on the Run program”, which empowers young girls and helps them feel comfortable in the world around them. It is clear that this committee is trying to help as many different people as possible, and I commend them for all of their hard work.

As I dove deeper into this topic, I wanted to find out how planning events like the ones previously mentioned would help with their future goals and aspirations. One response that I got was from Ashley, who said, “even if my line of work doesn’t directly do philanthropy, that doesn’t mean that I can’t do it on my own. Being part of a greater good now is exciting because I truly enjoy giving back to my community, and if I want to pursue that later in life, I may as well get a head start now so I can see which organizations I connect with the most”. In my opinion, this could not be more true. If you find a charity that you’re passionate about, you may as well start helping at an early age.

The answer that many people would have when asked about the connection between philanthropy and business would have to do with large businesses donating to charities or having their own philanthropies that they sponsor. Lily noted that “many businesses do philanthropic work to give back to the community that allowed them to become so prosperous in the first place”. What many people don’t realize, however, is that there is actually a correlation between philanthropy and business, and they really do go hand in hand. Ashley made the point that “when planning the gala, there were many business aspects that we had to take into account, such as marketing and finance”. For example, they had to plan the gala, find a venue, and then market and advertise for the event to make it appealing to go to. Financially, they had to determine how much money they had to plan the event and how much they could afford to spend. For these reasons, philanthropic activities serve to be extremely beneficial for businesses to take part in.

So, when given the opportunity to try something new, such as going to a charity event or volunteering in your local food shelter, do it, because the help is always needed and greatly appreciated. Lily said that if she could give advice to anyone, especially regarding the philanthropy committee, she would say to “sign up, be willing to try new things, take risks, and most importantly, go out of your comfort zone. Ashley and I just applied to this committee as freshmen, not knowing much about it, but we wanted to get involved, so we did. Against all odds, we both got a position, and I could not be more grateful for the experiences and lessons I’ve learned."

cassie Kobel

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Communicating with Companies as a Student

2/13/2022

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Does talking to business professionals make you nervous? Do you triple-check your emails before hitting send? Communicating with professionals as a student can be nerve-wracking. Fortunately, you’re not alone. Current UBWA executives Gretchen Stommel and Kelly Lao have faced the challenges of working with professionals as a student. Through their internship experiences, they’ve learned a lot about office communication, networking, and representing a company to clients. Both women shared some great advice for putting your best foot forward.

Gretchen Stommel is a second-year Finance major with a minor in Computer & Information Science. She serves as Vice President of Professional Development. This year, she led Business Bootcamp, a 6-week professional development course. Her favorite UBWA memory was hanging-out with members at the UBWA tailgate. This past summer, Gretchen worked at Hyland Software as a Project Management Intern in the office of global excellence.

Through her internship at Hyland Software, Gretchen learned a lot about communication and expectations in an office setting. Some of her biggest takeaways were to “never [be] afraid to ask questions (think of how honored you feel when someone wants your expertise!), always ask what abbreviations and acronyms mean, and do your best to figure out what warrants an email versus an instant message in the company.” While we learn about professionalism in our business core classes, it can be difficult to put these principles to practice until you’re in the business environment. One major advantage of internships is gaining first-hand experience pertaining to office norms and professional communication.

Kelly Lao is a third-year Marketing major with minors in Media Production and Analysis & Music, Media, and Enterprise. She serves as Vice President of Programming. Her favorite UBWA memory was wearing PJ’s, eating snacks, and hearing about the important women in members’ lives during a special Women’s Week internal meeting. She’s passionate about Social Media and Event Planning. She loves to see her projects “make a positive impact on people’s lives - bringing them excitement and happiness.” The summer of her freshman year, Kelly interned at Degy Entertainment as a Virtual Event intern. As part of her internship, Kelly was responsible for coordinating with large buyers, clients, and artists. As Kelly states, “I was extremely nervous to be working alongside high-impact, high-profile people as I haven’t done it before.” Representing a company to prospective clients can take the challenge of communicating with professionals to another level. Kelly explains that giving tours to buyers and clients, “became natural to me as I knew what I was doing through hours and hours of practice.” According to Kelly, practice is key to feeling confident when working with professionals.

Both Gretchen and Kelly had some great advice about putting your best foot forward when connecting with business professionals. As Gretchen explains, “People often don’t remember specific details but rather how you made them feel and therefore providing a sense of professionalism can leave a better ‘taste’.” Professionalism is more than just knowing whether to wear a button-down or a suit. Professionalism is about conducting yourself in a way that shows respect for others and the task at hand.

One way to show respect is to take an interest in the people you meet while networking. As Kelly recommends, “Treat them as a potential long-lasting relationship rather than just a tool for success.” Asking professionals about their life outside of business can make networking more fun and help you make better connections. While communicating with professionals as a student can seem daunting, the best way to become a confident communicator is through experience. So don’t be afraid to introduce yourself or send that email; after all, professionals were once students too.

Allie Caldwell

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First Generation COllege Students in Business

2/6/2022

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As college students, many of us see our peers and fellow students as just that: other students. We often don’t think about their backgrounds or demographics, whether that be where they are from, what their household income is, or if they are the first in their families to attend college. However, there is a likely chance that many of the students surrounding you are actually first-generation college students. In fact, 35% of all undergraduate students are first-generation!

The Postsecondary National Policy Institute (PNPI) defines a “first-generation” college student as one whose parents never obtained a Bachelor’s Degree. While this may seem like an insignificant characteristic to some people, it can be an important part of a first-generation college student’s identity. What is not often realized by others are the struggles and obstacles that first-generation students face to fulfill their dreams of earning a college degree. To dive deeper into the life of a first-generation student, I interviewed UBWA’s Vice President of Member Relations, Autumn Crum, who is a third-year marketing student minoring in history of art here at OSU. Autumn noted the struggles she had while applying for college due to the fact that she didn’t have many people to turn to for help. “When it came to applications, scholarships, and even filling out the FAFSA, it was something I had to navigate alone,” Autumn stated. This lack of guidance can be discouraging for incoming college students. Pertaining particularly to the business world, Autumn mentioned the difficulties as a first-generation college student in business, such as not knowing exactly what the corporate world entails. “... I didn’t have a parent, relative, or family friend that worked a corporate job that I could connect with,” she revealed.

Whereas other students may believe attending college is a given in their academic/career path, it can take a lot of courage for first-generation college students to make the decision to attend. It can be scary, uncomfortable, and intimidating, especially when there is not a strong support system to guide you. For first-generation students, finding a legitimate source for advice can be a challenge. Autumn stated that her sister, Katie, is the person she turns to in these situations. “Katie has always been such a great supporter of me and has pushed me when I feel discouraged about myself,” she says. Finding your support system, whether that be siblings, professors, or friends, is important for first-generation college students. When I asked Autumn what her main piece of advice was for other young first-generation businesswomen, this is what she recommended most: “I would suggest if you are struggling or confused about college or future careers, find a network of support”. Sometimes, you need that little extra push when you are feeling disheartened, which is where your mentors or close friends can play an important role.

Autumn emphasized the value of putting yourself out there in college. This can sound intimidating or frightening, but it’s what makes you a better student and businesswoman. As a first-generation student, it can be frightening to speak up or try something new. Attending college can mean moving out of your comfort zone for many people. So how can you move outside of your comfortability even more? Autumn stated “College is the best time in your life to take risks, try new things, and meet new people”. She also looked back on the time that she participated in a case competition through UBWA and noted that it was intimidating, but it ultimately gave her confidence and practice.

