WIB Board’s 2023 Seniors reflect on their time at Cal Poly and share their advice and post-grad plans!
Layna Hathaway
Position: President
Major: Business Administration concentrating in HR Management
What was your first experience with WIB and what motivated you to join?
My first experience with WIB was when I participated in Wander with WIB as a senior in high school. This experience introduced me to Cal Poly and made me fall in love with OCOB. I knew when I got to campus in the fall that I would want to be a part of WIB.
What has been the most rewarding part of WIB for you?
For me the most rewarding part of WIB has been able to give back to a program that has given me so much. Since my freshman year, I found some of my greatest mentors and friends through this program. It has been such an honor serving as President as I had the capability to serve as a mentor or friend to other girls. My hope is that I was able to cultivate an environment that gave girls a sense of community on campus.
What is the most important thing you have learned through WIB?
Take risks! Being a part of WIB, I've always been pushed out of my comfort zone and learned that the worst someone can say to you is "no." Apply to that board position, job, or go on that trip!
What advice would you give your underclassmen self to make the most of your college experience?
I would say to not worry so much! Everything that is meant to be, will be. Take time to enjoy all the small moments because that is what you'll miss the most.
What are your plans after graduation?
Working as a People Advisory Services Consultant at EY in their LA office!
Daniella Boggeri
Position: VP Development
Major: Business Administration concentrating in Finance, law and society minor
What was your first experience with WIB and what motivated you to join?
My mentor as a freshman took me to an event and everyone seemed so inviting and admirable!
What has been the most rewarding part of WIB for you?
The most rewarding part of WIB for me has been the community it provides and the motivation to set high goals for myself. Seeing how accomplished all the women are in this organization makes you want to be the best version of yourself.
What is the most important thing you have learned through WIB?
That you are so much more capable than you think!
What advice would you give your underclassmen self to make the most of your college experience?
I would tell underclassmen to get as involved as possible, as early as possible! Most of my learning and growing experiences came from the clubs and organizations I was a part of, as well as my lifelong friendships. It truly gives more meaning to your college experience.
What are your plans after graduation?
I’ll be working for Protiviti in their San Francisco office as a Risk and Compliance Consultant.
Jenny Tucker
Position: VP Strategic Initiatives
Major: Business Administration concentrating in Marketing Management with a minor in English
What was your first experience with WIB and what motivated you to join?
My first experience with WIB was talking to some of the friendly girls who were boothing at the WOW club showcase. Soon after, I participated in Entry Engagement and had a great time! I was motivated to join through the idea of women supporting women.
What has been the most rewarding part of WIB for you?
The most rewarding part has been seeing all the smiling faces of board members when they enjoyed the catering I coordinated, as well as making phone calls to new board members congratulating them!
What is the most important thing you have learned through WIB?
My self-growth! WIB has taught me how to take the initiative and do work in a self-directed yet supported manner. I've learned more from WIB than most of my classes.
What advice would you give your underclassmen self to make the most of your college experience?
Try as many different organizations as you can and meet as many cool people as you can! Do lots of outdoorsy activities and enjoy the small town of SLO. You'll never live as close to your friends as you will in SLO, so cherish it!
What are your plans after graduation?
I will be working full-time in project management for Lockheed Martin at their aeronautics headquarters in Fort Worth, Texas starting in late August!
Johana Ligtenberg
Position: Editor-in-Chief of the Wire
Major: Business Administration concentrating in Financial Management with minors in Art History and Law and Society
What was your first experience with WIB and what motivated you to join?
My first experience with WIB was Wander with WIB in 2019 when I was a high school senior. I loved how welcoming everyone was and how excited they were to share about their experiences at Cal Poly. Being able to see Cal Poly through WIB motivated me to commit to Cal Poly while I was here that weekend!
What has been the most rewarding part of WIB for you?
The most rewarding part of WIB for me has been being able to support others. I have gained a lot from having a strong community of women around me to help me navigate OCOB since I attended a very small high school, and I have enjoyed being able to pay it forward even in small ways such as talking with younger WIB members about my advice on certain classes I have taken or navigating internship searching.
What is the most important thing you have learned through WIB?
The most important thing I have learned through WIB is how helpful it is to be open with others about academic or professional insecurities. As a woman in the male-dominated concentration of finance, I struggled with imposter syndrome at times in college and professionally, and being able to relate to other women who felt the same way and have found their way to be confident was incredibly impactful for me.
What advice would you give your underclassmen self to make the most of your college experience?
