Reporting by Anna Royal
On March 1, 2023, Cal Poly Women in Business (WIB) will be hosting their 9th annual Defining Her Future Conference (DHF). This year’s DHF theme is Persist — inspiring young women to persist in whichever goals and aspirations they hold. The conference will host 18 representatives from various companies such as Google, Adobe, Apple, Cisco, Intel, and Disney. The event is sponsored by the Big 4 accounting firms, as well as Chevron and several local businesses..
DHF will run from 8:00am to 4:00pm and follow a packed schedule. The conference commences with an introduction to the event, followed by speeches from WIB leaders and OCOB Dean, Damon Fleming. After the speeches, there will be a diverse array of 45-minute panels with industry professionals and workshops for attendees to choose from.
Simone Pucher, 4th year Cal Poly Business student and conference director of DHF, is in charge of planning the entirety of the event. Her role involves finding guest speakers, managing the planning committees, and ensuring the conference runs smoothly. The committees Pucher manages consists of 18 women, with two marketing teams and a logistical committee.
“The DHF conference is a great networking opportunity, for not only women in business but all majors and all identities to come and grow and learn from different professionals and their certain industry and role. It’s a great way to network and gain your skills both professionally and personally,” Pucher said.
Pucher emphasized that the speakers will reflect the theme of Persist by presenting the challenges and setbacks they have overcome to achieve their current positions.
“It's a great opportunity to meet a lot of different companies all at once. Also ,you gain personal insights about how they've started their job…how they've overcome challenges. I think everyone should know and understand that life isn't one straight line, you go in all different areas and directions,” Pucher added.
In addition to the multiple speakers and workshops at the event, there will be designated networking periods, with the main one being during DHF lunch. There will also be sponsorship tables outside of the Performing Arts Center (PAC) managed by Cal Poly alumni throughout the day. Pucher outlined the promising opportunities presented by these networking booths.
“We also recommend everyone to bring their resume along. I know a lot of people that have gotten jobs from coming to DHF and talking to sponsors,” Pucher said.
Isabella Fichtenholtz is a first year on the WIB DHF marketing strategies committee. Fichtenholtz assisted Pucher with marketing to promote the event.
“A part of what I do is I write all the captions for the instagram, I was in charge of figuring out swag bags…Also making sure that there’s outreach and people are wanting and excited to come,” Fichtenholtz said.
Fichtenholtz expressed her excitement in the conference and outlined the multiple benefits of attending DHF.
“Not only are you able to network with a bunch of professionals, but you get free headshots. It's also a fun way to meet new people. I am a freshman at Cal Poly and I don’t know a lot of people in OCOB, so [through] going to this conference, I may make some new friends,” Fichtenholtz said.
After investing her time in planning the conference since November of last year, Pucher highlighted her enthusiasm with the conference coming to fruition at the end of this week.
“I am really excited for the whole reward of it, for it to be done, accomplished, and also to have everyone enjoy the conference. It is really rewarding to see everyone get something out of it, whether that's meeting new friends, getting a job, hearing from great professionals, [or] getting great advice.”