As if college life isn’t hard enough, first-generation students walk into this new period of their life blindly. However, through these struggles, they show perseverance, strength, and determination. Some of the hardest years of your life can also be the best. I wanted to highlight Autumn’s parting words, which I found inspiring:

“Don’t be afraid, do the things you’re intimidated by, and you’ll learn so much about yourself along the way."

Lea Dunn

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Women in Business Challenge: Fear of Failure

1/30/2022

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Have you ever been in a situation where you didn’t take a risk because you were afraid of failing? I know I have more times than I can even remember. What if you walk into a job interview and don’t express your true self because you’re afraid you won’t be accepted for who you are? Now, let me ask you this: what if you walk into that same job interview, show the interviewer who you are and are fearless, and instantly get the job? Think about the what if’s. What if you succeed? If you don’t take the risk, you’ll never know how great the reward could be.
Many women in business struggle with this challenge, as it can feel especially difficult to voice their opinions in a field where males still tend to dominate, especially in higher level positions. Data from a recent McKinsey survey shows that as ranks get higher in organizations, the number of women dwindles. There were a total of 325,000 women in entry-level positions, and only 7,000 of those women actually made it to vice president, senior vice president, or CEO. As women, we must stick together and prove that we can be the face of business. It is our duty to change these statistics and stop outdated social norms from getting in our way.
I recently interviewed Sarah Burger, an Ohio State graduate who majored in Finance, and the former President of UBWA. Now, she works for General Motors in Michigan, which is a job that she actually was able to receive because of her position in the club. Even someone with as powerful of a role as Sarah had in UBWA can struggle with taking risks and being afraid of failure, because it is a scary concept.

Although she generally does not like taking risks, as she frequently overanalyzes most of her decisions, Sarah made a very good point that I also think is very relatable to most people. She said “some of my best memories and proudest accomplishments happened when I took a risk”. For example, accepting her job offer at General Motors meant that she would have to move all the way to Michigan from her hometown in the suburbs of Chicago. However, she “decided to take the risk because nothing is permanent'', and if she hadn’t taken the risk and given it a chance, she would’ve regretted it. It is important for women to recognize risk taking as an opportunity for growth, because you won’t be able to prove what you’re capable of until you decide to take that leap and do something out of your comfort zone.

Failure is something that haunts most people and makes them think poorly about themselves when they have no reason to. Almost everyone has had an experience with an exam that they didn’t do as well on as they hoped for, but no one gives up after just one exam. Failing is part of life. Everybody experiences it at some point, whether it is big or small, and it is the only way to truly learn. Sarah adds, “The funny thing is that after a couple weeks and definitely after a couple months, I completely forget about the failure and so do the people around me. You will always judge yourself so much more than the people around you and that's definitely what happens after a failure”. Other people rarely even notice, and when they do, they move on. “It can be really easy to think that your co-workers have it all together but that is far from the truth. At the end of the day, we're all just humans trying to do the best we possibly can at our jobs which will definitely include some failures along the way”, notes Sarah. Especially in the workplace, people hold themselves up to an unattainable standard that doesn’t even exist. The truth is that no one is perfect and everyone makes their fair share of mistakes.
Lastly, do something you enjoy. Choose a job because it inspires you to work harder and take risks, even if it means you might have to move halfway across the country. Sarah said that if she could give any advice to college students, it would be to “make sure that you choose a company that you're personally excited about. Else, you're going to lose motivation to do your job really quickly.”

I truly believe that “Empowered Women, Empower Women” should not only be a motto in UBWA, but a mindset for every member. Like Sarah said, “as women, we need to be the ones lifting other women up, especially when they experience failure. We need to be the ones cheering on women when they're taking risks.” In my opinion, as long as we take these steps and never let anyone get in our way, we will flourish. And remember, just like Hannah Montana once said, “nobody’s perfect, everybody makes mistakes, everybody has those days”.

Cassie Kobel

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Company Culture

1/23/2022

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You may know exactly what you want your future job to be, but have you thought about what workplace setting you might prefer? We often think of our future careers in terms of job title or specialization. However, company culture can have a significant impact on your day-to-day role. To better understand company culture, I reached out to two UBWA alumni, Hayley Dougherty and Morgan West. While both work as accountants, they operate in two very different workplaces. Hayley has experience in the public accounting and restaurant industries, specifically, Bibibop and Chipotle. Morgan has experience working at a non-profit higher education institution, namely THE Ohio State University.

Hayley Dougherty graduated from OSU in 2015 with a BSBA in accounting. During her four years in UBWA, Hayley served as the VP of Programming and President of UBWA. Her involvement gave her a chance to develop her leadership skills, learn about different career paths, and meet some of her closest friends. Hayley spent three years in public accounting audit before working in the fast-casual dining industry. She is currently a Senior Financial Accountant at Chipotle.

Hayley would describe the company cultures at Chipotle and Bibibop as casual and adaptable. One reason for this is because the companies were founded more recently. According to Hayley, “When a company doesn’t have 100 years of history and tradition to lean on, it develops a culture and identity reflective of the time and the initial leaders, and is also more able and willing to pivot and make changes.” One way these companies have embraced change is by focusing on employee satisfaction and well-being. For example, allowing flex time and a more relaxed work environment. As Hayley states, “Chipotle specifically does an outstanding job of not just saying ‘take care of yourself’ but also backing it up.” Additionally, younger companies are more likely to prioritize values such as DE&I and mental health.

In contrast to the restaurant industry, Hayley describes public accounting as more formal and regulation-based. This difference is due to the client-facing nature of public accounting firms. “That’s not to say that public [accounting] doesn’t do happy hours or casual Fridays, but being that it’s client service, the goal is to always present the most polished and professional experience to clients,” says Hayley. The goals of internal accounting, such as accounting for a restaurant, and public accounting also differ significantly. Internal accounting focuses on analyzing data for use within a company. As Hayley explains, “when dealing with internal data, there is always a focus on finding new, better, more creative ways to do business and get more accurate information.” Conversely, public accounting firms focus on external accounting, providing information to third parties. As such, external accounting tends to have set procedures and regulations.

Morgan West graduated in 2017 with a BSBA in accounting and minors in Legal Foundations of Society (Law) and Economics. Morgan joined UBWA as a freshman and served on the Buckeyethon Committee and as VP of Member Relations. Through UBWA, Morgan was able to connect with other business majors and support pediatric cancer research. Morgan began her career at Ohio State as a student in the Accounts Payable department of the Office of Sponsored Programs. She is currently a Senior Accountant in the Grants Accounting department of the OSP.

Morgan has many good things to say about working at the Ohio State University. According to Morgan, “Ohio State cares about their employees well-being and strives for employees to be the best version of themselves.” The university offers many employee benefits including free tuition, health and wellness training, and mental health days. Morgan describes her team’s culture as supportive and inclusive. As Morgan states, “In the area I work in, there is a great sense of pride since we are assisting researchers in solving the world’s biggest problems like COVID-19, cancer, energy, etc.” Above all, Morgan finds working for a non-profit institution rewarding because the primary goal is making the world a better place.

Both alumni shared some excellent advice for undergraduate businesswomen on finding the right job fit. First, be open to trying things outside your major and talk to others about their careers. As Morgan says, “You won’t know if it’s right for you unless you give it a chance.” Second, focus on finding the right job fit for your goals, personality, and values. As Hayley illustrates, “It can be similar to dating and relationships: someone can be a good person but not be right for you if your values and goals don’t align.” When searching for the right workplace, it helps to know what is truly important to you. Hayley recommends identifying your “three absolutes you have to have.” Lastly, remember that no company culture is perfect, but don’t be afraid to leave if you realize it’s not the right job for you.

