02-21-2025
Early in February, Women in Business, a Daniels School of Business student organization, hosted its 16th annual Monarch Leadership Conference. This year's theme, Rising Above Barriers, encouraged me to confront obstacles head-on and carve our own paths to success as future female leaders in the workplace. The conference featured two keynote speakers, interactive breakout sessions addressing common barriers and a mocktail hour designed to foster conversation and inspiration for the future.
The day started with Jocelyn Wong, an innovative business strategist with more than 25 years of experience in the workforce. She shared her professional journey with us. Wong discussed the pivotal moments in her career, the mentors who helped her succeed, and the power of leveraging your strengths and values. She also shared personal experiences and the lessons she has gained along the way.
The highlight of her discussion was "Don't be afraid of the risk; be afraid of not doing it."
Her professional life has not been linear. Wong shared that barriers created challenges along the way, and she made mistakes and encountered setbacks during her journey. I learned that, as hard as it may feel, every step I take is a learning opportunity to enhance my skills and grow. She added that everyone’s career will look different and that there are winding journeys. I need to welcome them to allow myself to embrace change and navigate the new opportunities before me.
The afternoon featured a mocktail hour, allowing me to connect with fellow students, Purdue faculty, and industry sponsors, including representatives from Caterpillar, Eli Lilly and Crowe. I also had the chance to listen to Clinical Associate Professor Cara Putnam, the faculty advisor for Women in Business. Putman shared insights on the importance of networking in shaping our future opportunities. She encouraged us to “be curious about the people around us,” emphasizing that everyone has a story and that each conversation can open doors to our next possibility.
The conference also featured keynote speaker Stacey Burr, a visionary worker in the health and fitness industry. Burr guided me through understanding the importance of recognizing my worth in the workplace and finding my passions within my career. By sharing her professional journey and the steps in her career path, Burr inspired me to think about how I can confidently bring value to any field.
One insight she shared with the group was the importance of owning your seat at the table.
Through her discussion, she highlighted that each woman at the conference possesses unique strengths and can achieve career success. She encouraged me to embrace these qualities and not shy away from these opportunities, as I deserve to be at the top. Burr also discussed the importance of not underselling myself.
This year's Monarch Leadership Conference was a stepping stone for all women and me to break through the struggles and grow into successful leaders one day. With more than 240 attendees and several Big 10 universities represented, this conference is building a path for women in the workforce to know our strengths, tackle obstacles, and be successful leaders for generations to come.
Madison Gaydos is a junior double majoring in marketing and general management at the Mitch Daniels School of Business. She is the president of Purdue Rotaract, a community service organization on campus. Madison is also the vice chair of the learning community in the Brock-Wilson Center for Women in Business, where she works on creating and fostering relationships for first-year women business students. She is a marketing generalist intern for the Daniels School's MarCom team. She will return to State Farm this summer as a claims specialist intern in the auto department.
