After the Applause: Inside WIB’s Defining Her Future Conference

When the final panel wrapped and the crowd began to disperse, it was clear that Women in Business’ Defining Her Future Conference had left its mark. What started years ago as a small student-led event has grown into one of the largest student-run conferences on Cal Poly’s campus, and this year proved that its momentum isn’t slowing down.

With 565 registrants, the event surpassed expectations without sacrificing the energy and intent that have always defined it. Throughout the day, students, representatives and speakers moved in and out of keynotes, workshops and networking areas, which remained busy long after their designated hours.

Neela Michelsen, Director of Events, said one of the most surprising moments came from simply stepping back and seeing the turnout.

“I was really surprised at how many people showed up for the keynote and lunch,” she said. “It was cool to come out and just see how many people were there and how engaged everyone was with the speakers.”

The interest of attendees became one of the defining characteristics of the day. As opposed to attending a passive lecture format, many attendees stayed after each session to meet and talk to the speakers, ask them questions and form connections. This changed the nature of the conference from a string of panels to something more interactive and personable.

One highlight of the conference was the "Designing Your Career Path" workshop presented by Erin Hull and Christine Calegari, co-founders of The Hull Agency. Unlike many early career workshops, their workshop focused heavily on internship opportunities, job search strategies and navigating uncertainty after graduation. They provided a very energetic and practical approach to their message, which resonated with students regardless of whether they are sophomores or seniors.

From behind the scenes, pulling off an event of this magnitude requires continuous coordination. Suhani Vakhariya, Assistant Director of Logistics, explained the complexity of managing "many different pieces moving at once while ensuring none fall through." From organizing over 20 speakers to working with vendors and sponsors, logistics rely heavily upon communication and preparation.

Despite all the planning and preparation, minor problems arose inevitably. At lunchtime, the team found themselves dealing with an ordering problem resulting in too few vegetarian options available. Within minutes, they ordered additional food so that when most attendees noticed, there was little change in service. This brief example of flexibility demonstrated the team's quick thinking under pressure.

Marketing also contributed greatly to the success of the conference. According to Isabella Fichtenholtz, Assistant Director of Marketing, having a presence across social media platforms was essential. Social media promotion, including an Instagram campaign along with collaboration with other university groups and face-to-face tabling around campus, helped promote the conference. Consistent posting and reposting of promotional materials in the week leading up to the event kept the conference on the minds of students.

"We wanted to make sure people saw us everywhere," Fichtenholtz said. "Consistency really helped get students to attend."

After the conference, attendee feedback has been extremely positive. Many attendees posted their takeaways on LinkedIn, gave recognition to the speakers and shared their thoughts on what they learned. For organizers, seeing these postings reinforced that all of their hard work paid dividends.

Looking back, the conference also served as a reflection of how far WIB has come. Some of this year’s speakers were co-founders of the organization, offering a full-circle perspective on its growth. What began with a small board and a handful of attendees has transformed into a large-scale event supported by a team of over 20 members.

“That progression is really special to see,” Michelsen said. “It shows how much WIB has grown, and I think it’s only going to keep growing from here.”

As WIB grows on campus as an entity, the Defining Her Future Conference represents one of WIB's most visual and impactful initiatives. While success this year was based primarily on participation and programs, it was about connection, growth and creating an environment in which students may realize what possibilities exist for their future careers.
If this year taught WIB anything, it's that WIB is accelerating.