As an avid skier, Maya Haugan was thrilled to join the women’s ski club at the University of Montana. The junior finance major from Bozeman found community with other female students who all enjoy downhill skiing across the region.
On a ski trip last year, Haugan thought about how she could find similar female support in her classes at UM’s College of Business. She came up with an idea for a Women in Business student club, where female students could network, offer mentorship and grow professionally in traditionally male-dominated careers.
“I was on a chair lift with the women’s ski club and I thought there are a lot more opportunities with these types of clubs,” Haugan said. “I wanted to see where this could go.”
Haugan shared the idea with her classmate, Brianna Shirley, and together last fall they formed the Women in Business student club. Haugan serves as president and Shirley is vice president.
The club has already drawn 60 members and recently hosted the inaugural Women in Business Symposium in downtown Missoula. The keynote speaker was Merrilee Kick, the founder of BuzzBallz, a popular ready-to-drink cocktail found in stores across the nation.
The club’s next event will be a Sip & Social on April 20 at the College of Business piazza, where female students can mingle with local professionals and have a photographer take free headshots.
Traci Beighle, director of career readiness and employer relations at the College of Business, said she is impressed with Haugan and Shirley’s initiative and vision to create the new student club.
“Seeing all the heart and hard work they’ve poured into it, especially through the Symposium, has been incredibly meaningful,” Beighle said. “What they’ve created is more than just a club. It’s a space where female students can feel inspired.”
Haugan and Shirley both bring leadership experience to their new club. Haugan is a senator with the Associated Students of UM, and Shirley is a Grizzly Ambassador with UM Admissions and served as an officer for the Montana Information Systems Association student group.
“I love student government,” Haugan said. “It built the foundation for expanding my comfort zone and starting the Women in Business student group.”
The co-founders’ overall goal for the club is to empower and connect female students and give them the confidence to build the networks and skills needed for their chosen careers.
Shirley said the club is meeting those goals by teaching technical skills like resume building and interviewing, providing mentorship programs and hosting events.
The club has a list of more than 25 professionals willing to mentor current students, and there are plans to create a peer-to-peer mentor program, Shirley said.
“We put a lot of work into this and it’s been so reaffirming to have people be interested and excited,” Shirley said.
Shirley, who grew up in Woodinville, Washington, will graduate this spring with a degree in management information systems and marketing. Before she leaves UM, Shirley is focused on establishing a foundation for future students to grow the club.
Shirley and Haugan have plans to expand the club to students from other majors who are minoring in business. Overall, they want to build a supportive community across campus.
“We’ve been laying the foundation of where we want it to go.” Shirley said. “I’m excited to see where Maya and whoever steps into my role can take it next year.”
At the first club meeting earlier this year, a common theme among students was how to make their voices heard in classrooms full of mostly male students. And some brought up a feeling of imposter syndrome where they sometimes doubt their accomplishments.
That feedback motivated Haugan and re-established why she created the club.
“One of my goals is to break out of imposter syndrome,” Haugan said. “I want to smash that. Everyone starts somewhere and can do what other people do.”
By Kyle Spurr, UM News Service