UNF launches new Women in Business initiative with support of leading Jacksonville companies
The University of North Florida has recently developed a new Women in Business (WIB) initiative within its Coggin College of Business designed to encourage confidence, capability and connections for students and provide them with mentorship and career advancement opportunities within the local community.
Membership in the WIB initiative is not restricted to women. Anyone who is interested in supporting the mission is welcome to join.
Four leading Jacksonville companies including Borland Groover, CSX, The Adecco Group and Truist have provided initial funding as founding supporters, recognizing the key need for this type of initiative.
These companies have several executives who have volunteered for the external mentorship initiative and are committed to furthering the WIB mission of enhancing students’ career planning, post-college employment and advancement in diverse fields of business.
Key WIB aspects include internal and external mentorship, business skill development workshops, monthly speaker series, professional networking, leadership training and more.
The WIB mentorship initiative provides the opportunity to enhance skill development, improve communication strategies, instill confidence and support professional development for the mentees and mentors. WIB is currently seeking additional persons in the local business community, from young professionals to top corporate executives, to serve in various roles as external mentors.
In addition, a key component is local high school outreach to educate students in the Jacksonville area regarding the benefits of business education and to build their familiarity with UNF’s Coggin College of Business and the WIB initiative.
WIB seeks to improve gender parity in business leadership by providing increased opportunities for UNF students to improve their business development skills, engage in leadership training, and network with influential business persons.