Allie Caldwell

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Women Out West: Businesswomen's Life on the West Coast

1/16/2022

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Imagine this: it’s 5 o'clock on a Friday, and you are about to leave work. You look out your office window and take in the spectacular view of blue skies and palm trees. You hear waves crashing on the beach. After work, you have plans to surf with friends and then grab dinner at a little restaurant on the beach. While this scene may sound like fantasy, it is reality for some businesswomen who live and work on the West coast. Ashley Urbansky and Madison Shimborske, two OSU and UBWA alumni can attest to the challenges and rewards of life out West.

Madison is a 2021 OSU graduate with a major in Information Systems and a minor in Studio Art. After graduation, she moved to San Francisco to take a role as a Strategy Analyst with River Financial, a Bitcoin financial services start-up. When I asked Madison what made a Midwest girl decide to move to the West coast, she said it was unplanned and that she happened to find the position online. Madison said her takeaway from this experience is that you should “…always look into the opportunities that are literally just placed in front of you. And don’t ever discount an opportunity.”

Ashley is a 2012 OSU graduate with a major in Marketing and a minor in Psychology. Ashley decided to make the move to California after a trip with her husband; she fell in love with the laid-back environment of the area. Since moving to California, Ashley has worked in multiple different roles. She has also worked in many settings, ranging from large corporations to smaller start-ups (where she has worked in some of her favorite roles so far). She is currently the Director of Demand Generation at a company called Emerged Inc, which is a sales platform for healthcare companies.

Both women highlighted the joys and difficulties of life on the West Coast. One major aspect that attracted Ashley and Madison was the culture of the West Coast. “The environment is more about enjoying your life out here,” Ashley claimed. She also mentioned how the business industry itself was more appealing to her. She noted the diversity, innovation, and growth opportunities for start-ups as some of the most intriguing features of the industry in California. Madison was on the same page and stated, “The energy of working in San Francisco, especially at a startup is so much different than Ohio. It’s fast-paced, it’s exciting, it’s exhausting.”
As for the challenges, both women mentioned the high living costs and the distance from family and friends back in the Midwest. “The west coast (San Francisco specifically) is very expensive, so I’m not sure I would’ve gone had my company not paid for it,” Madison stated. However, both women agreed that the benefits of new career opportunities, new friends, and new experiences, in general, outweighed the hardships.

One of the main reasons I chose to interview Ashley and Madison was to hear their advice on how to start the overwhelming journey of moving out West. One reoccurring statement I heard was that it is scary at first. Madison stated, “Don’t be afraid to take a chance or try something new. It’s okay (and good!) to be out of your comfort zone. And if you move to the West coast you definitely will be.” As for the business aspect, both businesswomen communicated the importance of being flexible. Don't only expect to work for a Fortune 500 company and don’t only expect to work for start-ups. Take opportunities, even if it diverges from your original plan. As for how to get your foot in the door of a West coast company as a Midwest native, make sure you are willing to work from home if needed but also willing to relocate. “Position yourself on your resume to say when you are relocating, as well as your work-from-home preferences," Ashley recommends.

Lastly, I want to include something that Madison said that stuck with me:

“If you go out there and it’s not for you, guess what? That’s okay! It’s not the end of the world. It’s never too late to change your path if it’s not what’s meant for you.”

Take the chance.

Lea Dunn

Editor: Allie Caldwell

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Obtaining A business Degree to work in the entertainment industry

1/9/2022

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The entertainment industry is a rapidly growing, extremely competitive industry to work in. It contains so many types of jobs, and can prove to be both gratifying and lucrative. I am constantly reading and watching interviews about people in the entertainment industry who have benefited from their business degrees, or who wished they went to school for business. This caught my attention, especially because I myself am working towards a business degree and plan to work in the entertainment industry. I reached out to two current UBWA members, Delaney Hoye and Sofie Clough, to further discuss why so many future entertainment industry workers are pursuing business degrees and the benefits of understanding the business world when working in this artful industry.

To begin, I want to share a little bit about Delaney and Sofie and why they are pursuing business degrees to work in entertainment. Hopefully this can provide some insight on what circumstances indicate a good reason to study business. Delaney is majoring in Marketing and minoring in Media Production. With this degree, she wants to work for a large company such as Disney’s Marvel Studios and work for their marketing and promotional team. Delany has a passion for production and hands-on work, so her goal is to incorporate her editing and production skills into a marketing position. She added that marketing is “such a broad topic and you can utilize it for many different career paths.” This is important to note as it can be difficult to break into this industry. With her business degree, Delaney is able to have a back-up plan and be more flexible with the types of jobs she can work.

Sofie, a marketing major, has a passion for music, which is why she has also taken on a minor in Music, Media, and Enterprise. In a perfect world, Sofie wants to be a tour manager for live shows and travel the world. Her main reason for majoring in business is to have “a broader foundation of knowledge to work off of.” Similarly to Delaney, Sofie understands how competitive this line of work is, and she also doesn’t want to tie herself down to only one possible future. As a marketing major, Sofie is glad to have more career choices ahead of her, but she is still able to work towards her goal by minoring in something more specific to the music industry.

I asked both Delaney and Sofie why they chose a business degree as opposed to one in music or film. They both answered in a similar way. A business degree provides broader opportunities and skills that an arts degree can not promise. Understanding what contracts you are signing, and what deals you are making is an integral part to surviving in the entertainment industry. Sofie explains, “my passion is for the live entertainment piece of the music industry rather than the creation of music and thus I did not feel like understanding the theories and other knowledge behind music would be as beneficial to me as a business degree.” Sofie makes an important distinction between the artist and those who support and work with the artist. Both of these roles are major moving pieces in entertainment, but Sofie explains that those who are working with the artist benefit greatly from a business degree. This includes managers, marketers, producers, etc. These are the people that take the art, give it a platform, and help it be consumed by mass amounts of people.

For the artist, it seems more beneficial to pursue a degree in music theory, or theater/film in order to perfect their craft. However, that doesn’t mean a business background would not help them succeed. Sofie talks about how small creators often have to promote their own work. Understanding advertising and finance can be really helpful to these up-and-coming artists. Delaney agrees that anyone who wants to work in this industry will be better off with knowing the tricks and trades of the business world. She notes, “no matter where you work, business plays a large role.”

The biggest reason why a good business foundation is crucial to the entertainment industry is because both industries are interconnected. Sofie explains that “understanding the current consumer markets is at least 80% of the entertainment industry and therefore having some knowledge of how to interpret and predict these markets will really take you far in this industry.” Understanding what the consumers want is the foundation of entertainment. If you are writing a script for a superhero blockbuster film, you need to think about what the viewers want to see, and write powerful scenes that make people want to come back and watch the film again. As a music producer, you need to look at trends and figure out if a dance pop song is going to hit the charts, or if you should be shifting towards rap in order to grow your listeners.

According to Delaney, “you need to understand what audiences are looking for and how you can offer it to them.” This is the foundation of what we, as business majors, learn in our marketing classes. It is important to be able to hold your own in this stressful industry and figure out what works and what doesn’t. The strategies you can learn in a business program can give a competitive edge to knowing what is going to turn a profit, what is going to garner more views, and what is going to give this project more attention than the competition.

Thank you for reading this post! If you are thinking about pursuing a career in the entertainment industry, I hope you were able to gain some insight into the benefits of studying business. Also, I want to thank Delaney and Sofie for sharing their thoughts on this topic. If you have any further questions or want to discuss more about the benefits of a business degree in the entertainment industry, you can email me at litzler.7@osu.edu.

