Women in Business give back to campus and community

11/16/2012 10:30 AM

By Kelsey Budd ’14

Deidre Smith, president of the student organization Women in Business, added another
jewel to the organization’s crown this past month—Homecoming Queen.

Smith, a senior studying food nutrition, was crowned Bradley’s 2012 Homecoming
Queen and used the competition to raise the group’s profile on campus and in the
community.

Bradley’s Women in Business student group works with women from across campus on
building resumes, networking, preparing for job interviews and learning basic skills for
the business world.

The organization was involved in every homecoming activity throughout the week in
attempt to inform students about what they offer. Smith said her victory came about
thanks to the work of other members in the organization that helped her raise more than
$400 during the weeklong celebration.

“It is very important for me to show school spirit and I wanted to get our name out there.
My board helped me raise all the money, so it wasn’t just me by myself,” Smith said.

Women in Business hosted a bake sale to raise money to donate to Dress for Success, a
local organization that helps women in need learn job skills and prepare for interviews.

Smith said it is important for student organizations to get involved in the community as
well as on campus. After learning about Dress for Success, she said the group wanted to
help provide local women with opportunities they might not otherwise have.

“Some of their goals met up with our goals,” Smith said, “so that’s why I thought it
would be a great charity to donate to.”

The homecoming success for Women in Business was just one example of the many
ways the organization has marketed itself and grown. Aside from an increase in
membership, Smith also redesigned the organization’s mission statement, making it more
professional and relevant to what the organization stands for today.

Smith said she hopes to keep making students aware of the opportunities with Women in
Business and continue relaying the importance of what they do.

“Everything is a business when you graduate and these are important skills you need,”
she said. “It’s definitely made me think outside the box and made me realize women can
be very influential in the business world.”