WIB’s Fisher Made Accessible

Fisher College of Business at The Ohio State University is the only college with its own campus within the Columbus location. This facet of the program has always been the most visually interesting, although onlookers and newer students might find it peculiar. Through joining the student organization Women in Business (WIB), the vastness of opportunities offered at Fisher became much clearer. It makes sense why there's such an emphasis on the business campus. From professional headshots and interview training to perfecting your resumes and handshake profiles, there's so much advice to be uncovered that it becomes overwhelming. WIB makes navigating this fervent environment smooth, creating friendships and communities of support to help guide newcomers to find their confidence at OSU. 

WIB’s mission statement is “To foster a community of students interested in empowering women by encouraging personal and professional growth in supportive environments through meaningful relationships, engaging discussions, leadership development, and philanthropy.” A mission well accomplished according to current members, sophomores Joelle Edwards and Sameeha Rahman. When interviewing both students, themes surrounding the culture of WIB stuck out and led their descriptions of the organization. They both talked about the feeling of finding your university family, how WIB is like a rocket that lifts you up and provides a crew and the tools necessary to take off for those nervous to leave the launchpad. 

Joelle Edwards discovered WIB the traditional way, through the involvement fair in her first semester of freshman year. What made the organization among hundreds unique though, was the welcoming energy exuded by the women behind the table rather than the information atop. In Joelle’s interview she explained “I was immediately drawn to it because the members were so genuine and supportive!” The organization places an emphasis on social connection as well as professional development which creates a positive environment that keeps members committed and coming back. These close knit kinships continue to benefit members outside of the organization as well. Considering her large class sizes in Fisher Joelle commented, “I am confident there will be at least one other WIB member that I can sit and study with, which has really helped make such a large school feel small.” 

As a first year student, the navigation of business opportunity can be tricky, but by joining WIB Joelle was given the opportunity to take unique pathways and curate the development she wanted. More specifically stated she joined the Women’s Month Committee, a sub-group of members that work together and in different roles to plan and execute events throughout March, Women’s History month. In her first year of the committee she served as the Events Manager, and in returning for a second season she became the Finance Director. This most recent year, Joelle has taken on numerous responsibilities building her valuable leadership skills as well as helping to grow her confidence in her roles and relationships within the committee. To finish off  March in 2025, the Women’s Month committee organized a “Brunch and Brew,” to celebrate WIB members and the women they hold dearest. This event included catering from local bagel shops and a sponsored coffee cart from Rambler apartments, with each financial detail managed by Joelle! 

Sameeha Rahman joined WIB during her sophomore year, discovering the organization through word of mouth and joining because of its emphasis on “Empowering women in the business world.” Sameeha is one of the most committed members in this community, as she attends weekly meetings, specialty events, serves on the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I) committee, and was just recently named Member of the Month for March! 

Her initial attraction to the club was due to its genuine atmosphere which allowed for her to gather with like-minded women and launch herself into learning about the business world. Sameeha emphasized the feelings of belonging she found within WIB, explaining that “As a finance student at Fisher, I often find myself in classes that are dominated by men,” This is true of many of the business-related organizations on campus, making it hard to stand out in such aggressive environments. Situating herself in a space surrounded by people she related to and that have similar goals to hers allowed her to begin growing her confidence and reaching her potential. The mentor programs offered through WIB and the welcoming energy radiating through the organization also played a key part in Sameeha’s love of the club, she spoke to the impact of WIB by saying “The Executive Board made a point to get to know all of the members, and their genuine interest in connecting with us made a huge difference. It was easy to feel included because the members radiated positivity and friendliness, always smiling and making new faces feel at home. I not only felt welcomed but also truly valued.”

The Professional Opportunity Sameeha is most passionate about is her involvement in the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I) committee. A group within the organization that has allowed her to “Brainstorm ideas, organize events, and make a direct impact on and shape the culture of the organization.” Through her participation in the committee, she has created and taken part in initiatives to spread the message of the importance of DE&I, specifically in the business world. Ultimately encouraging the growth of her confidence and involvement in Fisher events outside of WIB, for example Sameeha shared that through her growth in WIB she felt confident enough in her skills to attend one of Fisher’s career fairs. 

WIB isn’t just for business majors though, as agreed upon by both of the featured members. A big portion of the organization’s mission is to encourage women in the professional world regardless of which aspect they are involved in. As spoken on by Joelle, speakers non-exclusive to business are oftentimes brought into meetings to encourage creativity and confidence. “ For example, last year there was a presentation about imposter syndrome. I think that the information shared was relevant to women in numerous different career fields.” She added that if you share the values within WIB’s mission to empower women through support and empowerment that WIB is worth giving a chance. 

Similar to the argument above, Sameeha stressed the openness of the organization to students of all backgrounds no matter their professional or academic goals. Stating that she has become familiar with non-business majors that are just as involved in the club demonstrating that you don’t have to be in business to get the most out of WIB. Sameeha stated “Whether you’re interested in entrepreneurship, social impact, or something entirely different, WIB provides a platform to explore and grow. It’s an empowering space for anyone who wants to expand their horizons, voice their ideas, and realize their potential!” 

Some favorite WIB moments to capture your attention: Joelle praised the Gala, talking about how much fun it was to organize and attend with the friends she made along the way. While Sameeha loved the Valentine’s Day Social, she shared that the flower making activities and the chocolate fountain were certainly highlights in her semester. With a number of events like these sprinkled throughout the school year, there’s never a dull moment in WIB! With members that love and talk about their organization like this, how could you not join Women in Business?