Holland College | Women In Business Club launches activities for the year
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Women In Business Club launches activities for the year

As the initial flurry of back to school activity dies down, the Holland College Women in Business Club has begun planning a variety of activities for students, alumnae and staff, including hosting seminars, holding a mini-expo, and sending representatives to conferences and symposia.

The club, which was formed last February, provides the college's female students, graduates and staff with the opportunity to network with the college community and the province's many businesswomen. More than 100 students joined the club last year, and another 40 have signed up already this year. Since the first two meetings held earlier this month, the club has sent six students to the PEI Business Women's Association Symposium held in Mill River, and has started planning for a Christmas mini-expo in conjunction with the PEI BWA. In addition to providing PEI BWA members with an opportunity to display their products and services, the event gives students the opportunity to talk one-on-one with businesswomen in an informal, friendly environment.

Debi Forse, Learning Manager of the college's Retail Business Management program, and Sara Underwood, Alumni Development Officer for the College, are co-chairs of the Holland College Women in Business Club. They see great potential for students to use the club to develop their networks prior to graduation and to hone their skills before entering the workplace. "Our primary goal in the club is to provide interested women with as much exposure to the Island's business community as possible. Sometimes women need to gain more confidence in their abilities before entering the workplace, we can provide seminars and opportunities that will help them to do that," Forse said.

Emma Fugate, a second year Accounting Technology student from Northampton, England, has been a member of the club since its inception last February. She said that the club enables her to hone her networking skills and enhance her r?sum?. "As a newcomer to Prince Edward Island, I realize how difficult it can be to break into a closely-knit community of business people. The Women in Business Club is one way for me to meet island business people and begin to establish those all-important connections." Fugate noted that the club takes its direction from the students, ensuring that they receive information on the topics they are most interested in.

Forse noted that the diversity of the college's programs means that the club has the potential to have representation from a broad range of industries. "We have female students training at the Atlantic Police Academy, at the Tourism and Culinary Centre, and in welding and aerospace programs. So as the club expands into these areas, our students and alumnae will be able to tap into an expanse of experience not usually found in post-secondary business clubs.

For more information about this release, please contact:
Sara Underwood, Media and Communications Officer
Tel: 902-566-9695
Date: Wednesday, November 23, 2005