Erin Litzler

Editor: Cassie Kobel

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Transitioning from College Student to Young Professional

4/25/2021

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The transition from college to a young professional can seem daunting as you adapt to a new schedule and find how you fit into your new role. I had the pleasure of discussing this matter with UBWA alumna and recent graduate, Katie Crum. Katie was the UBWA president for the 2019-2020 school year and now works as an industry marketer for Avient Corporation. In our discussion, she shared great insights about transitioning into full time work and the challenges that she has overcome in the process.
Challenges of Starting a Full Time Position

           With new ventures comes new challenges. Whether it be joining a new company, moving to an unfamiliar place, or the overall shift to working full time, transitioning from a college student to a young professional can be taxing. Katie shared some of the difficulties she faced as she transitioned into her full-time role. She mentioned the clear challenges of starting work in a pandemic and went on to talk about the disconnect she felt from her coworkers, navigating new forms of communication, and the pace of her work. She also shared an important lesson about the struggles she faced in finding her new identity after graduation.
           “I went from working two jobs, being involved in multiple organizations, and taking a full course load in college to living by myself in a new city, working alone, and limited social interaction,” Katie shared. “Like most of the recent grads, I think, I struggled with the isolation of graduating college, leaving my friends, and finding a new identity that wasn’t tied up in what I majored in or what organization I belonged to.” I don’t think this subject is discussed enough, that leaving college can frequently come with a bit of an “identity crisis” as you search to find new outlets for your interests and passions and leave behind a familiar routine.

Communicating Your Needs

     Starting a new position can be intimidating. You might find yourself burnt out on endless responsibilities, or unfulfilled by the lack of work you have. No matter how you are feeling in your role, it is important to communicate with your supervisors and coworkers what you need.    Katie reflected upon the anxiety she felt at the beginning of her work from the “lack of responsibility” she had in her role. However, she shared some advice on how she addressed this situation, stating, “as I have progressed in my roles, demonstrated my abilities, and advocated for what type of work I want to do, I have been met with substantial and meaningful assignments that allow me to add real value to what I do.” Although it might be difficult to speak up for yourself in a new role, it can help alleviate stress and make your work more enjoyable.

Finding Joy in a New Chapter

           While starting work full time can have its challenges, it can also be a rewarding experience and exciting new time in your life. As with any transition, you have new opportunities to learn about yourself and lean into your interests. In the midst of this transition, Katie found time to adopt “two cats and an obscene number of houseplants.” She also mentioned that through this change, she found new ways to connect with friends. Finding these bits of happiness can make for an easier adjustment to life outside of college.

           When I reached out to Katie to hear about what she has learned in her new role, she gave countless pieces of good advice to share with you all, but her closing statement really stuck with me, and I think it is important that it be shared directly in her words:

“As someone who loves to reminisce and give unsolicited life advice, I have so much more I could say about my time in UBWA and transition to working full-time, but I will leave you with this. Something I have been forced to learn over the past year is we are all inundated with the mindset that the moment something doesn’t work out in our lives we have to change it. Not to be confused with complacency; however, patience for yourself and your situation often allows you to gain perspective on what you care about most. So give yourself grace, buy a few houseplants, and try not to worry too much.”

           Thank you to Katie Crum for her wonderful insight on this topic and thank you for reading this post! If you would like to learn more about the featured alumna in this post, please click on the Featured Alumnae button on the blog’s webpage. If you would like to further discuss the topic of transitioning into a full-time role, feel free to contact me at john.170@osu.edu.

Elya John

Editor: Grace Berlier

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How to Build Connections in a New City

4/11/2021

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After graduating college, many people decide to start their journey in a new city. With this comes the challenge of digging your roots and building a network in that city. UBWA alumna Alexis Lesko moved to Los Angeles after graduating Ohio State with a specialization in Marketing in 2016. She currently works at United Talent Agency in the music department as an Agent Trainee. Alexis shared her strategies with me to “inspire some women to follow their dreams or take a risk.”

Tip 1: Reach out to your coworkers

Building a new social network can be intimidating. A strategy that can help is getting close with your new coworkers. If you sense that you would mesh well with someone you work with, ask them to go to lunch or dinner after work one day. Even if you don’t end up getting close, they can give you the low down on your new workplace including advice to succeed, what the culture is like, and information about your new coworkers.

Tip 2: Ask your friends and family if they know anyone in the city you’re moving to

One of the best ways to build a network outside of work is to rely on the people you already know. Ask your peers if they have any friends or family living in your new city, especially people they think you would get along with. Alexis says that although “it’s not easy to bring yourself to hang out with strangers” at the beginning, “it gets easier and more often than not they will reciprocate.”

Tip 3: Find a social place to explore a hobby

Whether it be joining a gym or a pottery making group, exploring a hobby can help you meet people with similar interests. Taking up a hobby can also help to occupy your time and get you more involved in your new community. Although it may initially be difficult, ask people in your organization if they want to go out to lunch. At the very least, they can tell you the best local spots.

Tip 4: Reach out to your current network

Post on your social media asking your followers if they know anyone in your new city. Additionally, reach out to any mentors or professors you are close to. There is no shame in using the connections you have built up over your years at Ohio State. Alexis moved to Los Angeles “with no job lined up and no real plan of attack,” but through using this method, a friend of a friend helped her get her current job.

Tip 5: LinkedIn networking

Cold or warm networking via LinkedIn can help you. Make a post on LinkedIn asking your network if they have connections in the city you are moving to. Although “it may take dozens of messages,” eventually you will meet people who are willing to help you. These conversations could be as social or professional as you need. If you are focusing on developing a professional network, set the tone for the call and the questions you ask towards that. However, you can always use this tactic to ask people about the city you are moving to. They can give you good advice and maybe even offer to meet you when you move.

Overall, it is important to put yourself out there when you move to a new place. Alexis says, “If you put in the effort to reach out and meet new people, opportunities and doors will open for you.” When you move to a new city, be true to yourself and you will meet people who actually align with you. Through a new move, it is important to take care of your mental and physical well-being as it can be a scary and draining process.

I would like to thank you for reading this post and Alexis Lesko for her insight on such an important topic! If you have any questions about this content or would like to discuss more about the challenges of adapting to a new city after graduation, feel free to email me at dickman.122@osu.edu.

Erin Dickman

Editor: Elya John

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Working Abroad as an Expat

3/28/2021

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After four years in the same college town, many graduates leap at the opportunity to start their careers in a new city, with some even seeking employment outside of the country. Expats receive the chance to experience a new culture and network with people from across the globe, all while learning about themselves in the process. Landing a job in a new country takes a great deal of planning, persistence, and conviction; it can often be challenging to know where to start.

I recently had the opportunity to interview UBWA alumna Lauren Covetta about her experience working abroad, living in a new country, and adjusting to a new career. Lauren graduated during the pandemic's peak in May of 2020 and is currently in Brussels, Belgium working as a Human Security Unit Junior Officer at NATO.

When starting a career overseas, the trickiest part can sometimes be getting your foot in the door. Lauren shared that her opportunity to work at NATO was possible because she maintained a connection she had made when she was 17 years old. Her advice to students who are just starting to consider working overseas is to "step away from campus to develop yourself and your ambitions as it forces you to challenge your mindset, meet new people and expand your perspective." This will give you the chance to gravitate towards positions that align with who you are.

"I can speak to feeling overwhelmed with one massive commitment, as opposed to feeling collected while on campus with eight different commitments."

Lauren opened up about many of the struggles that she faced in her first few months living abroad. Among them was the difficulty of channeling her energy more narrowly than ever before. This is a mostly foreign concept to ambitious undergraduates who spend most of their time bolting between classes, clubs, office hours, and social events. One of Lauren's most significant challenges was "the absence of routine in the presence of chaos," which she learned to embrace by making time for the practices that center her, such as exercising, cooking, listening to podcasts, and practicing her French.