I would advise my underclassmen self to get involved early and to be intentional about how I spent my time. It's easy to spread yourself too thin in college since there are so many fun opportunities but I have learned to prioritize quality over quantity to avoid feeling overwhelmed or burnt out. I also didn't start getting involved outside of classes until winter quarter of my freshmen year, and I would tell myself to be less intimidated and to branch out sooner!
What are your plans after graduation?
I will be working full-time with Deloitte Consulting after graduation.
Sahana Satish
Position: VP Programming
Major: Business Administration concentrating in Information Systems with a minor in MAST
What was your first experience with WIB and what motivated you to join?
I joined WIB my freshman year through WBLA! I remember talking to WIB board members at the Fall Club Showcase and feeling so welcomed and inspired by them. They convinced me to give WIB a try and I'm so thankful that I did!
What has been the most rewarding part of WIB for you?
Leading WBLA this year was one of the most rewarding parts of my college career. I loved the process of creating a curriculum and seeing how impactful it was for our students. Every woman I met through this program inspired me and I'm so grateful to have spent my last quarter at Cal Poly being a part of this class.
What is the most important thing you have learned through WIB?
The most important thing I have learned through WIB is the importance of community. Coming to Cal Poly, I was unsure of what my passions and goals were for my 4 years here. Being a part of the WIB community gave me a sense of belonging and introduced me to so many like-minded women. Having this support system throughout college has made me the person and leader I am today.
What advice would you give your underclassmen self to make the most of your college experience?
As cliche as it is, try new things! Being on the WIB board would have shocked freshman year me, but I am so happy I pushed myself to take up this leadership role. You never know how impactful these experiences can be!
What are your plans after graduation?
I will be moving to NYC to start my job as a Brand Sales Specialist for IBM.
Abigail Dorman
Position: VP High School Partnerships
Major: Communication Studies
What was your first experience with WIB and what motivated you to join?
I first became involved with WIB when I attended the High School Defining Her Future Conference in 2017 as a junior at San Luis Obispo High School. Meeting members of WIB was inspiring and motivated me to continue my involvement with the organization.
What has been the most rewarding part of WIB for you?
The impact we can have on future generations of leaders. As VP of High School Partnerships, I have experienced first-hand the difference we can make in empowering others to recognize their potential and fulfill their goals.
What is the most important thing you have learned through WIB?
WIB has taught me the importance of taking the time to invest in relationships. One of the most valuable pieces of advice I received during my time with WIB was from Colleen Mitchell, Head of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging with Nordstrom. During a coffee chat, she advised me to develop a personal Board of Directors who I could turn to for advice throughout my career. Her words deeply resonated with me and reinforced the importance of patience and flexibility to cultivate meaning among both friends and mentors. I feel very fortunate to have developed close relationships with mentors and friends through WIB, people who form my community, network, and now, my Board of Directors.
What advice would you give your underclassmen self to make the most of your college experience?
Looking back on the past few years, I would encourage myself to embrace my strengths and follow my passions. Oftentimes, I think we all can get distracted comparing our successes to others. However, I firmly believe that we all have unique strengths and can make valuable contributions in different ways. I would remind myself to stay positive, resilient, and most importantly, have fun in college!
What are your plans after graduation?
I will be joining Samsara as an Account Development Representative
Briana Gallo
Position: VP Events
Major: Business Administration concentrating in Marketing Management with minors in Spanish and Psychology
What was your first experience with WIB and what motivated you to join?
My first experience with WIB was hearing about it from my SLO days leader and coming out to Week of WIB during Fall Quarter. I signed up for Entry Engagement and have been hooked ever since. I was motivated to join to be part of an inspiring and motivating group of like-minded women.
What has been the most rewarding part of WIB for you?
The most rewarding part has been watching each other grow over time. From my peers I first met freshman year that are now superstars on the Executive Board, to underclassmen thriving in their programs and leadership positions, it is amazing how WIB fosters our growth.
What is the most important thing you have learned through WIB?
Things don’t always go the way you think they will, but sometimes it is for the best. As much as you can try to plan out your career or an event, life is full of surprises, so embrace it.
What advice would you give your underclassmen self to make the most of your college experience?
Seize every opportunity, but also know when to let go. Life is short so only invest your time and energy into people and activities that value you AND you value.
What are your plans after graduation?
I’m going to be working in marketing in the Bay Area.
Alexa Hildebrand
Position: Director of Member Analytics
Major: Business Administration concentrating in Information Systems
What was your first experience with WIB and what motivated you to join?
