When the Tippie College of Business was first established over a century ago, like many institutions, the perceived rigor of its curriculum and the taxing nature of its environment made it a space that was naturally reserved for the male portion of Iowa’s student body, who were seen as fundamentally better equipped to function within such a stressful place.

Women during the time, on the contrary, were groomed to be placid, domestic creatures, expected to maintain certain standards in their dress, faithfully attend to any children and the needs of the household, and always observe the idea of being “seen, but not heard.”

However, in the past several decades, the world has been witness to an ever increasingly rapid departure from such ideals in gender norms and the concept of separate spheres in educational institutions.

Now, women constitute 40% of each Tippie College of Business graduating class, introducing a new perspective and active voice in the discussion of accounting, finance, economics, management, marketing, and entrepreneurship within the Pappajohn Business Building.

As a result of these changes, one student organization has been gaining popularity on campus, as it offers support and advocacy for this group of ambitious and endeavoring individuals.

Women in Business (WIB) first came to life in 1998, after a Tippie undergraduate, Jennifer Cropper, decided to address the challenges unique to women in a primarily male dominated space, founding the organization as a way to offer empowerment and enlightenment to women within the school.

Over the years, the group, with its array of student leaders, has come to offer a range of services to its members, including small “lean in” discussion circles, mentorships with local professionals, a partnership with the Iowa Women’s Foundation, community service projects, and professional trips to various cities around the Midwest.

Shelby Portz, the current president of WIB, points with pride and admiration to the success they have had in reaching members of the student body within Tippie over the past two semesters.

“It’s one thing to be proud of the 11 women who have put in the hard work to make this year successful,” she explains, “but it’s an even stronger feeling of pride to witness a lecture hall filled with 180 fearless women that are eager to take on the business world with confidence.”

The existence of this organization certainly marks a significant shift in the mindset of modern America, and acts as a beacon of hope for the generations of women who have long strived to be free of the gender ideals that kept them in silence, away from the discussion halls and board meetings of the corporate world.

A highlight from this spring semester was the annual Tippie Women’s Summit—a day of collaboration between Women in Business, the MBA program, and the Tippie College of Business—to foster conversation and action regarding an empowering topic.

“The majority of the WIB attendees walked away with great inspiration, but also with the goal of being a featured alumni in their future,” Portz says. “The goal of giving back what our alumni have given us is a major component of our philosophy here.”

In the coming years, the organization hopes to continue expanding its capabilities for the women it offers guidance and support to. The vision is to transform each member of their group into a force both to be seen and heard, on any opinion or idea she has within the business world.

“To me that is what Women in Business is all about,” Portz says. “Our members have the opportunity to form relationships with each other that encourage them to grow professionally, our college provides us with the resources to chase our dreams, and our alumni show us that our dreams are possible.”

To learn more about Women in Business, its background, and its activities, visit https://www.biz.uiowa.edu/wib.