Despite progress, women still face barriers in advancing their careers. Two student-led initiatives are creating pathways to success through mentorship, industry connections and leadership training.
Two students at the University of New Brunswick (UNB) are helping their peers build professional connections and develop leadership skills through campus societies that support women in business and leadership.
Members of the New Brunswick Women in Leadership Organization (NBWILO) at UNB's Fredericton campus.
Kushadhara Pawar is the president of the UNBSJ Women in Business Society (WIB) at UNB's Saint John campus. Alicia Omar is the president of the New Brunswick Women in Leadership Organization (NBWILO) at UNB's Fredericton campus.
Their work is important. According to Statistics Canada, in 2020 women occupied only about a fifth of the nearly 18,000 seats on Canadian boards of directors, and almost 60 per cent of the boards of directors from the nearly 6,000 boards examined had no women directors.
"Our society promotes skill development in its members, allowing them to learn how business works and helping them transition into that world once they graduate," said Pawar, a final-year business student majoring in marketing and digital business design.
Pawar said the group has eight members and welcomes all female-identifying students regardless of their study area. It offers networking opportunities, career-building events and leadership experiences. The group's annual Women in Business Conference is its signature event.
"We have panellists and speakers from Saint John and elsewhere to talk to the students. They are women business leaders," Pawar said. "It is a networking event. We connect them and then have a specific discussion topic for the conference."
This year's conference, scheduled for March 27, will have the theme "Breaking the Glass Ceiling," exploring women's challenges in traditionally male-dominated fields. The event will feature industry professionals sharing their experiences and advice while engaging students in conversation.
Pawar wants attendees to take full advantage of the networking opportunities offered.
"I don't want the students just sitting there after the speeches," she said. "I want them to connect with the leaders one-on-one so they can learn from conversations with them. That opportunity helped me a lot in the beginning."
WIB collaborates with the Students' Representative Council (SRC) and Career Development and Employment Services (CDES) to host stress-free activities and support career-building initiatives, including a co-op program for business students.
The group also co-hosts a business gala with the Business Administration Undergraduate Society to connect students with industry leaders and provide formal networking with faculty members to foster connections and celebrate the achievements of students in the business faculty.
NBWILO has similar goals. Initially called Women in Business when founded in 2019, it rebranded last year to reflect its commitment to supporting students across all faculties and departments at UNB Fredericton.
"Our mission is to give women and those who are underrepresented and historically excluded from their fields a space to speak up, be heard and be seen," said Omar, a fourth-year business student specializing in human resources.
"We seek to do that through our events and simply by having a society on campus."
Like WIB, NBWILO prioritizes networking and career-building and organizes events that connect students with professionals. One of its most successful initiatives was a leadership conference held in the fall.
"It was a great event because it brought women from around New Brunswick in professional roles," Omar said. "There were women in attendance with careers from accounting to law, to small business owners. This was great because many of the students were interested in accounting and law, and they could sit down with these people later and talk with them one-on-one."
The group has also collaborated with the UNB Pre-Law Society to give students direct access to legal professionals. Omar, who does not plan to attend law school, still found the experience valuable.
"Just hearing from a professional point of view was helpful," she said.
Both Pawar and Omar say their leadership roles have been personally transformative.
Pawar says she has learned teamwork, project management and delegation skills.
Omar, who hopes to take on leadership roles in her future career, has gained insight into managing a team under pressure.
"Leading or attaching your name to something can be stressful. There is a lot of pressure regarding things like the conference," Omar said.
"What helped was having a great team. I learned how to lead a team, and I learned what my leadership style is. I hope to be in a leadership role someday."
She emphasized the importance of such organizations on campus.
"Organizations like NBWILO are vital for young women, especially those going into fields historically dominated by men. They can provide a safe space for women to build confidence, develop skills and potentially connect with mentors who can help guide them in their careers," Omar said.
"These organizations are necessary because they help break down barriers, whether it's a lack of representation, unconscious bias or limited access to opportunities."
Pawar agreed and said such groups are essential in empowering women, fostering leadership and bridging the gap between education and professional success.
"We provide a supportive space where students can develop their skills, connect with mentors and gain the confidence needed to step into leadership roles," she said.
"Historically, women have faced barriers in business and leadership, from gender biases to fewer networking opportunities. Having an organization dedicated to mentorship, professional development and peer support helps level the playing field."
