Just a few months after being accepted at the University of Washington, freshman Argela Malanao got an Instagram follow from a new club on campus: The Women’s Network. This is a national network whose mission is to help women grow professionally while having a supportive community. The Women’s Network hosts workshops, networking events, and guest speakers to help prepare undergraduates for the workforce.
“To have this account follow me, I was so excited,” Argela reflected, “This was the first organization to reach out to me, so when I found out what they were about, I [knew] this was something that we needed.” Oftentimes, women do not feel comfortable celebrating their professional accomplishments. “When [society] says that a girl is ambitious, they think that she is reaching too high, and that she reaches for things that she won’t achieve.” The Women’s Network strives to redefine ambition so it has a positive connotation despite gender. After joining an information session, Argela was so inspired that she signed up to become a campus ambassador. The Women’s Network was going to give her so much that she wanted to give back to them. By becoming a campus ambassador, Argela could help create a large community of empowered women.
Being an international student, Argela was elated to find such a supportive online community. She could “share anything and there would be no judgements.” Although she initially joined to grow professionally, what made her stay was “the safe, little community that we have in The Women’s Network.” One of the first events Argela attended was a confidence workshop. “I am actually very shy and I never [used] to talk to people,” she explained. This made her feel alone in that regard, but after attending the workshop, she “met other people who had the same experiences as me. They feel the way I do and they still achieve many things.” After the event, she became emotional because of the love and support the other members gave her.
Being a part of The Women’s Network for less than a year, Argela still has gained so much from the experience professionally. “I have a resume now. I never made a resume.” Argela also attended a LinkedIn workshop where she learned how to network on the website most effectively. As a STEM major, she has especially benefited from connecting with women throughout the country. “People think that [in order to join] they should be in business, but they don’t, anyone and everyone is welcome to the network.” Connections are a vital part of any career path because they increase the amount of job opportunities. “Since we’re in STEM, we don’t really see the importance in networking,” Argela explained, “But after we graduate, we’re put in the real world without knowing how to network.” If anyone, regardless of major, joins the network, they gain a significant advantage when navigating the workforce.
To join The Women’s Network, fill out the membership form. In order to be up to date with the UW chapter, follow them on Instagram.