My first experience with WIB was the Defining Her Future conference my freshman year. Even though it was on zoom, I left the day feeling empowered and inspired from the amazing people speaking and the students running it. I also learned valuable networking skills and actually got an internship from that event. The main motivation for me to join was I wanted to help other people feel as inspired and empowered as I did that day and I wanted to be surrounded by a remarkable group.
What has been the most rewarding part of WIB for you?
The most rewarding part of WIB for me has been the people I have met. They have truly all challenged me and inspired me to push myself to become the best version of myself. Also, the experiences in leadership that I have gotten to have and learn from. The feedback from others about how WIB has impacted their college experience and life is so rewarding.
What is the most important thing you have learned through WIB?
The most important thing I have gained from WIB is developing my strong leadership abilities. WIB has a large board with many different parts. Learning to work in cross-functional teams and utilize individual strengths has been incredibly valuable.
What advice would you give your underclassmen self to make the most of your college experience?
I would advise underclassmen to get involved early on to find your community. However, also do not spread yourself too thin. You may feel like everyone around you is doing everything, but find what you are most passionate about and take a leadership position in it. Also, give yourself enough time to enjoy life, it goes by so fast.
What are your plans after graduation?
I will be getting my master’s at Cal Poly in Business Analytics (MSBA).
Chloe Fulton
Position: Co-Director of DEI & Wellness
Major: Business Administration concentrating in Marketing with a minor in Sustainable Environments
What was your first experience with WIB and what motivated you to join?
Wander With WIB! What motivated me to join was the absolute BUZZ in the room while everyone was waiting for WWW to start. Everyone was excited to be there and it was so easy to talk to the stranger next to you-I knew that I was in a room with like-minded individuals who were all just trying to make friends.
What has been the most rewarding part of WIB for you?
For me, it has been the connections. From current WIBs to Alumni, WIBs are always willing to uplift each other and help us achieve our greatest selves. Being able to see WIBs graduate and go on to be incredibly successful trailblazers in their field is inspirational beyond a doubt.
What is the most important thing you have learned through WIB?
The most important thing I've learned from WIB over the years is to be true to myself. I feel like I learned this inadvertently and have been tested this way during club and board meetings, planned events, and day to day campus interactions. Staying true to myself has helped me distinguish myself as a known leader in WIB, and highlights my unique voice in WIB.
What advice would you give your underclassmen self to make the most of your college experience?
Never stop connecting and introducing yourself (especially in different fields and disciplines). Networking is everything!
What are your plans after graduation?
This summer I will be working with Exclusive Networks as a Technical Sales Associate while waitressing (make that money!), and am attending Cal Poly again in the Fall as a graduate student pursuing my MBA.
Yiling Zheng
Position: Co-Director of DEI & Wellness
Major: Business Administration
What was your first experience with WIB and what motivated you to join?
Despite being on Zoom during my first year, I went on WIB's social media page to seek out any updated events/workshops to receive more information as a business major. Hence, I have been involved in WIB since covid started by joining EE and WBLA, and so on. In the beginning, I just wish to find a community among the business majors so I thought WIB would be a good start. Later on, I continued along with WIB because I have found my community here and wish to help others to find their community!
What has been the most rewarding part of WIB for you?
The friendships I've received here! The amazing mentors and friends I've found through WIB, I don't know where else would I find this opportunity for such a supporting community.
What is the most important thing you have learned through WIB?
Always seek out mentors and understand the true female power!!
What advice would you give your underclassmen self to make the most of your college experience?
TAKE ALL THE OPPORTUNITIES IF YOU CAN! GO OUT AND NETWORK MORE!
What are your plans after graduation?
I will be studying abroad in Sweden this Fall!
Christina Lewandowski
Position: Director of Outreach
Major: Business Administration concentrating in Marketing Management, with a minor Religious Studies
What was your first experience with WIB and what motivated you to join?
Entry Engagement Fall 2020: I was seeking a sense of community and mentorship and wanted to hit the ground running in career readiness and professionalism.
What has been the most rewarding part of WIB for you?
WIB has such a strong, inspiring presence in Cal Poly and the wider SLO community. Seeing other women find a home in WIB and want to keep coming back and learning and growing has been incredibly rewarding.
What is the most important thing you have learned through WIB?
The most important thing I have learned through WIB is that I can do anything I put my mind to and there are so many opportunities out in Business for me to work hard, succeed, and shine.
What advice would you give your underclassmen self to make the most of your college experience?
I would encourage my younger self to strike up more conversations with peers and get into a consistent networking routine.
What are your plans after graduation?
Still undetermined, I am searching for a job starting in 2024 and considering getting a Master's!
Thank You and Good Luck to our 2023 Seniors!