Women of Isenberg Co-Presidents Reflect on Leadership, Community, and Conference Impact

The 12th annual Women of Isenberg Conference (WOI), held Feb. 15, 2025, was organized by a student planning committee headed by two co-presidents—seniors Megha Parikh, a marketing and economics major; and Anna Wagner, an operations and information management major. The leaders shared their experiences planning an event that brought together approximately 400 attendees, including students from UMass and the Five College Consortium, alumni, and industry leaders.

What was your favorite part of the Women of Isenberg Conference? 

WAGNER: Our favorite part of the conference was the whole thing: seeing the hard work from the past year come together successfully! When planning an event of this scale, every second is exciting to see, from when we first saw the purple tablecloths, to sitting in the panels and hearing our speakers' words of wisdom. It's hard to choose just one part because each detail—from the food to the printed posters—was carefully thought out and seeing it all come together was so special!

What did you learn from the conference? Your biggest takeaway? 

PARIKH: During the conference, I went to a panel called “Getting Your Foot in the Door,” where I learned that every conversation and interaction is important. You never know what impression you will leave with someone, and how that impression can end up benefiting you in the future. I think it was extremely important for me to hear this before entering the real world, especially not knowing what avenue in marketing I may want to go down. The panelists reiterated that a quick 15-minute conversation with someone in a different department could be the difference between your getting to shadow an executive or even being chosen for a promotion. Planning the conference taught me a lot about adaptability and patience, so my biggest takeaway is that you really can learn a lot in the span of an eight-hour event!

WAGNER: For me, this conference reminded me about the strength of the Women of Isenberg community and the power of community in general. Having a support system—especially of other strong and driven women—is so important for so many things both personal and professional. Even just being on the planning committee for this event with 10 other talented women has taught me so much. Seeing this year’s conference come to life, and hearing the comments made by speakers and students about how much this event meant to them, I realized just how strong our WOI community is. Knowing that others feel as empowered as I do and reading all the LinkedIn posts truly makes my heart happy.  As I gear up to graduate, I hope to always lean on and remember the power of this community. 

What was the favorite piece of feedback you received from conference attendees? 

PARIKH: The best piece of feedback from attendees was how inspirational our speakers were. Our conference would not be possible without them, and hearing from our attendees that their words were so powerful and wise really made me happy. The best feeling is knowing our attendees learned something and found value in the WOI Conference.

WAGNER: I'll echo what Megha said. We just got this message from an attendee which made me so happy, and I think might be my favorite feedback: “I wanted to let you know that I went to the WOI conference yesterday. I went into it not really being sure what to expect, but I absolutely loved it. It was so empowering, and I learned so much valuable advice. I also got to put myself out there with recruiters for the first time and feel like a businesswoman. I often feel lost and behind but going to the conference made me feel informed and prepared for the future. I will 100 percent be going next year and will be telling all my Isenberg friends how great it was. I know you must have put a lot of work into it so thank you for being part of putting together such an amazing event!”

Why did you join the planning committee? 

PARIKH: When I was deciding which college I wanted to go to, I attended lots of virtual sessions to learn about the different offerings of each school. Four years ago, I attended a UMass Coffee Chat and heard from a previous WOI president, who spoke so highly of her experience. Inevitably, I ended up choosing UMass Amherst, and I knew I wanted to get involved with WOI. My first year, I joined the Community Council and became a Student Ambassador. From there, I saw the community that WOI built and knew I wanted to be a part of it. So, I applied for the committee sophomore year, and the rest is history.

WAGNER: At the end of my first year at UMass, I was ready to commit myself to something that would challenge me and help me grow. I knew that the Women of Isenberg Conference was something guaranteed to do that. Putting on an event of this scale is not for the weak. So, I applied and was thrilled to be accepted to the Planning Committee for my sophomore year as an Operations and Event Management Committee Member. Then, last year as a junior, I was vice president for the Operations and Event Management Committee. And now, I am one of the co-presidents. I can confirm that my suspicions were correct: This team has given me invaluable teachings and a support network that will last my whole life.

What are you planning to do after graduating from UMass in May? 

PARIKH: After graduation, I will join PMG in Dallas as a media coordinator, which is perfectly in line with my experience with WOI, from director of community outreach on the Marketing and Communications Team to vice president of marketing and communications. I’m excited to join the PMG team.

WAGNER: Almost immediately after graduation from UMass in May, I will be taking off to Europe for a month-long trip to Switzerland, Italy, Croatia, and France. Upon my return to the States, I will be working at RSM in Boston as a technology risk consulting associate. I cannot wait to join the team in July.

What would you tell prospective students thinking about applying to study business at Isenberg? What would you say to encourage them to attend, be part of this community, and to take advantage of opportunities like the Women of Isenberg Conference? 

PARIKH: Isenberg provides a community for students that we are so grateful to be a part of. Not only can you find niches within Isenberg, like WOI, to find your friends and like-minded people, but Isenberg also fosters a community for students. Everyone is cheering you on and is rooting for you to succeed. Everyone is willing to help—you just need to ask. Isenberg has all the resources for you to succeed—it’s what you make of it that will set you apart from the rest. But our favorite part of being in Isenberg is that the person sitting next to you in class isn’t your competition; they’re your cheerleader. That community being rooted in the business school is so special and has allowed us to focus on our growth, knowing we’ll always have people to count on. For the smaller niches, like WOI, it gives you a sense of community, making a big school feel small. 

Do you have any words of wisdom for the next generation of business students leading future WOI conferences? 

WAGNER: The conference has a lot of history, but don't be afraid to try something new! Whether it’s applying for the planning committee or pitching a new idea for the conference, new ideas keep the conference fresh and exciting for attendees. One piece of advice that has really made all the difference in our journeys, is to not be afraid to stand up for yourself. Trust in yourself and your experiences and be confident in what you bring to the table. A lot of the WOI programming focuses on empowering women, and it all starts with being confident in yourself. 

Is there anything else you want readers to know about the conference?

PARIKH: The WOI Conference is an amazing event for people of all backgrounds and of all identities. While it started as an initiative to support women studying business, it has grown to provide an unforgettable experience for all attendees. Each year, we carefully choose our speakers from a diverse range of backgrounds and careers, to try and give our attendees a holistic view of careers and lifetime journeys. Recently, we’ve intentionally been looking for speakers outside the business world, and connecting with other schools around campus, like the College of Engineering, to provide more insights and advice entering the workplace. People have left the conference with interviews for internships/jobs, with friends, with mentors, and with life-changing advice. Next year's conference will be no different, and we are so excited to attend the conference as alumni.