2024 CONFERENCE / Seed to Success
On February 11, 2024, CWBS will be hosting the 20th Annual Women’s Business Leadership Conference, “Seed to Success,” which showcased the entrepreneurial and innovative talents of women across the Finance, Consulting, Tech, Start-Up, Wellness, Fashion, and Creative spaces.
This conference’s four panels include speakers from nontraditional, start-up and tech, creative, and financial companies, while our three keynote presenters span the realms of consulting, fashion, and unicorn enterprises. Alongside a full day of outstanding keynotes and panels, we hosted a networking hour with CWBS alumnae and corporate sponsors, catered lunch and refreshments, as well as offered chance to receive a gift bag and raffle prizes.
In its 20th year, the conference ultimately celebrated the countless women who continue to cultivate an environment where future leaders, and their ideas, can grow—from a seed all the way to success.
About our Conference
Each year, CWBS organizes a Women's Business Leadership Conference. The conference aims to connect undergraduate students to successful women in a variety of business fields, and to inspire them to achieve their own professional goals in the future.
In each of the past nineteen years, approximately 200-300 female undergraduate students at Columbia have attended the conference. Through a keynote address, career panels, and networking opportunities, conference attendees have the unique opportunity to interact with and learn from some of the most inspiring business women in the corporate world.
Additionally, the first subset of registered attendees each year are eligible to receive a complimentary goodie bag filled with must-have items ranging from skincare to chocolate to coupons from local businesses!
2023 CONFERENCE / The Evolution of Us
The 2023 CWBS Annual Women's Business Leadership Conference on February 18th celebrated the theme "Evolution of Us" through a day of keynote presentations, fireside chats, panels, and breakout sessions featuring high-powered women leaders across various business sectors.
As a highlight of the 2023 conference, panels spanned the industries of Art & Beauty, e-Commerce & e-Services, and Health & Sustainability. The fireside chats and keynotes featured female founders and leaders in the AI, start-up, and Arts spaces. In addition to speaker events, the conference also included a networking hour staffed with recruiters from top employers.
The 2023 conference marks the first in-person CWBS Women's Leadership Conference after two years of virtual programming. As such, this conference symbolized a celebration of female perseverance through Covid-19 and the progression of women in the workplace throughout history.
2022 CONFERENCE / Profiles in Resilience
Last February, CWBS held a one-day virtual conference with incredible panels and keynote speakers from accomplished women across business sectors. (And it was 100% free!)
The 18th annual CWBS Conference, Profiles in Resilience, highlighted women making strides in the workplace in the wake of unprecedented challenges. Through our panels, World-Changing Women, Leading Women in Tech, The Business of Art, and Revolutionizing Healthcare, as well as talks from our incredible keynote speakers, Profiles in Resilience showcased women who are leading in tech, finance, healthcare, art, and entrepreneurship!
The first 300 sign-ups received a goodie bag with exclusive products from our Conference donors, including chocolate, skincare, and more!
Attendees were also invited to attend an exclusive professional development workshop before the Conference!
2021 CONFERENCE / VOCALIZING VALUES
In 2021, CWBS introduced our first virtual conference over the span of 4 days with 3 different keynotes addresses and 5 panels. This conference was open to all college students across the country. Over the past few months we’ve been able to host numerous events over Zoom with speakers and panelists from all over the United States and across the world.
2021’s 17th annual Columbia Women’s Business Society Conference, Vocalizing Values, highlighted women who incorporate their personal morals, ethics and principles into the workplace. Through our panels -- Tech Talk, Financing our Future, Fashion Forward, Best Case Scenario, and Paving the Way -- Vocalizing Values showcased women who are leading in business, tech, finance, fashion, consulting, and entrepreneurship, along with 3 keynote addresses from executives in banking, entertainment, and entrepreneurship!