Another challenge that Lauren faced was creating a network in her new career. Networking is intimidating to begin with, and networking during a pandemic is even more complicated. How does one network during a pandemic in a foreign country while abiding by covid guidelines? Lauren shared that her go-to networking method includes meeting colleagues in a nearby park for a walk or coffee. She suggests keeping conversations "short and purposeful," noting that it is essential to be respectful of others' time, especially those who have families. When possible, outdoor meetings are preferable to avoid the burnout that so many people are experiencing right now with Zoom and Skype calls.

"I have learned more about myself and my country in the last six months than I have in my 16 years of formal education."

One of the most sought-after opportunities of working abroad is the chance to interact with individuals from all across the globe. As one of the only Americans on her team, Lauren frequently interacts with citizens of the Netherlands, Italy, Canada, Austria, Iceland, and Germany. The exchange of social and cultural insights that she has experienced in her role has given her a heightened sense of cultural and geographic sensitivities. Lauren noted that these experiences will allow her to move through her future roles with a greater sense of empathy and awareness.

Working abroad in a foreign country will force you to confront several challenges, but it is often during hardship that we learn the most about ourselves. If you think you are up for the challenge, I'll leave you with some final advice from our interview.

"Remain open-minded, practice a language, welcome discomfort, strengthen your adaptability skills, identify your priorities, and never turn down a chance to pursue a passion."

Sylvia Strange

Editor: Erin Dickman

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Virtual Meeting Etiquette: Elevating Your Next Call

3/14/2021

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I hate Zoom calls. This is probably a sentence that you've heard once or twice — okay, a lot. You probably told yourself that things would be better if they were just in-person or that you really felt such a disconnect. While some professionals feel the same way, it is hard to deny the business environment's increasingly virtual nature. In fact, 72% of knowledge workers said that they would want a hybrid remote-office model moving forward. Whether we like it or not, virtual meetings are here to stay. So how do we make the best of our professional video calls? Or dare I even say it, actually enjoy them?

Look no further than UBWA alumna Sandra Aleksova. Aleksova has experienced a shift towards a nearly 100% virtual work environment in her experience as a Service Line Finance Manager at Procter & Gamble. In March of 2020, Procter & Gamble pivoted in response to the pandemic, instructing over 10,000 office personnel to work from home. Since then, it has been difficult to ignore the lasting impact of this decision on work-place norms. Luckily, Aleksova is ready to offer her top tips on how to elevate your next virtual meeting.

Beginning with setting up the call, Aleksova offers us some initial tips on approaching virtual meetings. She recommends arriving on time, in front of a clean background, with a plan. Aleksova states: "In the professional world, meetings crop up like weeds and quickly fill up your day. If you come prepared and get to the point, people will love you." Taking these initial steps demonstrates to your co-workers that you value their time. Likewise, try to schedule your meetings in 25 to 55-minute intervals instead of 30 to 60-minute intervals. As Aleksova explains, structuring meetings in this manner "provides needed breaks for those who have back-to-back meetings." Being respectful of others' time allows you to be a more effective, courteous virtual meeting host. After all, a simple five-minute break could make just the difference in lessening virtual meeting fatigue.

Now that you have scheduled the call, how do you engage meaningfully and respectfully with the other attendees? Interrupting your fellow meeting attendees is a frequent challenge during calls as picking up social cues is less intuitive in a virtual setting than in-person. In Aleksova's experience, it is helpful to "keep yourself muted if not actively speaking to limit background noise" and "use the 'raise hand' feature if you'd like to speak." Just as you want participants to be able to focus on your ideas, you also want to make sure that you are allowing your fellow participants to have their own opportunities to do the same. Muting yourself and "raising your hand" signals to your fellow meeting attendees that you care about their contributions. Similarly, when you are in a small group, turning your camera on also demonstrates active engagement. Aleksova says her "rule of thumb is if a meeting is ten people or less, show your face. In larger groups, it is typically not necessary for your camera to be on unless you're an active participant." Having your camera on makes the other meeting attendees feel like they are communicating with an actual audience rather than a collection of boxes on a screen.

Creating more engaging virtual environments, while difficult, strengthens personal connections. Similar to turning on your camera during small meetings, Aleksova suggests practicing small talk during 1-on-1 meetings. She explains: "This may seem awkward at first, but building relationships is key, so engage by keeping the conversation genuine and friendly. It becomes more comfortable & natural the more you do it!" Quick discussions about how someone's day is going or talking about something they are looking forward to can make a world of difference in the level to which you both connect. Conversations such as these make your fellow attendees feel heard, because they acknowledge that they have activities and responsibilities outside of just attending the meeting. Moreover, Aleksova recommends looking directly at the camera rather than the screen to make the conversation feel more personal. Looking into the camera resembles the eye contact you would typically make when meeting with someone in-person.

Approaching virtual meetings mindfully and intentionally, we set ourselves up to effectively host and engage as attendees. Virtual meetings may be different from the typical work environment to which many of us are accustomed. Still, the more we learn to adapt to the ever-changing work environment, the better we position ourselves for the future. After hearing Aleksova's tips, I hope that you are ready to elevate your next virtual meeting. Now, go crush those virtual meetings, UBWA!

Thank you to the fantastic UBWA alumna Sandra Aleksova for lending us her knowledge on this topic. If you would like to learn more about the featured alumna in this post, click on the Featured Alumnae button on the blog's webpage! If you would like to learn more about handling virtual meeting etiquette or discuss this topic further, feel free to contact me at berlier.2@osu.edu.

Grace Berlier

Editor: Sylvia Strange

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Advice on How-To Negotiate Your Salary

2/21/2021

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According to Forbes, only thirty percent of women negotiate their salaries compared to forty-six percent of men. This statistic poses an important question: why do women not negotiate their salary with employers? Many women are afraid to negotiate for fear of being seen as greedy or difficult by employers. On the contrary, men are seen as leaders when they ask to negotiate their salary.

I recently had the opportunity to speak with Undergraduate Business Women’s Association alumna Lesley Horstman about her experience negotiating. Lesley graduated from The Ohio State University in 2013 specializing in Marketing. She currently works as a Marketing Specialist at Covetrus, an animal health company that operates as a distributor to veterinarians.

First, preparation is key. Lesley told me that preparing for negotiation can take some of the intimidation away and make a woman feel more comfortable asking for a higher salary. She recommends starting your research by “[looking] at reputable sources online” for “salary levels for similar positions” and “salary ranges.” LinkedIn has a section on the career portion of their website that discusses salary. Once you have concluded your research, if you find a discrepancy with the salary you have been offered and the salaries common for your position, negotiate for a higher compensation.

Secondly, reflect on your time at the company. Sit down and list your major accomplishments and successes in your current role. Does your current salary reflect those accomplishments? When Leslie looked at the salary that was offered with her promotion, the answer was no. She sent an email to the executives at her company explaining why she deserved more. In her email, she highlighted detailed examples of her accomplishments over her three years at the company, describing how her work positively impacted the organization.

Since many women are made to feel they should be happy to have gotten their role in the first place, they often have a hard time feeling that they deserve more. Actress Brie Larson addressed this concern at the 2019 Women in the World Summit by saying “don’t even do it for you if that makes you feel weird right now, do it for the women that are going to come after you.” Bravely negotiating your salary could set a precedent for women to not accept less than what they are worth. This is a great tactic to use if you are having a difficult time convincing yourself you deserve higher compensation.

Furthermore, breaking the taboo nature of discussing money and compensation can work to help women feel comfortable negotiating. In many workplaces, discussing salary with coworkers and superiors is discouraged or even forbidden. This lack of transparency makes it difficult for women to ask for fair compensation when renegotiating their salary. In 2017, women on average were paid eighty percent of what men were paid. If we create an environment where all workers feel comfortable having candid conversations about their salaries, then we can work to close the wage gap through negotiation. Although conversations about salaries among coworkers are still considered taboo, introducing these conversations into the workplace will ensure that all employees have the necessary information to fight unjust salary discrimination.

