MacEwan Women in Business club sees rapid growth one year after launch
Two commerce students saw a gap at MacEwan and filled it. The Women in Business club is now helping students build skills, confidence and community.
MacEwan Women in Business club members pose for a picture. Photo Credit: MacEwan Women In Business
MacEwan Women in Business club (MWIB) has grown quickly since its launch last year, filling what student leaders say was a major gap in professional support for business students on campus.
Co-founders Elyse Froberg and Ana Najam started the club after realizing MacEwan lacked a women-focused business organization, unlike the University of Alberta.
“I realized that as an accounting student, there just wasn’t that much support from MacEwan,” Najam said. “I wanted to bridge that gap by starting my own club as well.”
Although founded with women in mind, the club welcomes all students, regardless of gender or program. “You can identify as whatever you want and you’re still welcome to join because honestly, I don’t think women would be successful without the support of other people either,” Najam said.
Professional development is a core part of MWIB’s work. Events Director Jayla Yez said the club hosts a number of workshops that equip members with skills they can use in their careers. “We want to help people gain the skills that they may not necessarily be able to practice in the classroom,” Yez said.
The group also focuses heavily on community networking. Naidelyn Medellin, the vice president of marketing, described the club as a “sisterhood” where members learn every step of the process to help build skills, confidence, connections, and independence. She explained that the club aspires to prepare students for their professional careers.
The mentorship model is embedded in the club’s structure. MWIB Campus Ambassador Jolien Oqbit said upper-year students help guide newer members through academic and professional challenges.
According to Oqbit she was mentored by senior students who “paved a path for me in a way where I don’t make the same mistakes that they possibly have made.”
With its expanding membership and inclusive approach, MWIB’s leaders say the club is positioned to become a long-term presence at MacEwan, offering students both community and career-building opportunities.
