What is WIB?

There are a lot of ways to get involved at Cal Poly. But for students in the Orfalea College of Business, Women in Business offers something that goes beyond another line on a résumé.

Founded in spring 2015, Cal Poly Women in Business was created as a resource and community for young women, providing students with the skills and network needed to succeed in college and beyond.

Today, WIB encompasses mentorship, professional development, leadership opportunities, an annual conference and a student-run publication.

The current WIB President, Bianca Reim, describes WIB as “one of the greatest clubs to be a part of, as it is an amazing community where people come together from different backgrounds to share a common interest in business and leadership. WIB is such a unique place and group of women, and you can’t find that in your classes.”

More Than a Club

The easiest way to understand WIB is not as one experience, but as a collection of opportunities students can enter at different points in their college careers.

For some, that starts with Entry Engagement, an eight-week fall program that pairs first-year students with upperclassmen mentors. Students talk through everything from adjusting to college and choosing a major to getting involved and building a professional network.

From Mentorship to Career

WBLA takes mentorship into a more structured professional-development setting. The nine-week, winter-quarter BUS 206 course pairs students with mentors and incorporates weekly speakers, professionalism workshops and a Bay Area corporate tour to round it out. In 2026, 45 first-year mentees participated, working on everything from resumes and LinkedIn profiles to networking and interview skills.

But the program isn't only about preparing students for a job. It also creates space for conversations about ambition, uncertainty and entering the professional world as a woman.

Onela Banerjee, the Vice President of Programming, says that this year the team is really trying to emphasize that students don’t need to have past internships or huge experiences.

“The goal is to illuminate that after you are a mentor or mentee, you can still be a part of WIB and stay connected to the program,” Banerjee said.

From the mentee perspective, Arielle McMurray, a mentee from WBLA 2026, shared that her mentor, Sienna Jones, had a lasting impact on her.

“Throughout the quarter, she spent time getting to know me and wanted to watch me succeed and grow. Having a friend that cared so much about me as a whole and who knew how to help me grow professionally was a unique and special relationship I got to build through WBLA,” McMurray shares.

Defining Her Future

Defining Her Future is WIB's annual daylong conference bringing students together with industry professionals for panels, workshops, networking and leadership development, making it one of the largest student-run conferences on Cal Poly's campus.

In 2026, the conference drew 565 attendees. Behind the scenes, students worked across logistics, marketing strategy and marketing creative to organize everything from catering and facilities to social media and branding.

For attendees, it is a day of speakers and networking; however, for the students running it, it is months of planning.

The woman behind the whole process, Neela Michelsen, Vice President of Events, shared how extensive the process is.

“Our committee is over 15 women who are helping put it on from the beginning of October up until March, as well as the Events, Marketing, and Logistics teams of WIB working from June of the year before.”

Beyond the Business Classroom

WIB's reach extends beyond professional programming. Wander With WIB introduces prospective female high school students to Cal Poly and OCOB, while the organization's annual Spring Celebration brings members together to celebrate the year's accomplishments and graduating seniors.

“WIB has meant forming a great community of like-minded and individual women,” said Vice President of Marketing, Rachna Setlur. Since joining the club her freshman year, Setlur expressed that she has grown out of her comfort zone and experienced many new things.

For many students, WIB becomes a place where they can start by finding community, then build connections, take on leadership and eventually give back to the organization.

Giving Women a Voice

Then there is The WIRE.

A student-driven publication affiliated with WIB, The WIRE amplifies women's voices at Cal Poly and throughout the San Luis Obispo community. Its coverage explores current events and issues related to women's experiences while highlighting women across academic and professional spaces.

While WIB's programs often focus on preparing students for the professional world, The WIRE creates space to examine the experiences women have within it, and beyond it.

So, Who Is WIB For?

WIB’s membership and programming are designed for students at different stages of their college experience, from first-year students seeking community to upperclassmen building professional connections and leadership experience.

Membership is offered at three levels, giving students different ways to participate in WIB. The Green membership ($20) includes the ability to apply for the 2027-28 executive board. The Silver membership ($40) includes the same executive board eligibility, along with an exclusive WIB hoodie. At $65, the Gold membership includes executive board eligibility, an exclusive WIB hoodie and the opportunity to apply for WIB’s Corporate Tour.

For Enna Garcia, a second-year student and member of WIB, the organization has provided “a community of like-minded women, striving for similar goals.” Through guest speakers and other opportunities, Garcia said WIB has motivated and inspired her while “broadening [her] horizons of what one can be capable of.”

The organization also explicitly commits to intersectional diversity, recognizing differences in gender, race, ethnicity, age, citizenship, sexual orientation, nationality, socioeconomic status, religion, physical and mental ability and expression. WIB’s goal is to create an environment where students can find both professional opportunities and a sense of belonging.

Ultimately, the question may be less about who WIB is for and more about what students are looking for when they walk through the door, whether that is a mentor, a professional connection, a leadership opportunity, a community, or simply a place to start.