Women have made significant strides in the business arena in recent decades, but there is ground to make up.
To raise awareness of these issues and give Saints extra support to prepare for their future careers, a new Women in Business club has been created at Siena. And yes, men are welcome to join.
The club is organized by Bella Kieser ’24 and Mattingly O’Rourke ’25 with Ashley Provencher, Ph.D., department chair and associate professor of economics, as advisor. The club is open to students of any major, because everyone needs to prepare a resume, interview for jobs and navigate a career.
“There are existing business clubs at Siena but this organization creates a space specifically for conversations about gender in the workplace,” said Provencher.
Kieser and O’Rourke learned about ongoing gender issues in their School of Business classes over the past couple years, and started thinking that a club dedicated to exploring ways to address them would be a good idea for Siena students. For example, studies show that there is still a pay gap between men and women. Also, women tend not apply for a position unless they meet all or nearly all of the criteria listed in the job description. And then there’s the challenge of combining a career with family life, which still seems to be primarily the responsibility of mothers.
Women in Business started hosting events before it was even officially a club. They held a three-part Empower Her workshop last fall to help develop workplace and social/emotional skills. There was also a kick-off reception last month co-hosted by the Siena Beverage Institute to learn tips and tricks surrounding dress codes, name tags and alcohol in business-adjacent social events.
“They seem like small things, but how you dress, how you greet people, how you hold a plate and glass all add up in making an impression,” said O’Rourke.
They are also connecting with female alumni who are share their personal stories and mentor young professionals on the rise.
“We learn about their career experiences, and who helped them grow and develop on their way up,” said Kieser. “It’s inspiring to hear their stories.”
The club is planning an upcoming event on salary negotiation. Kieser and O’Rourke said that many women simply accept the first salary figure they are offered when landing a job, when companies often leave some room for negotiation. They are also helping to promote “Women’s Thought Leadership Forum: Ready for the Next Step” to be held Wednesday, April from 3:30-5PM at the offices of Goldman Sachs Ayco in Cohoes.
You can follow the club on Instagram at @sienawomeninbusiness and everyone is welcome to take part.
“It’s not just a female thing,” said O’Rourke. “Men can learn how they can support women’s issues and champion their female counterparts.”
