WiB exists to serve the women of the Foster MBA community and their allies. As an MBAA club, WiB has 3 main goals:
Building Community
Unpacking Gender Dynamics
Professional Networking
We recognize the intersectionality of diversity efforts and aim to promote greater collaboration between WiB and the wider Foster community–including fellow MBAA clubs, faculty, alumni, and the Seattle business community.
Mission:
Our mission is to support the personal and professional development of Foster women MBA students by creating opportunities for women to grow into leadership positions and increase their visibility in the classroom, the workplace, and the community. We encourage our members and everyone at Foster to engage in behaviors, activities, and dialogue that fosters a welcoming environment where women MBA students can thrive.
Goals for 2023-2024:
Build community
Build stronger relationships between first years and second years full time, evening and full time and with undergrad women.
Build awareness of gender dynamics with professors and classmates of all genders.
Build our professional network
Forte Foundation
NAWMBA
Professional groups & ERGs
Interested in learning more about Foster Women in Business? Send us a note via out contact form!
Rachana Vasudevan
Co-President WIB
FT Class of 2025
Rachana’s pre-MBA background is in semiconductor chip design. Her most recent role was with Nvidia where she developed chips for automotive vehicles, data centers and GPUs. She also worked with MediaTek to build chipsets for 5G phones and home entertainment devices like Alexa. She hails from Bengaluru, India she also considers Mumbai to be home. Outside of work, she enjoys singing, reading, traveling and leaning about new cultures.
Gayatri Naidu
Co-President WIB
Full-time Class of 2025
Prior to her MBA, Gayatri worked at Ernst and Young in Financial Advisory and Accounting services, providing consultancy to various clients with a focus on financial transformation. She also worked for Deutsche Bank, where she supported Liquidity Treasury Reporting and Analysis in financial reporting. Outside of work, Gayatri enjoys hiking, exploring new places, and is a passionate foodie.
Nehal Gujrathi
VP Events WIB
Full-time Class of 2025
Before pursuing her MBA, Nehal worked as a Data Scientist at UnitedHealth Group, where she developed solutions to prevent money laundering in healthcare claims. At Barclays, she served as a Technical Lead for Payments and Risks products, focusing on tracking cross-border payments. Outside of work, Nehal enjoys traveling and engaging in outdoor activities.
Dakshinaa Vinod
VP, Alumni Affairs
Full-time Class of 2025
Dakshinaa brings a robust blend of engineering expertise, business acumen, and a deep passion for building innovative products that integrate human ingenuity and machine efficiency. Prior to her MBA, she delivered pivotal contracts in Automotive Engineering and Technology Management in the Oil and Gas sector. During her internship with Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence, she uncovered blue ocean opportunities in Digital Manufacturing. Originally from Kerala, India, Dakshinaa also enjoys playing the Veena and is a trained Kathak dancer.
Megha Soni
VP, Finance
Full-time Class of 2025
Prior to her MBA, Megha worked as a Program Manager at Amazon, focusing on enhancing the security of global payroll systems. She also worked at Schneider Electric in project management and cybersecurity governance. Megha has an undergrad degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering from Manipal University. Outside of work, she volunteers with women empowerment nonprofits and enjoys dancing, painting, and exploring new cultures through travel.
Riteeka Sapru
VP, Operations
Full-time Class of 2025
Riteeka is passionate about using technology to drive meaningful change. At Newgen Software, she led digitization projects in the banking sector, improving customer experiences and streamlining operations with cloud-based solutions.
During her summer internship at ZS, Riteeka led a pivotal data integration project for Gilead after its acquisition of Cymabay. She facilitated collaboration between cross-functional teams, managed key stakeholder relationships, and ensured smooth system integration. This role deepened her expertise in leadership and handling complex business challenges in a dynamic consulting environment.
When she's not working, Riteeka finds joy in reading fiction, traveling, and nurturing her garden.
Purvi Mahajan
VP Corporate Affairs WIB
Full-time Class of 2025
Purvi Mahajan has 5 years of experience in functional operations of oil& gas marketing. She has led cloud transformation strategy initiative in her prior role with Bharat Petroleum, and now has pivoted to the technology industry, deepening her expertise in product sales and marketing at SAP’s digital supply chain line of business. She is enthusiastic about strategy development and thought leadership, and therefore post MBA from University of Washington, she wants to pursue a career that leads to her career vision. On the personal front, she has built up her tennis skills over the summer and ready to play a league whenever opportunity comes.
Throughout the year, Women in Business offers programming and activities roughly centered around the following categories:
Discussion Forums | WiB hosts discussions throughout the quarter to provide a safe space for members to discuss topics important to them, from gender dynamics on MBA study teams to concerns about sexist language in the workplace.
Speakers & Workshops | WiB hosts guests speakers and clinicians to present on a variety of topics, including gaining higher levels of emotional intelligence and developing more confident speaking skills. These events are often delivered through a joint effort of multiple clubs and space can be limited. RSVP is typically required.
Career & Alumni Networking | WiB works to nurture relationships in the greater Seattle community by planning networking events that offer members the chance to connect with Foster alumni and executives from the city’s many outstanding companies. Casual networking events are held throughout the year, sometimes in conjunction with other club activities. The club also hosts an annual Spring Alumni Networking Dinner, where current students dine with club alumni.
Mentorship Program | An initiative sponsored by the Women in Business chapters at the University of Washington’s Foster School of Business, the WiB Mentor Program matches MBA students with undergraduate women to discuss everything from academics to career paths. The program features an event each quarter, with a Kick-Off Meet & Greet in the fall; Coffee Chats in the winter, where mentors are provided with coffee cards to treat their mentee(s); and a closing Spring Luncheon, featuring a guest speaker from the business community.
Social Activities | Throughout the year, WiB offers evening and weekend social activities with a casual atmosphere. Additionally, off-campus retreats provide stress-free getaways for members to relax, connect, and recharge with activities ranging from yoga to cooking to hiking.