In this blog Chicago Women in Business co-chairs (Shadae Boakye-Yiadom, Harriet Spears, and Teresa De La Vega Rodarte) take us through (1) what CWiB is and why they decided to join; (2) how becoming a member can help foster connections with like-minded peers; and (3) what they’re looking forward to most in celebration of Women’s History Month.
Shadae Boakye-Yiadom: After graduating with a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Michigan, Shadae moved to South Carolina to work in automotive manufacturing. She worked on several process optimization and continuous improvement projects and loved the cross-functional nature of the work. However, she wanted to expand on her analytical skills and business acumen, which ultimately brought her to Chicago Booth.
Harriet Spears: Prior to business school, Harriet spent four years leading fundraising and communications at a gender equity nonprofit. Her undergraduate degree is from Northwestern’s social policy school. While Harriet loved the challenge of fundraising, she chose to attend business school to strengthen her quantitative skills and accelerate her career in social impact.
Teresa De La Vega Rodarte: Before attending Booth, Teresa spent five years in investment banking in Mexico City at UBS and Goldman Sachs. Teresa loved the fast-paced nature of the work and the exposure to high-stakes deals. However, she wanted to transition to the buy side, where she could work directly with investors and focus on long-term value creation. Teresa chose Booth because of its strong finance and flexible curriculum, particularly the PE-focused resources from the Polsky Center.
Shadae: I know people say this often, but I really did come to Booth for the flexibility of the curriculum. I was able to take Spanish at UChicago my entire first year, which would have been difficult/impossible at other schools. As an aspiring polyglot, being able to take language classes while in school was important to me.
Harriet: Beyond Chicago being my favorite city, I had full confidence that I could reach my career goals at Booth. I have used the two years of the program to explore potential opportunities in impact investing, corporate social responsibility, and philanthropy. Both our lab courses (like Private Equity / Venture Capital Lab) and experiential learning opportunities (like the Tarrson Fund and Social New Venture Challenge) have helped me get hands-on experience in multiple domains of interest, while I completed my summer internship on the social community impact team at Nike HQ.
Teresa: During my application process, I had the chance to visit Chicago and was immediately drawn to Booth’s warm and welcoming community. The friendliness of the students stood out, and I knew I wanted to be part of this environment. Booth’s pay-it-forward culture was something I had heard about, but now, as a student, I truly understand its impact. Second-years quickly become your best resource, whether it’s for recruiting, social events, or planning trips. Alumni also embody this culture, always willing to engage in Booth events, share their experiences, and connect through coffee chats. This strong sense of support and collaboration made Chicago Booth the perfect choice for me.
Shadae: The connections I made with AAMBAA members during my application process were so valuable. Everyone was super willing to help with interview prep, answer questions about their Booth experience, and just chat about anything that was on my mind as I navigated taking this huge step.
Harriet: Be yourself! I think it’s a trap to feel like you need to justify yourself and your experiences as a “non-traditional applicant.” The best thing you can do is be authentic about your skills and areas for growth. I also completed Forte Foundation’s MBALaunch program to help meet other women going through the application process and help put my best foot forward in the essays and interviews.
Teresa: Try to enjoy the process and connect with as many Boothies as possible! The application essays are a great opportunity for introspection, helping you clarify why you want to pursue an MBA and setting a clear roadmap for your journey at Booth. Your greatest resource is the Booth community—students and alumni can offer valuable insights into what makes Booth unique, from academics to the social experience. Take advantage of their willingness to share and don’t hesitate to ask questions, you’ll find that Boothies truly embody the pay-it-forward culture.
Harriet: Because my pre-MBA career was in gender equity, I knew I wanted to be involved with CWiB to contribute to the women’s community at Booth. I was excited about the diversity of the events offered at CWiB, and also the opportunity to support Admissions’ efforts to make Booth inclusive and supportive of students from all backgrounds.
Shadae: The most rewarding part of serving as a co-chair of CWiB has been our dedicated focus on creating intersectional and inclusive programming this year. We've successfully built meaningful partnerships with various affinity and social groups on campus, allowing us to engage with our members (and allies!) through diverse and dynamic formats. From organizing workshops with Booth professors on effective salary negotiation tactics to hosting fireside chats with luxury real estate agents, watching our members engage with and learn from such diverse perspectives has been truly rewarding.
Teresa: Being a CWiB co-chair with six other amazing women has been one of the best parts of my Booth experience. After a year of working together, we’ve become really close, and I know these friendships will last beyond Booth.
In the social pod, we’ve focused on creating fun ways for Booth women to connect. We host small weekly socials that give people a chance to meet in a casual setting, and we also plan bigger events like the CWiB Spring Formal in May. It’s such a fun night to dress up, dance, and take cute pictures with friends. Through CWiB, I’ve built so many great relationships and have really felt the strength of this community.
Harriet: CWiB is a central component of the strong women’s community at Booth! From hosting an annual Fall Conference and spring formal to hosting small group socials and lunch n’ learn events on relevant topics from intersectionality to salary negotiation, CWiB has a full schedule of events that span across professional development, social, and gender equity.
Harriet: One of the days that I felt most grateful to the CWiB community was during the CWiB Fall Conference in October 2023. Sallie Krawcheck, the founder of Ellevest, was the keynote speaker and I remember sitting in the audience, both in awe of her accomplishments but also excited to imagine all the amazing things that my classmates will accomplish in our lives, as Sallie has done.
Shadae: I got to interview a reality TV star from one of my favorite real estate reality TV shows on Netflix, Selling Tampa. We co-hosted with AAMBAA for Black History Month and chatted with Anne-Sophie Petit-Frere about luxury real estate, authenticity in competitive markets, and tips for first-time homebuyers. It was so fun. I felt like Oprah!
Teresa: One of my favorite CWiB events was our kickoff for Women’s History Month, which we organized in collaboration with the Wine Club at Bronzeville Winery, a women-owned, Black-owned winery close to Harper Center. It was a great way to support a local business while bringing the Booth community together. The event was a perfect mix of celebrating women, enjoying great wine, and strengthening our community.
Harriet: International Women’s Day is a celebration of the amazing contributions of women around the world, as well as an acknowledgement of the progress still needed to create equity and opportunity for all. At CWiB this month, we’re hosting a book club on Claudia Goldin’s book Career and Family, and also collaborating with Wine Club on a special happy hour at Bronzeville Winery.
Shadae: I’m looking forward to giving all the amazing women in my life their flowers—literally and figuratively. Taking time to celebrate the women who've shaped me and been by my side through thick and thin feels like the perfect way to honor this month's significance.
We hope you have a better idea of what it looks like to become a member of the Chicago Women in Business student group after reading sentiments from Shadae, Harriet, and Teresa. For more information about CWiB, please visit their website.
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