Business can sometimes be an intimidating field for many, but Calvin College is hoping to change that. The College has created The Calvin Young Women's Business Institute, a program to help female high school students interested in business expand their interests, or decide whether they truly are interested in pursuing a career in the field. The program will be three days long from July 18-20, and it is a free to take part in.
According to a survey done at Bentley University's Center for Women and Business, more than half of young women with corporate work experience say little opportunity for advancement in the business world is very discouraging. The Calvin Young Women's Business Institute hopes to combat this and instead encourage young business-minded women to reach for their goals. The program hopes to show them that a career in business is attainable.
The program is catered to female students who are starting their senior year of high school. It will give them the opportunity to work directly with female business experts and the chance to speak with professors from Calvin College, as well as with other business professionals. The Calvin College Career Development center will also play a major role in helping students set and recognize goals for a career in business. The program will also feature Mary Tuuk, the president of Fifth Third Bank West Michigan. The program aims to provide a weekend long opportunity for students to network and acquaint themselves with peers who have similar career interests.
Despite past findings of fewer women involved in business related fields compared to men, the numbers of female involvement is on a steady rise. According to the Economics and Statistics Administration, "The number of women-owned businesses has grown over time. Between 1997 and 2007, the number of women-owned businesses grew by 44 percent, twice as fast as men-owned firms, and they added roughly 500,000 jobs while other privately-held firms lost jobs."
