Students frequently express their love of the inclusive, family-like environment of the Mitch Daniels School of Business and the Boilermaker streak often spans generations.
The Brock-Wilson Center for Women in Business claims numerous family ties, including sisters Nicole and Becca Kreimer. Older sister Nicole, who served as president of the School of Business Council and was active in the Larsen Leaders Academy, graduated in 2024 with a degree in economics and is attending Loyola University Chicago School of Law. Becca is an incoming freshman. Both participated in the Empowering Women in Business program before starting Purdue.
“The program helped prepare me for college in two ways,” Nicole says. “One was the ability to attend classes taught by professors and work on my first college group project. We had more creative freedom than I had experienced with any high school projects, and the atmosphere was supportive enough that I felt comfortable making the transition. The other way this program prepared me for college was the social and logistical parts of living away from home for the first time. I started the week wondering if I would be able to make any friends, and ended it with a great bond between me and my cohort along with a new sense of independence.”
Becca had a similar experience. “The summer program immersed me in new experiences that I’d never had before,” she says. “Not only did it allow me to explore a potential area of study for me in college, but it also gave me a better understanding of what attending Purdue might be like. It has probably been the most impactful Purdue experience that I've had leading up to my first semester as a freshman this fall because I left the program with a new found confidence in my ability to succeed at college and plenty of Boilermaker spirit. I’m excited to go back to Purdue and hopefully see some of the other girls I met during the program.”
As a recent alum, Nicole is a valuable source of advice to her younger sister. “I tell her to always try new things,” she says. “Many of the experiences that shaped my college career were things I was unsure of at first, but I pushed myself to be involved, and it paid off. I never regretted doing something outside of classes in my time at the School of Business. It is not only a great way to gain experience and network, but also to get to know people in your school.”
“The best advice that she has given me about succeeding in college is to put myself out there and not be afraid to ask for help,” Becca adds. “I hope to make her proud this year by seizing every opportunity that comes my way.”
“Many of the experiences that shaped my college career were things I was unsure of at first, but I pushed myself to be involved, and it paid off. I never regretted doing something outside of classes in my time at the School of Business.” — Nicole Kreimer
Another pair of sisters, Stefanie and Katelyn Maxson, also took part in the Empowering Women program. Older sibling Stefanie, who graduated from the Daniels School in 2023, is now a marketing communications coordinator at Caterpillar Inc. in Dallas. Katelyn is an incoming freshman at Purdue.
“Thinking back to before I started college feels like a lifetime ago,” Stefanie recalls. “I was the first in my family to graduate from a four-year university, and I had no idea what to expect. Purdue’s early college success programs provided me with answers to those questions and more. The most important thing I learned was that while classes can be stressful, your experience shouldn’t be. Getting a glimpse of Purdue before becoming a student was a breath of fresh air that calmed my anxiety about trying something new, different and exciting.”
Stefanie also participated in the Confident Transitions program, which provides graduating undergraduate women a cohort-based, 12-month program. Students meet once a month to gain key skills as they transition from full-time college student to full-time employee. “The program did exactly what Purdue intended: it made me feel confident in my post-grad transition into adulthood,” she says. “After moving over 1,000 miles away from home after graduation and starting fresh in a new city with a new job, my Boilermaker roots and the friendships I made helped me build a foundation of success.”
Stefanie, who served as a Brock-Wilson Student Ambassador and was a member of the Larsen Leaders Academy, credits her interactions with alumni and upperclassmen as some of the most influential activities hosted by the center. “Learning from industry leaders and peers only a year or two older than me truly set me up for success,” she says. “I remember asking questions about interview prep and seeking advice like, ‘Tell me what I can do today to start my tomorrow.’ Some of these connections turned into mentors or friends.
“I passed along this advice to my sister Katelyn before she started her Purdue journey: Be excited to meet new people and hear their stories, learn and take notes even if you feel like the only one with pen and paper, and don’t be afraid to be yourself. High school sometimes pressures us to fit into a ‘cool’ crowd, but at Purdue, everyone welcomes you for who you are.”
Abby Lawler, a 2024 general management graduate, and her younger sister, Megan, are another pair of sisters who’ve participated in Brock-Wilson Center’s Empowering Women program. “The summer program provided a great overview of business fundamentals, confirming my interest for business as an academic major, and providing early inspiration for different career paths,” Abby says. “It additionally connected me to mentors and role models early on, giving me some go-to faces as I began my degree at Purdue.”
Like Stefanie Maxson, Abby also completed the Confident Transitions program. “With a good idea of my plan after graduation, I was excited to learn about topics such as managing a budget, moving to a new city, and excelling in a new job,” she says. “However, the program ended up addressing some bigger questions, as my senior year brought unexpected challenges. Just before graduation, my original full-time job offer was rescinded due to economic conditions, providing an opportunity to reevaluate my path forward. With the thought-provoking books, mentorship and community the program offered, I was able to foster motivation and direction leading to a successful job search.”
“Thinking back to before I started college feels like a lifetime ago. I was the first in my family to graduate from a four-year university, and I had no idea what to expect. Purdue’s early college success programs provided me with answers to those questions and more.” — Stefanie Maxson
Abby, who now works as a consultant at Gibson Consulting, has shared her experience taking part in Brock-Wilson Center activities with her younger sister. “As an incoming high school senior preparing to make a college decision, I advised Megan to try out the Empowering Women in Business camp to broaden her knowledge and get a feel for the campus experience,” she says. “I believed that the program would provide valuable information and skills that could be applied to any degree she decides to pursue.”
Alumna Kim Cahoon, an associate in institutional specialties underwriting and portfolio management at Capital One, and her younger sister, Erin, are also Brock-Wilson siblings. “The activities that stick out to me post-grad are the speakers from all over the country who took time out of their busy schedules to sit with us for an hour and discuss their past, present, and future,” Kim says. “It always sparked inspiration in me and I would leave feeling energized to take on a new project or research a new idea.”
Kim also took part in the Confident Transitions program. “Since the program runs from January through December of your graduation year, it provides continuing support where otherwise college would end,” she remarks. “From a budgeting class to volunteering advice to making a strong first impression, it was an innovative, well-rounded and complete program that gave me the confidence I needed to excel at my new job.”
Younger sister Erin completed the Empowering Women program this summer and is now a junior at Central Catholic High School in Lafayette. “It helped me prepare for college by giving me an idea of what everyday life is like on campus,” she says. “It also gave me an incredible preview of the many course options that I have access to at Purdue. However, one of my favorite parts was the help with college applications. Going in I was very unsure about the process and where to even start when applying, so having the opportunity to talk to people who review applications and find out what they are looking for was very valuable.”
Erin has also received valuable insights from her older sister. “The best advice about succeeding in college that I have gotten from my sister is that I should apply myself in classes and ask questions,” she says. “I have learned from her that communication is key when trying to learn new things, whether that is communicating with professors or even other students. Another piece of advice she gave me was to have a work-life balance. It is very important to focus on studies and make sure you are learning and completing all your work, but it is also important to not miss out on college life and experiences such as football games or hanging out with friends.”
“Your role within the Brock-Wilson community may shift in matter and size over the years, but there is always a way to contribute to the center that will impact the past, present, and future female business leaders from Purdue and beyond.” — Kim Cahoon
“I also tell Erin that it’s a way to always come back to Purdue,” Kim adds. “Faces may change, but the mission — to empower women to become confident leaders and prepare women and men to excel in a diverse workforce — stays the same. Your role within the Brock-Wilson community may shift in matter and size over the years, but there is always a way to contribute to the center that will impact the past, present, and future female business leaders from Purdue and beyond.”
