The Women in Management Network (WMN) is a newly founded initiative at the Telfer School of Management that aims to equip women to succeed in their personal and professional endeavors. The three-tiered initiative’s goal is to support females to excel in their careers through mentorship and increase female participation in the management sector; build a positive, supportive, inclusive community; and develop their skills to foster creativity and innovation.
The woman behind WMN is none other than Polly Leung. Polly Leung is a fourth year BCom student in International Management from Markham, Ontario and a recipiemt of the Merit Scholarship of the Telfer School of Management. She has become passionate about making a way for herself and other women alike in professional industries. Polly noted that she’s had many ideas over the years but commitment waned and they didn’t take off. Polly detailed how she envisioned the WMN network as a program where women built each other up in a community atmosphere and where they could celebrate their successes and acknowledge and learn from struggles. “You can have as many good ideas as you’d like, but without the demand, passion, and commitment from yourself and your support network, it won’t happen. This idea stuck and took off.” Polly herself acknowledged that without the support and encouragement from the Telfer School, particularly the Career Centre that the WMN network would not have been possible. Polly also notes that she has had many professors who have taught her to dig deeper, ask the tough questions in and outside the classroom, and to always strive for more.
“Transformational over informational,” is Polly’s mindset behind the WMN network. She aspires to host events that bring people together and allow them to share and learn from one another and create transformational relationships rather than strictly host informational sessions. Polly said that she works to mimic Oprah’s ability to connect with people, and inspire purpose and drive in everyone around her.
For Polly, the future is bright. She strives for a career in an executive level marketing position where she’s able to have a healthy balance between her commitments, her creativity and following her passions, hopefully, she notes, in a big city. But for now, Polly continues to work with an incredible team of people involved in the WMN network, to take inspiring, insightful classes, and on top of it all, she’s just submitted an application to do an international exchange.
WMN is launching a series of events in the upcoming three months, including a finance workshop series, and an entrepreneurship program. To register for an upcoming event: telfer.uOttawa.ca/careercal
