Gal Pals
Gal Pals is a part of our Internal Mentoring program. Those who choose to participate get paired up with another member and are challenged to meet each month. Each month has a themed challenge, which in the past have included “Do Something You Haven’t Done Since You Were a Child” and “Celebrate a Weird Holiday.” Participants have the opportunity to earn 3 points from the Gal Pal program, along with a point for attending the kickoff event at the beginning of the semester.
Lean In Circles
Lean-In Circles were created within our Women In Business organization in the Fall of 2014. They are based off Sheryl Sandberg’s “Lean-In” book and nonprofit. Our goal with this program is to empower the women within each circle by speaking on topics both on a professional and personal level through small group meetings in an interactive environment. These circles foster relationships between members and inspire members to grow as Women In Business members. The groups meet on the off weeks of General Meetings and there are approximately six throughout each semester. New members of WIB are required to sign up, but we are seeing an increasing amount of returning WIB members sign up as well. Our retention rate and overall size have significantly increased since implementing Lean in Circles.
Lean In Circles FAQ
What are Lean-in Circles?
Lean In Circles are groups of 8-12 members that meet biweekly. These meetings will include activities, events, and dynamic conversation! During these meetings, members and leaders can discuss personal, educational, and professional struggles and successes. Through sharing and discussing, members can learn from and empower each other to keep taking risks and believe in their abilities. The three key Circle Foundations from the Lean-In nonprofit organization are Confidentiality, Communication, and Commitment.
What are the attendance requirements this semester?
If a member signs up to be a part of a Lean-In Circle, it will be the member’s responsibility to go to each Circle. Excused absences include emergencies, illnesses, and exams. If a member knows now that they will be missing more than one Circle, they should ask to schedule a Circle at a different time or on a different day since there are only six circles per semester. We want members to be able to be a part of this program, but it’s unfair to the member, their fellow Circle members, and their leader if one member is constantly missing from the group. For first-time members, Lean-In Circles are required!
For any questions or concerns, please email our VP of Internal Relations, Ashley Stepien, at ashley-stepien@uiowa.edu