Overall, preparation and research can help women feel comfortable negotiating the salary they deserve. A woman’s negotiation efforts have the power to set a precedent for the women after them; the efforts of one woman can make a difference in a company. It is important to acknowledge that you deserve a higher salary, and you are not difficult or greedy for wanting more.

Erin Dickman

Editor: Sylvia Strange

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How to Handle Being the Only Woman in the Room in 5 Steps

2/7/2021

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When you are the only woman in a room full of men, it is easy to feel intimidated. Being "the only," you may begin to question whether or not you truly belong in that room. After all, if there are not more women around you, there must be a reason — right? Perhaps you've begun to question whether you are qualified enough for the position or even the intent of why your company hired you. But hold on! As women, we must view our "only-ness" as an asset rather than a barrier. There is value in being the only woman in the room, and you are just as qualified as anyone to be there.

UBWA alumna Jenny Zaerr and Hannah Cedargren both have experience with being "the only woman in the room" in their respective fields. Zaerr works as a Senior Account Manager at Keurig Dr. Pepper within sales—an industry stereotypically comprised of older, white men. Cedargren works for EY within the consulting industry, which is also a male-dominated sector. Both women shared valuable insights with the UBWA Post on handling being the only woman in the room. We can best summarize their advice in five key steps.

Step 1: Understand your worth.

Companies need diverse perspectives — they hired you because your opinion matters to them. A 2015 McKinsey report on 366 public companies found that businesses in the top quartile for gender diversity were 15% more likely to have returns above the industry average. Women make companies more profitable, but it is up to women to own this metric. Cedargren states, "practice delivering the value of what you bring to the table. If you feel confident in the value that you're delivering, others in the room will see it and want to listen to it." Likewise, Zaerr elaborates that "it doesn't matter if you're showing up to a team of mostly women or men, remember you can always add value based on your knowledge and experiences." Varying perspectives make for a stronger team. Instead of getting caught up in feeling like an outsider, women must recognize that their ideas are worthy and essential.

Step 2: Know how to spot and deal with microaggressions.

Nearly two-thirds of women experience microaggressions at work. Microaggressions are the subtle, yet sometimes not so subtle, acts of sexism, ageism, and racism that many working women grapple with daily. Cedargren, for instance, recalls a microaggression from a client. "The client commented that one day I would likely live in the suburbs and drive my kids in a mini-van to sports practice." Zaerr is thankful not to have experienced gender-based microaggressions at work. She does remember age-related microaggressions related to her younger age relative to many of her coworkers. Zaerr's coworkers frequently teased: "Jenny and her tweeting." This might have been amusing if Zaerr was a Twitter fanatic, but Zaerr says she rarely tweets. Her coworkers just assumed she was an avid Twitter user based on her young age.

Microaggressions can sting a little at first, but it is also important to know how to cope. Instead of looking at microaggressions as an overt attack, women should try to understand the place from which the comment is coming. Cedargren believes women should view microaggressions as "an unconscious bias they might not know they have." Zaerr, similarly, explains in response to the Twitter comments that "People make these comments due to their insecurities. Perhaps they feel behind with technology. Or for the people who do experience gender-based stereotypes — perhaps they don't feel empathetic enough to lead a team of women effectively." Comments that at first feel like an assault on your identity may be a reflection of the person commenting.

Step 3: Take charge of your response.

It is easy to get caught up in the things that we cannot control, like our coworkers' behavior or choice of words, but our responses to interactions are just as important. As Zaerr explains: "We can only control our response soo either embrace their comment or call them out — respectfully, constructively and likely in private. Do whatever you feel compelled. . .but don't be afraid to voice your opinion when everyone already is doing so." In other words, if your coworkers are comfortable voicing their opinion with microaggressions, you should be just as comfortable sharing your own opinions and viewpoints with strength and conviction. Cedargren also offered tips on how to handle microaggressions best. She recommends reporting abusive behavior to human resources or a trusted leader but suggests addressing more well-meaning comments with coworkers as teachable moments. Such situations offer a valuable opportunity for women to take charge of interactions with coworkers. Cedargren reasons: "If the comment is more harmless and you have a good relationship with the individual, consider pulling the person aside and asking if they are open to feedback." Your coworkers may not know that their behavior is problematic in the first place and might appreciate your insight.

Step 4: Embrace your unique identity.

The differences separating you from your coworkers are what make up your identity. Sometimes women fear being trapped in a "box" characterized by a single attribute. They do not want to be reduced to their gender identity, age, race, or ethnicity. As Zaerr points out, however, being defined by your characteristics is not necessarily a bad thing. Zaerr emphasizes that "they are what make you. . . your characteristics can only be elevated by the value and ideas and output you bring every day to work." In essence, we could let our coworkers reduce us to our tropes or recognize how we can contribute effectively to work because of our own unique identities.

Step 5: Fake it 'til you make it!

This may sound counterintuitive, but even if you are not entirely comfortable in your professional role, pretend like you are. Cedargren explains, "Imposter syndrome is real — believe you're meant to be where you are, and others will believe with you." So what if deep down you do not feel qualified enough or deserving of your position right now — you have the job. Own it! Who knows? You might start believing that you earned it, because the truth is, you did!

Thank you to the wonderful UBWA alumna, Jenny Zaerr and Hannah Cedergren, who were so kind as to offer us such excellent advice on this topic. If you would like to learn more about the featured alumna in this post, click on the Featured Alumnae button on the blog's webpage! If you would like to learn more about handling being "the only woman in the room" or discuss this topic further, feel free to contact me at berlier.2@osu.edu

Grace Berlier

Editor: Elya John

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The Effect of Covid-19 on the Future of Working Mothers

1/23/2021

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In February of 2020, women held more than half of the nation's jobs. When the pandemic struck this past year and childcare facilities shut down, many women sacrificed their careers to care for their families. By September of 2020, four times as many women had left the workforce compared to men. As the pandemic threatens to set women's progress back a generation, working mothers are searching for new ways to adapt to remote work.
I recently had the opportunity to interview one of our UBWA Alumna Nicole Balkenbusch, and our UBWA advisor Lauren Kume about their experience navigating motherhood and their careers during the pandemic. Nicole currently works for Amazon as America's Customer Service Operations Finance Leader, and Lauren is a Career Advisor in the office of Career Management at Ohio State.

When schools and daycare centers shut down across the country in March, many working parents found themselves working full time at home while also managing their kids' online schooling. "In all honesty, my career took the backseat for a while," explained Lauren. Nicole also imparted that she had to reprioritize her expectations both in her career and her personal life. But as the months went by, they found ways to adapt. Nicole and her husband, who also work full-time from home, implemented a "stop-sign" system with their two young girls to indicate when it is okay for them to come into their offices. Red means do not enter, yellow means ask for permission, and green means enter. Nicole noted that this strategy helps with evenly distributing the number of interruptions between her and her husband. Lauren and her husband decided that he would support their 6-year-old with schoolwork and technology issues and help out more with kitchen duty to balance out their responsibilities. While it has been difficult, there is a potential silver lining to these new changes for working mothers.

First, the pandemic has proven that it is possible for employees to virtually attend meetings, work on projects, and collaborate while working from home. This realization is causing many companies to reimagine how they will use their offices in the future. Although it is unlikely that the office concept will disappear completely, the workplace's future is estimated to be a highly flexible hybrid model that will include both at-home and in-office work. A wider acceptance of working from home will open up opportunities for women who were previously constrained by childcare responsibilities.

