by Jordan Foley, Student Public Relations Writer
There’s a gender gap in the workforce that Cedarville University’s Women in Business (WIB) organization is trying to address.
According to 2024 data from the Pew Research Center, women make up nearly half (47%) of the U.S. workforce while occupying only one third (35%) of the highest paying positions. Moreover, only 11% of top executives are women.
With more women attending college in America — 54% of students at Cedarville University are female — Cedarville's WIB organization is focused on preparing students for careers in business. As women step into these spaces, Cedarville faculty and staff are coming alongside them with opportunities for them to become servant leaders in a male-dominated career field.
WIB seeks to build a supportive community where women pursuing a career in business and leadership can achieve their goals and develop meaningful relationships along the way.
“As women, it can be difficult to find community in male-dominated business fields such as finance and accounting,” said WIB president Paige Daulton, a junior finance and accounting major. “As an organization, we aim to create opportunities for women to foster relationships while hosting events where women can learn more about leadership and how to succeed in their profession.”
The organization hosts multiple monthly events that blend engaging activities and insightful women speakers, such as Anne Rich, a professor of accounting at Cedarville University. By hosting bonfires, creating vision boards, sharing Saturday brunches, and conducting service projects at the Xenia Senior Center, young women are encouraged to not only excel in their business profession but in their communities.
In addition to hosting fun events, guest speaker panels emphasize the value of internships, dressing professionally, and navigating difficult work and life situations.
"While listening to one of our panel speakers, Anne Hoevener, senior marketing major and vice president of WIB, I was able to learn about the power of networking and the importance of connecting with the people around you,” said Claire Harrison, sophomore marketing major and director of internal communication of WIB. “Mentorship plays a huge role in inspiring the next generation of women in business.”
Since the grand opening of the Scharnberg Business and Communication Center, the Women in Business organization aims to open its membership to the department of communication and expand the opportunity to equip Christian women for leadership.
Cedarville University, a Baptist institution in southwest Ohio, offers undergraduate and graduate residential and online programs across arts, sciences, and professional fields. With 6,384 students, it ranks among Ohio's largest private universities and is recognized by the Wall Street Journal as being among the nation’s top three evangelical universities. Cedarville is also known for its vibrant Christian community, challenging academics, and high graduation and retention rates. Learn more at cedarville.edu.