Women in Business Initiative

Prachi Vakharia is awarded WIBI Woman of the Year

Jennifer Anzaldi — Wed, 26 Oct 2022 13:23:55 +0000

Prachi Vakharia is awarded WIBI Woman of the Year Jennifer Anzaldi Wed, 10/26/2022 - 09:23

In This Story

Prachi Vakharia

In her quest to gain a better understanding of people, the mechanisms of the world around her, and advances in science and technology, Prachi Vakharia has taken on many roles simultaneously. Presently, she is a transportation and innovation specialist at Amazon, associate partner at European boutique investment bank ImprovedCF, and co-founder of Womanium. She does all this while also serving on several advisory boards, including as chairperson of the Business for a Better World Center (B4BW) Advisory Board at ��AV’s School of Business.

With a lengthy list of responsibilities filling her days, it is easy to see how Vakharia could get overwhelmed. However, each project leads to a focused central mission of hers, and so she finds the work itself to be invigorating. “Since a young age, I’ve been curious about the world around me, growing up in many different places and experiencing different cultures between Asia, Europe, and North America,” she says. Vakharia lets her curiosities for science, entrepreneurship, and innovation drive her.

In 2017, Prachi Vakharia co-founded Womanium, which has awarded more than a thousand scholarships to date and trains women in a variety of cutting-edge scientific fields, including quantum computing, atomic clocks, computation neuroscience, satellites, and energy.

Vakharia’s inspiring level of engagement and achievement earned her recognition as the 2022 Women in Business Initiative (WIBI) Woman of the Year. The School of Business WIBI board is composed of professionals supporting businesswomen and female business students at Mason. “It’s great to be validated that at Womanium we’re doing the right things–advancing and placing women in scientific leadership roles and the award is the signal that we should keep doing more of it and build the leaders of tomorrow,” she says. And with the constant changes of the world and technology, there’s little rest for Vakharia, as she continues striving to make the world a better place for everyone.

Encouraged to see more organizations educating in STEM (science, technology, engineering, math), she looks to the future. “Not many institutions train one to look at the horizon, to think about the pivotal technologies that will be emerging in the next five, ten, twenty years,” she says. “A leader needs to have foresight and be ready for future disruptions–and Womanium’s role is to create and prepare this next generation of female leaders.”

One of the newer centers at the School of Business, B4BW operates both inside and outside the classroom with the belief that business should be a force for good in the world. Vakharia became involved when Rashed Hasan, B4BW’s executive in residence, reached out and showed her how the center’s goals aligned with her own. Two of the center’s initiatives closest to her heart are the Honey Bee Initiative (HBI), which empowers communities through sustainable beekeeping and helps the conservation of bees, and the stakeholder value index, a newly constructed framework for measuring business impact. “We want to enable a corporation’s footprint to be measured by its impact on people, planet, and profits–the triple bottom line,” she says.

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WIBI board member’s new book teaches women to master their mindsets

Jennifer Anzaldi — Tue, 23 Aug 2022 04:08:00 +0000

WIBI board member’s new book teaches women to master their mindsets Jennifer Anzaldi Tue, 08/23/2022 - 00:08

In This Story

Molly K. Gimmel

Molly Gimmel

Molly Gimmel’s career has long been dedicated to helping other women become outstanding leaders. For more than two decades, she has served as the CEO and co-founder of Design To Delivery Inc, a federal government contractor helping organizations manage acquisitions, contracts, and projects. Recently, she founded the Vellamo Leadership Institute, an online community where women can support and mentor each other. And in April her book, Master Your Mindset: How Women Leaders Step Up was released, revealing the attitudes of effective female leaders across industry to show the reader how she too can reach her full potential.

Gimmel credits the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO), where she was formerly the National Board Chair, in helping her discover what it means to be an effective leader and how to run a business. From among those involved with the expansive network, she witnessed leadership traits that achieved desired results and opened her eyes to the kind of support she could give those just beginning their careers.

Looking for additional insight, Gimmel read as much as she could about leadership, but found a lack of literature focusing on women. “I’ve heard before that the person you’re best equipped to help is the person you used to be,” she says. “I thought of myself at age 30 when I was working for a large consulting firm and getting promoted into managerial positions and being asked to lead teams but having no experience whatsoever managing people.” She had been able to overcome these difficulties through ambition, a strong work ethic, and a robust network. However, she remained keenly aware that not everyone shared the same strengths that benefited her, or didn’t fully grasp how to utilize them.

