The Women in Business student organization will be opening part of its annual conference event to the public Feb. 18 to share their resources with anyone else who is interested.
React to Passion will be the theme of the conference organized by Women in Business. The event will include speakers and a discussion panel open to the public to reignite passion in attendees’ lives, Cassidy Ostmeyer, Women in Business public relations director, said.
“We’re trying to look to ourselves to find our passions and explore them,” she said
They organize a similar event every year. It generally allows members of the organization to network and connect with corporate sponsors, while the second is usually open to the public in order for the rest of the IU community to share in the resources available, Ostmeyer said.
She said they have been having this event for at least 10 years, and they’ve all gone off without a hitch.
This year will feature keynote speaker Ann Murtlow, CEO of United Way in central Indiana. Alex Corgiat, director of the conference committee, said Murtlow is an amazing woman with an amazing background.
“We thought her understanding of the community would be a great tie in to our theme,” Corgiat said. “She was just so perfect and qualified.”
She will be speaking at 1 p.m. in Hodge 1006. Prior to her speech, there will be a panel consisting of Kelley School of Business faculty, IU almuni and community leaders at 12:15 p.m..
“The panel is great,” Ostmeyer said. “We’ve had so many interesting conversations come about. To hear them speak and give advice is priceless.”
The theme of finding passion, Ostmeyer said, is something everyone can relate to. That’s why, she said, the public should be interested in attending the event.
Corgiat said their organization is interested in connecting to the entire IU community. She said they tried to get a speaker everyone could be interested in.
“We want to interact with everyone so we can give them our resources and get some back from IU as well,” Corgiat said.
Aside from interests of her organization, Ostmeyer said she is personally excited for the event, specifically this year’s theme.
“So often we live just to live and go with habits and without purpose,” she said. “I am so excited to find my passion again and reconnect with that part of myself.”
