Hi, my name is Antía, I was born and raised in Mexico City to Spanish parents and I’m currently a Junior studying in the Huntsman program in International Studies and Business. On campus, I’m very involved with the Latino community through Wharton Latino and Mex@Penn, two organizations where I not only made some of my closest friends but further found a home away from home.
Earlier this semester, I was asked to think about what it meant to be a woman in business, and more specifically, a woman studying business at Penn. I found it really easy to recall experiences and opportunities I’ve had as a student at Wharton that range from taking courses with phenomenal professors, having access to unparalleled resources for research and extracurricular projects, participating in clubs and organizations, etc. Other things that quickly came to mind include the variety and caliber of speakers that often come to campus to share their experiences not only about being women in business, but simply about doing business in different disciplines and industries (Sheryl Sandberg and Angela Duckworth, to name a few).
One of my most memorable experiences as a student and woman in business was during the Disruption in Retail Conference in New York during my sophomore fall. I had started working as a research assistant at the Baker Retail Center of Wharton with dr. Denise Dalhoff, exploring topics like mobile marketing, the impact of technology in retail, and digital journeys. Soon after, the center began planning a conference for industry experts and academics, in which both perspectives would be combined to better understand how brands and companies are reacting to changing consumer preferences due to technological advances and how to better respond to such an environment. The event was held at the Rubin museum in Manhattan and some of the key note speakers included Pierre-Yves Roussel (LVMH), Blake Nordstrom (Nordstrom), and Daniella Vitale (Barneys), professors like Peter Fader and Barbara Kahn, and rising entrepreneurs like the founders of Warby Parker. This unbelievable opportunity to connect with world leaders in the world of retail and fashion was greatly inspiring and insightful; Retail is constantly evolving, technology continues to disrupt consumers’ behaviors and wants, and artificial intelligence is playing a fundamental role in the way we interact with brands. It was the perfect way to take the theory learned in class and see its real-life application.
As a woman in business I often come across discussions on topics like the tremendous income gap that still exists today, the glass ceiling and the lack of women in top leadership positions, and how women are trying to balance their professional, social and family selves. This is particularly relevant when considering our role in changing this situation given the utter privilege that it is to study at a place like Penn. I think we are far from having a perfect solution to such complex questions, but I’ve found that while on campus, there is nothing more promising and inspiring than being surrounded by such hard-working, accomplished women. Friends, classmates, professors, and colleagues all around us are constantly innovating, creating, transforming, and challenging the stereotypes and striving to succeed across schools and disciplines. I have friends working not only in the traditional finance and consulting paths, but further taking on roles in retail, entertainment and media, psychology and neuroscience, the arts, sciences and medicine, etc. Being on campus provides endless possibilities to interact and collaborate with such women, to have mentors and develop relationships that are likely to transcend the (very short) four years we usually spend in college.
