Introduction
The path to becoming QWIL’s First Year Representatives was one of learning, growth and empowerment. Only four months ago, we - Konyi Callisto and Emilie Goard - were given the opportunity to join QWIL as their newest members, because of our passion for equity in business. Although we were nervous, we entered this role with drive and excitement as liaisons for first-year students. In our time on QWIL, we worked on the events team and played an integral role in planning the Equity Summit and Networking Event.
Despite initially feeling intimidated by all the responsibilities, we quickly found ourselves immersed in our club’s culture. While we were pushed outside our comfort zones through public speaking and learning how to coordinate with external venues, we are deeply grateful for these opportunities, as each experience has left a meaningful impact on us.
As both of us only have brothers at home, QWIL provided us with our first true sense of sisterhood. The upper years consistently offered us mentorship and support and we could not have asked for a better team. Truly, their encouragement and warmth have allowed us to develop into the young women in leadership we are today.
Redefining Leadership
Growing up, it was very easy for us to see how different the expectations were for men and women in leadership roles. While men were praised for being confident and authoritative, women who showcased the same traits were labeled as arrogant or overly emotional. This double standard made it incredibly difficult for us to envision ourselves in positions of power, and even harder to feel confident enough to go after them. As young women, we often felt the pressure to shrink back from leadership opportunities, doubting our own abilities.
Our commitment to challenging these barriers is what led us to QWIL. We’ve always believed that women deserve an equal seat at the table, but we also recognized the additional challenges women face from societal systems and biases. By joining QWIL, we saw an opportunity to not just participate, but help redefine what leadership looks like for women. Through QWIL, we’ve found a community that empowers us to embrace our unique strengths and challenge the status quo, ultimately helping us grow into the leaders we’ve always aspired to be.
Growth in Leadership
As First Year Reps, we have both faced many challenges and opportunities. From the beginning, a large struggle for us has been overcoming imposter syndrome. Being the only two freshmen in QWIL, we have often questioned whether we truly belong in this role. There have been moments where we’ve compared ourselves to others and felt like we couldn’t measure up. Interconnected with imposter syndrome, was a fear of making mistakes. Particularly as First-Year Reps, there is a distinct pressure to prove ourselves by being perfect. In high-stakes situations and critical decision-making moments, it was easy to feel overwhelmed.
Yet, as much as it’s a cliché, the past 5 months have taught us to see these challenges as necessary parts of personal growth and development. With each new challenge where we pushed past moments of uncertainty, we have come out the other side with a stronger belief in our skill sets and abilities. Leadership is not about perfection, it’s about embracing challenges and learning along the way.
Despite these obstacles, the opportunities we’ve experienced at QWIL have made the journey entirely worth it. There is something truly empowering about QWIL’s environment - being surrounded by strong, like-minded women and having the opportunity to not only develop our own leadership skills, but also uplift others. The constant positivity, support and gratitude from every single person has fostered an atmosphere where we've felt confident to explore our interests, and express our unique opinions and ideas.
Advice for Female Leaders
As our first year on QWIL sadly nears its end, we find ourselves reflecting on the lessons we’ve learned, challenges we’ve overcome and the growth we’ve endured. When we joined this club as the 2024-2025 First Year Representatives, we were shy and nervous. Now, we leave our roles as self-assured, strong women.
Our advice to future female leaders is simple: always share your voice. This was something we both found difficult, specifically in the world of business. It is easy to think that there is someone older, smarter or more experienced than you that deserves to take the spotlight. However, this way of thinking will only hold you back. Even when you doubt yourself it is crucial to speak your truth because your words have the power to inspire and uplift those around you.
Most importantly, embrace who you are and take every challenge you see as an opportunity for growth. QWIL showed us that the strongest leaders are those who persevere, even when they find it difficult to see the light at the end of the tunnel. In the end, we leave this academic school year more confident, resilient and inspired than we ever could have imagined, thanks to the 27 amazing women we met just four months ago.
-Konyi Callisto and Emilie Goard
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