Second, the pandemic has pulled back the curtain on the struggles and challenges that working parents face. As Lauren put it, "The mental load of being a working mother is coming to light." Many working fathers have also experienced – maybe for the first time – a full day's worth of what it feels like to be home with their children. The hope is that this shared experience will make it easier for employers to empathize with working moms' demands. For example, Nicole immediately notified her finance team and coworkers when her daughter's daycare shut down in March. She communicated that she would do the best she could and would likely work reduced hours now that she had two young kids at home. Interestingly, Nicole noticed that her husband did not feel the same need to notify his employer that his children were at home. Nicole nailed it when she said, "In the future, my hope is that people (men and women) feel empowered to say what's really going on at home such that they can be their full selves at work."

While opportunities to work from home may become more commonplace in the post-pandemic world, we must remember that having a job where it is even possible to work from home is a privilege. The pandemic has shown us that essential people in our economy are also among the lowest-paid and most under-supported. For working mothers who are also essential workers, working from home is not an option. According to the New York Times, "One in three jobs held by women has been designated essential, […] and nonwhite women are more likely to be doing essential jobs than anyone else." Likewise, we must center women in public policy discussions to ensure that we are providing them with adequate support. Possible policy solutions include providing comprehensive paid sick leave and preventing workplace discrimination based on caregiving responsibilities.

The current numbers of women in the workforce are alarming. The ratio of women working compared to men has not been this low since 1988, and 21st-century, women still shoulder most childcare and household responsibilities. Moving forward, my hope is that the pandemic has left us with a newfound sense of empathy for the challenges that working mothers face. If we are to preserve the progress that women have made in their careers – including their $7.6 trillion contribution to the United States GDP each year – we must demand more support from our employers, companies, and political leaders. A better, more equitable future is possible

Sylvia Strange

Editor: Grace Berlier

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5 Tips for Looking After Your Mental Health in the Workplace

1/9/2021

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In the United States, almost 1 in 5 adults deal with mental illness, and 71% report having symptoms of stress. High levels of stress and poor mental health can affect productivity, job performance, and daily functions. Since mental health is a prevalent issue, it is important that employers are educated on how to support their employees, and employees know how to practice self-care.

I had the opportunity to discuss mental health and self-care regimens with two UBWA alumna, Kayla Dargay and Emma Galasso. Kayla is a recent graduate who works as a Financial Professional at Equitable Advisors, while Emma is a 2018 graduate who works as a Stunt Department Assistant, Director’s Assistant, and Personal Assistant for Walter Garcia, a Director and Stunt Coordinator out of Atlanta. With Emma and Kayla’s help, I was able to come up with 5 strategies to look after your mental well-being and aid you at work.

Tip 1: Make Time for Your Hobbies Outside of Work

The biggest piece of advice that I received from Emma and Kayla was to make time for things you enjoy outside of work. For Kayla, this could be anything from cooking, meal prepping, and baking to couponing and grocery shopping. Emma finds that riding lessons have helped her stay active and busy. No matter what your hobby is, making time for yourself during time off is one of the best ways to practice self-care.

Tip 2: Track Your Progress

Making lists and tracking your progress can help you notice your growth, and learn to appreciate yourself and your time more. This might look different for everyone; whether this is writing daily to-do lists or setting long term goals and checking them off when you accomplish them, any structure that helps you is great. Kayla mentioned making lists has helped her recognize her progress, “even if it’s slowly, but surely.”

Tip 3: Communicate Your Feelings to Your Supervisor Early

We have all heard the saying, “communication is key.” This definitely rings true in the workplace. If you are struggling with workload or professional difficulties, your supervisor might be able to help find solutions to create a better work environment. Mentioning this early on will make it easier for adjustments to be made. Since you spend so much time at work, it is crucial that you enjoy who you work with and the work you complete. Emma mentioned that while she was working on Avengers, she spent more time with her coworkers than she did roommates or family, which I think is the perfect testament to this.

Tip 4: Get Good Sleep and Stay Active

The CDC recommends employees wrestling with mental health to “eat healthy, well-balanced meals, exercise regularly, and get 7 to 8 hours of sleep a night.” A good night’s rest and a healthy lifestyle can significantly increase your energy levels and productivity.

Tip 5: Accept Your Mistakes— It’s Normal!

While it is great to practice self-care and communication, accepting yourself can build confidence! Accept that mistakes are normal and are essential for growth. Emma shared with me the intensity that comes with working in the film industry. She said, “The workload is never ending— literally.” Kayla also shared about the stress that financial advisors face, especially with finding clients. In high pressure situations like these, you are likely to slip up. Use your mistakes as learning experiences to foster future growth.

Even if you don’t have a personal struggle with mental health, it is likely that someone you know does. Check on your coworkers and friends, offer support, and share resources with them if necessary.

One last note that I would like to leave you with is advice that I received from Kayla— “Do what works best for YOU.” There is not one right way to practice self-care but finding what works well for you can help to alleviate stress and make your work life more enjoyable.

I would like to thank you for reading this post as well as Kayla Dargay and Emma Galasso for their insight on such an important topic! If you have any questions about this content or would like to discuss more about mental health or self care, feel free to email me at john.170@osu.edu.

Elya John

Editor: Erin Dickman

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Diversity in the Workplace: Creating an Inclusive & Innovative Environment

4/12/2020

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In the modern world, we are surrounded by diversity on a daily basis. Diversity can display itself in small ways and sometimes in ways that we may not even notice. As Ohio State students, we are consistently working in a variety of groups and settings. We are in contact with people who come from different backgrounds or have varying values that may differ from our own. Whether this happens while working in group projects, in our student organizations, or while working outside of the classroom in an internship or career, you are bound to work in teams of people who all have unique views of the world. In this blog post, I plan to dive a little deeper into why the concept of diversity and inclusion is something many companies are looking to achieve and improve upon from a professional standpoint.

UBWA alumna, Melissa Trejo, provided me with real-world guidance on how diversity influences the workplace. Her insight has helped me to give insight into how diversity in the workplace can influence more innovative thinking and problem solving, as well as the tangible benefits many companies are seeing based on diverse teamwork.

The Benefit of Varying Perspectives on Creativity and Problem Solving
Many companies around the world, ranging from corporate entities to locally owned businesses, are continuing to make diversity and inclusion a larger part of their company values. To break down the term “diversity in the workplace” I want to begin with acknowledging that diversity ranges from a cultural and religious perspective to working with different genders, ages, or people with disabilities. Working with those who are different than you is the beginning to more creative thinking and more involved team problem-solving skills.

Melissa Trejo is an alumna of UBWA, who graduated from Fisher in 2015 with a degree in accounting and economics. While Melissa was an undergrad at Fisher, she interned at Nationwide and now holds a full-time position there, working with the Investments on the Close, Analysis and Regulatory Reporting Solution’s team. Melissa shared an inside look at how a company as large as Nationwide makes diversity and inclusion part of their everyday mission. Melissa explained, “If you were hiring a team, you wouldn’t hire everyone with the same skills and strengths. A smart manager would hire people with different skill sets and strengths to have a well-rounded team that compliments each other. If everyone did everything the same and thought the same way, there would never be innovation because everyone would have the same ideas and think there is one “best” solution to a problem. Diversity and inclusion is key for a successful organization because it allows people with different backgrounds to come together and be open to be uniquely them.”

