Join the Women’s Initiative Network (WIN)

With the mission of engaging the more than 93,000 Montclair State University alumnae in the intellectual, cultural and educational life of the University, the Women’s Initiative Network (WIN) is looking to expand membership as it builds a vibrant community to inspire and empower women to become leading volunteers and visionary donors.

“We are excited to grow this community and build a supportive network for each other and the mission of Montclair State University,” says Jeanne Marano, assistant vice president for Annual Giving and Alumni Engagement. “We are looking for representation across all professional disciplines and from every career stage – from senior executives to young professionals to entrepreneurs.”

The WIN group held several roundtable discussions to determine the types of programs of interest. One key area is leadership development. In January 2023, WIN hosted “Negotiation in the Workplace – Strategies for the Career Advancement of Women,” a workshop presented by Tara Chiara, certified executive leadership and career coach. 

The program focused on negotiation as an essential skill in one’s career and in life. Chiara pointed to studies that have suggested that men are promoted based on their perceived potential while women are promoted after proving they can do it. Chiara shared insights on how to negotiate effectively (and authentically) and to break the cycle of the ‘potential vs. performance’ roadblock.

Previous leadership development workshops included “Building Your Authentic Personal Brand,” also presented by Chiara, which helped participants identify their personal brand and understand why it’s important for career success. Through a series of practical activities, participants defined their individuality, focused on their values and clarified their purpose with the goal of leaving the session with a compelling personal brand statement. 

Another event held online featured executive career coach Rob Hellmann who shared ways to elevate professional skills, perfect networking skills and grow a professional network. Some of the areas addressed included identifying a network, creating a pitch, identifying crucial connections, finding the “hidden job market” and best practices using LinkedIn.

WIN is eager to build and grow a strong network of women committed to supporting Montclair and supporting student success through mentoring and providing career resources. The group plans to host additional activities around networking and leadership development, as well as create a signature event for women’s history month and increase philanthropic support among Montclair’s alumnae community.

“As we move forward with planning, we will tap into the extensive experience of Montclair’s accomplished alumni to provide networking and learning opportunities designed to empower women to realize their career goals and to increase the number of women meaningfully engaged with the University,” says Marano. “Whether you are located close to campus or far away, please let us know your interest so that we can look to create new engagement opportunities.”

To join the network or serve on the planning committee, please complete this brief survey to tell us a little bit about yourself, your interests and thoughts on developing future activities.

Questions?

If you would like additional information regarding the Women’s Initiative Network, please contact Rachel Vigilante at vigilanter@montclair.edu or 973-655-4141.