Gimmel observes common anxieties among women, and people in general, including a feeling of not being worthy, or imposter syndrome. “Many women worry they don’t have the right education or right skills, but they wouldn’t be put in the position if that was true,” she says. “Maybe they don’t have the right experience yet, but working the job is how they get that experience and learn.” Gimmel wrote Master Your Mindset for anyone who may need that confidence boost or new perspective to reach the next level of her career.

With a passion for interacting with young, aspiring businesswomen, Gimmel enjoys imparting lessons she’s learned throughout her career. It was a primary factor driving her to join the Women in Business Initiative (WIBI) Board at the ��AV School of Business. Unfortunately, much of her involvement to date was during the pandemic when face-to-face interaction simply wasn’t an option. To the relief of Gimmel and the rest of the community, campus is bustling with activity once again, and with it the opportunity of engaging with female business students. “I think it’s really important for someone at my level in my career to give back and support younger women trying to better themselves and launch their own careers,” she says. Gimmel has been supporting female business students through her role as chair of the WIBI events committee, organizing functions like the annual wine fundraiser, which raises money for the WIBI Endowed Scholarship.

Throughout the decades, Gimmel is pleased to see an evolving relationship between women in the workplace. “In the 70s and 80s, fewer women were promoted and so they were pitted against each other as competition,” she says. “Now that it’s more common for women to be in leadership, we can mentor and champion each other.” Through her work, Molly Gimmel has championed countless women, and the publication of Master Your Mindset drastically increases that reach.

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Women in Business Initiative

Women in Business Initiative Business of the Year Recipient Paints a Trail for Businesswomen

Marianne Klinker — Fri, 03 Dec 2021 20:12:20 +0000

Women in Business Initiative Business of the Year Recipient Paints a Trail for Businesswomen Marianne Klinker Fri, 12/03/2021 - 15:12

Raea Jean Leinster, BA Russian Area Studies ’92, launched Yuck Old Paint, LLC in 2014 in response to an unmet need she heard repeatedly from her design clients – what to do with gallons and gallons of leftover, unused and unwanted cans of paint, plaster and other toxic materials. Her specialty in Italian and French decorative painting and historical art restoration helped her land clients ranging from The Washington National Cathedral to hockey star Alexander Ovechkin. However, her artistic work generated a lot of hazardous waste.

Raea Jean Leinster

Without either a business plan or market research, Yuck Old Paint began as a casual side hustle. Leinster quickly realized though, that this “paint can pick-up service concept” was proving legit. Today, Yuck Old Paint operates in nine states and employs eighteen people and Leinster is a speaker and presenter at national waste management, recycling, and sustainability conferences.

Yuck Old Paint is also the first and only company on the East Coast that safely removes and environmentally processes old cans of paint, keeping it out of local landfills. The paint waste is not recycled, rather qualified for reuse, then distributed for export to overseas markets. Her clients include Washington Nationals Park, NASA Goddard, Hilton Hotels, Williams Sonoma/WestElm, CBRE, the United States Army, and many others.

Because landfills prohibit commercial paint waste, and fire marshals and the fire code prohibit buildings from stowing this tonnage of paint waste on property, Yuck Old Paint solves a critical facilities and property management problem. As a bonus, these commercial clients then qualify for points to acquire and maintain their EPA Leadership in Energy and Environment Design (LEED) and Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG) certifications and designations.

For its forward-looking and impactful work, Yuck Old Paint received the National Facilities Management & Technology Association “Vision Award” for 2021, an honor conferred to only a handful of companies nationwide out of hundreds of applicants. This innovative company was also awarded the Women in Business Initiative (WIBI) Business of the Year honor in 2021.

Leinster’s experience in the male-dominated manufacturing and waste management industries may explain her success as a semi-pro poker player, where she is among the few women in a room with hundreds of male competitors. “Yes, it’s completely intimidating and took some getting used to,” she says. I would think, ‘Oops they don’t want me here.’ Eventually I realized they’re intimidated by ME.”

She credits the advice from a mentor, Margo Bartsch of MCI Telecommunications, in helping her change her mentality. . “Margo was a tough, brash, unforgiving manager who pushed me beyond my limits to get to next level.” she says. “Margo helped shapeshift me from being docile and passive to assuming a more alpha leadership posture, which prepared me well for a senior manager job at Lucent Technologies managing marketing programs in 80 countries, and then to my dream Wall Street job as telecom equipment analyst at Bear Stearns.”

