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Future leaders inspired by women who've made it.
Students looking forward to embarking on their careers and career-search newcomers recently got candid answers to such burning questions as: “How can I balance work with other commitments including marriage and families?” “When is the right time for me to get my education?” “What can I expect in terms of salary equity?” And they got those answers from ten women who know, since they all hold leadership positions in a variety of industry sectors. Members of the audience left with information and encouragement. “The discussion gave me an opportunity to get to know women who already are making it in a different industries,” said Vanessa Coronado, a junior accounting major and president-elect of the FIU Accounting Association (FIU-AA), which co-sponsored the event along with Career Services, the Women’s Studies Center, and the Women’s Center. “It gave me hope. Knowing that they’re succeeding made me feel I can, too.” Another attendee, Mariana Runha (BA ’04) works with teenage girls through Ayuda, an organization that helps under-served and/or at-risk families in Miami-Dade County achieve self-sufficiency. She tried to bring the girls along, but wasn’t able to work out the logistics. Still, she was excited about passing on to them what she learned. “It was a great asset to hear what successful women say,” said Runha, who has her degree in public relations. “I got valuable information about what goals you need to achieve as you try to reach your big goal.” Joyce J. Elam, executive dean of the College of Business Administration, was one of the speakers, along with Margie Arce, Miccosukee Indian School, teacher; Erin Ashby, area manager, Enterprise Rent-A-Car; Margaret Brisbane, division director, Miami-Dade County enterprise technology services division; Grisel Fernandez, chief financial officer, Unisa; Phyllis Kotey, clinical associate professor of law in the university’s College of Law; Jada Phillabaum, Caterpillar, CRM process manager; Sherry L. Ulsh, executive director, Burger King McLamore Foundation; Marianella Valera, president, American Therapeutic; and Claudia Vasquez, regional recruiting supervisor, Enterprise Rent-A-Car.
José Toscano (BA ‘97), assistant director of College of Business Administration Career Services, moderated the three-hour discussion, attended by 48 women and two men.
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