Diversity in a professional environment promotes higher creativity as team members and employees are more open to being their authentic selves. Working in a diverse group also brings about a much higher level of innovation, as Melissa mentions above. In a diverse environment, whether this be working in the professional world or working on a class project here at Fisher, exposing yourself to varying viewpoints and different ways of thinking enhances innovation as multiple perspectives come together. Working in a team of people that came from different backgrounds and grew up having different experiences from one another is how diverse solutions come about. If everyone in the room has the exact same idea or way of thinking through a problem, you miss out on looking at the situation from different angles. Seeing problems differently than the person who sits across from you enables more creativity in teamwork, which has led to more informed decisions.

Higher Employee Productivity and Psychological Safety
Have you ever worked in a group where you have an idea or input to a problem, but you don’t feel comfortable speaking up in fear that the rest of your team may overlook you? This scenario can happen in team projects or group discussions where an individual or a few people within a group don't feel comfortable speaking up. As a result, the rest of the group doesn't get to benefit from the diverse ideas of the team in its entirety. While creating diverse groups is an important part of any team or project, making sure to promote the idea of inclusion is just as important. Diversity helps to produce an inclusive atmosphere where everyone feels comfortable speaking up and making their ideas known. Diversity in the workplace isn't just about forming a group with people who are of different ages, genders, or ethnicities, but also creating a space where these groups feel confident in themselves and their teammates, thus creating a productive working environment. Melissa emphasises that, “When your company embraces, welcomes, and values you for being you, you’re more engaged and driven to be the best you. Having people who are different than you is equally important to having people who are similar to you. For me, having people who are similar to me allows me to feel more at home.”

Ways in Which Companies Create Diverse & Inclusive Spaces
In the same way that we have a vast array of student organizations on campus, Melissa elaborated on the resources companies such as Nationwide provide for their employees to feel more inclusive in the professional world. Melissa said, “One of those resources is our Associate Resource Groups (ARG), which are basically like clubs similar to UBWA. I am involved in the All Women ARG and the National Latino Alliance ARG. I have connected with so many people through these ARG’s that have become my second family.” Having resources such as “ARG” is becoming a norm at many different companies. These organizations are oftentimes interconnected around the country, by a national board and with each office having their own chapter. Staying involved in organizations that promote diversity allows you to network and meet more people. These people may either be similar or different from yourself or they may not work in your office.

Melissa also shared with me how Nationwide promotes diversity throughout the entire company via their diversity and inclusion teams. She explained that, “An example of how diversity and inclusion is embedded throughout the whole organization is with our diversity and inclusion teams, which is different from the associate resource groups. There is the Enterprise Diversity and Inclusion team that manages all diversity and inclusion efforts for the whole company. There are diversity inclusion teams for each business unit. I fall under the Finance business unit and there is a Finance Diversity and Inclusion team that focuses on diversity and inclusion for the Finance department.”

Staying involved in different organizations, as well as diversity and inclusion groups, helps to promote diversity in the work environment even after you have left the office for the day. The types of organizations that Melissa mentioned are great ways to meet people in different departments or that may even work for a different company entirely! Staying involved outside of your daily work schedule helps to enhance diversity and open your mind to new ideas and different skill sets.

Tangible Benefits Many Companies See by Promoting Diverse Groups
A benefit that many companies are also experiencing along with increased productivity and innovation from hiring a diverse skill set, is increased profit and financial well being. There is a direct link between hiring more diverse teams and faster decision making, which leads to a competitive edge in the profit sector. When employees from different backgrounds work together, solutions are reached faster, more creatively, and employees are often happier. All of these factors put together have been shown to increase revenue results.

It is clear that companies and organizations around the world value diverse and inclusive workspaces to enhance creative thinking, critical problem solving, innovation, increased profits and overall employee engagement. It is important to remember that the success linked to working in a diverse and sometimes unfamiliar environment starts with you. Having the ability to be open minded and appreciate values other than your own will take you far in both your personal and professional life.

Thank you again to Melissa Trejo, who was kind enough to share her experiences and values related to diversity and inclusion in the workplace in order to help with this blog post. Please feel free to reach out to me if you would like more information on this topic by emailing me at jadrych.2@osu.edu.

Ellie Jadrych

Editor: Emily Perrin

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4 Major Ways to Stand Out in the Accounting Field

3/29/2020

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If you have ever looked into the different types of jobs offered in the accounting field, you know that the work being done in different positions can seem to be very similar. Financial accounting, public accounting, tax accounting, etc. all are doing similar work. The major difference is that the work is being done for different segments of people. Accounting helps keep a business’ financial records in check, along with providing an overall efficiency for the company.

When working in the accounting field it is significantly more difficult to differentiate yourself because of the similar skills being performed by everyone else. In any accounting position or job it is important to create your own brand, and it will always require extra effort.

I contacted a UBWA alumna, Samantha Borchers, to get insight about this topic. Samantha graduated from OSU in 2013 in accounting. She has given me a lot of good advice about how to achieve your own personal brand while doing very similar work to everyone else in this field.

I have compiled 4 different strategies to help you stand out in the accounting field with the help and insight of Samantha.

1) Develop an attitude of learning.

It is vital in your work to be willing to learn other aspects of business, not just in the sector you reside in. Being knowledgeable about other areas in the business besides your own (especially if you are working in accounting) looks very attractive to employers and other co-workers. Researching concepts you don’t understand or things you would like to know more about is very important for an attitude of learning. Don’t feel like you need to limit yourself to only knowing or learning about things in accounting.

2) Get involved in other things outside of work!

To further develop your personal brand in accounting it is especially important to define yourself as a person. The things that you are passionate about, in work and out of work are what make you, YOU. These things will be the major factor that differentiates you from your co-workers. Lots of people can have the same skills as you, but few people can have exactly the same passions that you do. Samantha stated, “But, don’t let your professional life be your only life. I believe getting involved outside of work can be a great stress reliever. Volunteer at a local charity or participate in a book club…whatever will help you reset your body and mind outside of work. A well-rounded life can bring confidence in interacting with new people, practice in time management, and empathy in difficult or unknown situations, all crucial in a professional environment.” The idea is that getting involved in things you are passionate about outside of work has many advantages that may help with relieving stress and creating your personal brand. After all, who you are as a person and what you enjoy defines your personal brand!

3) Put emphasis on what you want people to remember you by.

Recognize what you want co-workers and your employer to remember you by. Whatever it is, make sure you put more effort into working those parts of your persona into your everyday life while at work. Samantha said, “The accounting skillset I’ve learned since graduating has coincided with an attitude of empathy, respectfulness, and dependability. I want to make sure people are remembering me through positive contributions.” Determine what part of you that you want to stand out the most and cultivate a lifestyle of working to emphasize it. You can be remembered by your skills, personality, passions, knowledge, and many other things. For example, if you want to become a more diverse person and be remembered by your inclusivity, work to put yourself in uncomfortable situations and perhaps educate yourself on views totally different than your own.

4) Make your work ethic reflect your values personally.

As stated earlier, you will be able to stand out more with things that are personal to you. If you believe in working hard until the task is almost perfect, reflect that in your performance. If you believe listening to others and socializing is more important than working independently, cultivate those aspects into your profession. You can stand out if you shape the accounting tasks to be done in ways that reflect you and your values. If you try to differentiate yourself and let your true thoughts, values, and virtues be shown in your maybe boring or tedious everyday work, you will be able to stand out.

Even though I connected these tips mostly to accounting, they are important in any area of business to try to stand out and develop your own persona within the company. Accounting can be very tedious work that makes it hard for your personality to show. My hope is that these tips will help bring out your own personality in your work and inspire you to let your personal self show more in a professional environment.

Thank you to Samantha again for providing me with great insight into how she has developed her personal self in the accounting profession. If you have any questions regarding my post, feel free to reach out at brandenburg.61@osu.edu.

Mallory Brandenburg

Editor: Ellie Jadrych

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