“Younger women who complain about being intimidated by a male-dominated business landscape should consider this: you need to modify your speech communications pattern, shift into alpha modality, get focused and become a knowledge expert. Many women don’t sound executive because as they approach the end of a sentence, they raise the pitch of their voice and end on a higher note. That’s a giveaway for being defensive, apologetic, and lacking confidence. Both men and women leaders start and end their sentences on the same pitch, or end the sentence in a slightly lower pitch.”

Leinster suggests that women interested in leadership and executive positions at their place of work consider a volunteer board position at their favorite non-profit or committee chair at an industry trade association. “There’s a huge push to recruit more women for board positions. Leveraging your network to raise money for the cause is a great way to command leadership recognition.” Putting her advice into action, Leinster serves on the Tysons Regional Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.

Mentorship has played a significant role in Raea Leinster’s career. If you are interested in being a mentor or mentee at the ��AV School of Business, learn more about how to get involved with Mason Mentors.

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Costello College of Business News

Women in Business Initiative

Businesswomen Supporting Businesswomen: The Women in Business Initiative

Marianne Klinker — Thu, 18 Nov 2021 21:10:56 +0000

Businesswomen Supporting Businesswomen: The Women in Business Initiative Marianne Klinker Thu, 11/18/2021 - 16:10

On August 1, 2014, a group of businesswomen assembled at the International Country Club in Fairfax, Virginia. These women, who would later be known as the Founding Members, were laying the groundwork for the Women in Business Initiative or WIBI at the ��AV School of Business. Kristina Bouweiri and Guy Saint Juste, BA International Studies ’94, co-chaired this inaugural meeting of alumni and friends of the School of Business as the group established the most vital functions of WIBI. They determined that WIBI would first and foremost provide scholarships to deserving business students. In the years since WIBI’s inception, they have impacted the lives of both established and aspiring businesswomen in the ��AV community.

Members of the Women in Business Initiative at at networking event

The exceptional talent and determination of the WIBI members have also put their mission statement into action through mentorships, internships, guest lecturing, networking, and other events. Guided by their mission and required responsibilities, WIBI members stay vigilant in addressing the needs of female business students at Mason.

A wide range of events is one of the most important ways that WIBI engages with the students and alumni they are dedicated to support. In addition to networking, student mentorship, and lectures, events have included etiquette training, panel discussions, fundraisers, and many others. While the COVID-19 pandemic put a temporary halt to in-person events, WIBI got creative, collaborating with the School of Business Alumni Chapter on two wine tasting events, one focused on wines of Italy and the other on California wines. Each wine tasting is led by two wine experts from vineyards around the globe.

Many of these events raise funds for the Women in Business Initiative Endowed Scholarship, two of which are awarded annually. Often these students are the first from their families to attend college and are working multiple jobs to cover basic expenses. The support of the scholarship not only gives them much needed financial relief, but it also provides encouragement that they are succeeding and their dreams are within reach. Remarkably, the scholarship endowment has increased from just under $20,000 in 2015 to nearly $130,000 in 2021, allowing WIBI to increase the amount of the scholarships from $1,500 to $2,000 per recipient. Ever ambitious, WIBI is looking to push that number even higher. WIBI doesn’t just offer recognitions to business students. The Women in Business Initiative Awards honor women and women-owned businesses affiliated with Mason that are creating impact, innovation, and inspiration for women in business.

While women have made strides in business, gradually filling the ranks of more leadership positions, the Women in Business Initiative aims to ensure that more women join them and that they have the support they need. Furthermore, COVID-19 presented an immense set of new challenges for both students and businesses. In 2020, WIBI answered the call by generously contributing $10,000 to the School of Business Student Emergency Fund, helping students in the direst of circumstances brought upon by the pandemic. New challenges breed new opportunity and greater need, and the creative and purposeful minds at WIBI are working tirelessly to continue living up to their mission.

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Information Systems and Operations Management Major Awarded Women in Business Initiative Scholarship

Marianne Klinker — Thu, 18 Nov 2021 19:50:47 +0000

Information Systems and Operations Management Major Awarded Women in Business Initiative Scholarship Marianne Klinker Thu, 11/18/2021 - 14:50

Celia Miranda, now a senior majoring in information systems and operations management (ISOM), attended a bootcamp for aspiring entrepreneurs when she was a high school senior. The bootcamp took place on the Fairfax campus of ��AV. It was then and there that she learned what she wanted to do and where she was comfortable studying.

Celia Miranda

As an undergraduate at Mason, Miranda learned she had to take advantage of any financial resource at her disposal to help her reach her academic and life goals. With her family moving to Chile for her father’s job, and their discretionary income suddenly cut, her support system was suddenly strained. Thankfully, the School of Business has many scholarships that she qualified for, and she applied for as many as possible. Miranda’s actions were rewarded when she was announced as the recipient for the Women in Business Initiative Endowed Scholarship.

The Women in Business Initiative (WIBI) is an advisory board comprised of professional women from a wide range of industries. “It’s wonderful how WIBI supports women in all aspects,” says Miranda. “Seeing mainly guys in business can often feel intimidating, so that support is really meaningful.”

WIBI’s mission is to support female business students to advance their careers. In addition to hosting fundraising, networking, and mentorship events, they award merit and need-based scholarships to students each year. “Providing the scholarships to female business students is equally as important as sitting at a table with them and talking about the business world,” says WIBI Chair Tonia Chagnon. “If we have a means of raising funds to help alleviate the burden of finances and tuition so Celia can focus and thrive in her education, we have succeeded!”

Flying back and forth to see her family abroad every semester added to the financial toll on Miranda. Compounded with the usual expenses of room, board, food, and tuition, the obstacles were daunting. Eventually, COVID-19 would further burden her as it spread across the country and world. But the Women in Business Endowed Scholarship proved to be even more invaluable in times of trouble. Not only because of the financial assistance, but the scholarship encourages Miranda that she was recognized as worthy and capable of attaining her dreams.

Today, Celia Miranda is making the most of every opportunity. Her passion lies in art and music, and she is striving to build a business around it, using her acumen developed at Mason. She also sits on the board of Future Business Leaders of America because she understands what her future holds. Her story is yet another example of why the Women in Business Initiative is so critical. She is currently benefiting from their involvement, but many others will one day benefit from Miranda’s blossoming skill set, leadership, and vision.

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Women in Business Initiative Scholarship Gives Lift to MBA Student

Marianne Klinker — Thu, 18 Nov 2021 19:16:11 +0000

Women in Business Initiative Scholarship Gives Lift to MBA Student Marianne Klinker Thu, 11/18/2021 - 14:16

Before she began pursuing her MBA, Christina Snyder knew that women were underrepresented in business, not necessarily in the ��AV School of Business, but certainly among leadership in the business world. Soon after starting her MBA studies at Mason, she discovered the Women in Business Initiative and the opportunity to apply for the Women in Business Initiative Endowed Scholarship. She leapt at the chance to apply, and she's so thankful that she did.

Christina Snyder

The Women in Business Initiative (WIBI) is an advisory board made up of female business owners and other female professionals. They support women in the School of Business so they can advance within their respective fields. One of the most important ways they deliver support is through this scholarship. "Almost all of the students at Mason are working full or part-time while attending school," says WIBI Chair Tonia Chagnon. "The scholarships we are able to provide contribute specifically to women's education and well-being."

As a full-time student and full-time working professional, Snyder watched her budget tighten as the cost of tuition was added to the mix of all her typical household expenses. With only so many hours in a day, between her career and rigorous course load, the scholarship funds provided much-appreciated financial relief. Snyder is a non-traditional student, and like many non-traditional students who pursue education later in life, she does not lean on family members for support—financial or otherwise. However, WIBI's assistance meant that she wasn't alone, for which she is deeply grateful.

In many ways, receiving the Women in Business Initiative Endowed Scholarship has unleashed Snyder’s potential. More than anything, she is now able to better focus on acquiring the skills and knowledge she hoped to gain through the MBA program. "I elected to take coursework in leadership in efforts to develop specific skills and position myself to rise within my current workplace," she says. The scholarship has also highlighted the gender gap in her field. "I would love to see more women in positions of leadership," Snyder adds. Soon she will be one of them.

Christina Snyder is excited to continue learning, growing, and developing more friendships as she works her way toward her MBA. It is a journey that has not been without its setbacks and challenges, but she is grateful that she took a bet on herself. The degree is the motivation, but she is soaking in the experience and loving it.

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