KCL Women in Business and Finance

KCL Women in Business and Finance (WIBF) was founded approximately 7 to 8 years ago, being one of the only societies at the time championing the interests and empowerment of women. Initially, the society was purely focused on business but incorporated finance approximately two years ago due to the expansion of careers in finance and the relevance of the knowledge across jobs.

"We want to make women at King's more confident."

The society aims to empower women at King’s to apply to business and corporate jobs. “We want to make women at King’s more confident”, says Shivani, WIBF’s current Treasurer. To achieve this, they organise a wide array of events, relating to marketing, human resource, finance, tech, to name a few. As part of their initiative to assist women in job applications, the society also organises CV workshops, case studies, and networking sessions where attendees get exclusive opportunities to connect with key industry decision makers such as the likes of Morgan Stanley, and the London Stock Exchange Group. They believe that with this support, members will have the confidence to push themselves forward in their personal growth and career. 

📷 Evening with 100 Women in Finance, a collaboration with London School of Economics, University College London, and Imperial College London.

Transparency 

The first thing we noted when we contacted Shivani, to understand the society further, was how professional, helpful, and open she was to questions. Given how new iMPAK is, it was very pleasing to find her open to strangers asking and prodding around with what may seem intrusive questions regarding a society she is currently a high committee member of. 

The society has a working website (https://kclwibftestblog.wordpress.com/events-2/) with basic information of their sponsors and partners, and committee members. However, the information can appear outdated as it is only reviewed once a year. Most information are relayed through their social media - Instagram and Facebook, with the handle @kclwomeninbusinessandfinance - and through their newsletters (although the latter is for subscribed members only!). 

In terms of financing, the society depends solely on sponsorships. They do not raise money through events in order to encourage participation. The list of sponsors on the website is a little outdated, but through social media, one can still find out which company finances the society. Although we were unable to secure the value of the sponsorships and further details on funding, we are able to confidently conclude that the society promotes and hosts events for their sponsors, and the engagement increases with the value of the sponsorship. 

WIBF has been active in organising events. This semester alone, they have organised 4 events, that is an average of one event per month! The cost of these events ranges according to the type, averaging at £150-180 per event. Their most expensive event was unsurprisingly their Christmas social, with a whopping expenditure of £300 approximately. This was largely due to the external venue and the cost of food and beverages. Other events usually do not incur expenditure other than the occasional King’s catering.  📷 WIBF also empowers its members outside of conventional events and workshops. Check out their fun boxing class!

Sustainability

To ensure a sustainable pool of talent for leadership positions in the future, the society practises the strategy of hiring members across age groups, including first years. This way, new members are trained and developed in skill and knowledge, as well as fostering attachment to the team, inclining them to be better leaders. Of course, it is not a prerequisite, and the society is open to accept new members into the high committee group, but Shivani comments that the retention and development strategy remains to be a useful tool for sustainable leadership and continuity. “(It) helps us maintain that connection with those who are motivated within the society.”

In terms of environmental considerations, the society practises a no waste norm during events. They do not purchase plastic cutlery, cups, and plates. Instead, they serve dry snacks which attendees are free to help themselves to. 

📷 Another photo from the event, an Evening with 100 Women in Finance, a collaboration with LSE, UCL, and Imperial College London.

Efficiency

To measure the success of events, the society utilises Instagram, specifically the tools to set up polls and ask questions. “It takes 5 seconds for people to vote or comment and we can start improving”, says Shivani. 

There is no follow-up after events to monitor if attendees are successful in their applications or how much skills are actually put into use. The member that we interviewed at least agreed that it would be desirable to have follow-ups, yet quite unfeasible. The team is only made up of 8 members, and given that everyone has their own academic commitments, it would be taxing to design and execute such a follow-up. 

Average turnout to events varies according to the types, with insight days being most popular. An application form would be opened, with applicants required to send in their CV’s for screening, done by committee members. Other academic events have turnouts from 40-50, with socials having a lower turnout at 35. But quoting Shivani, “educational events tend to have higher turnouts, and rightly so.'' We concur! 

"This very close relationship with such a big organisation (London Stock Exchange Group) really is a highlight (of this term)."

For Shivani, the highlight of the year for the society is their close relation with London Stock Exchange Group. This led to amazing perks for members, such as office visits, a priority in internship applications, and spots reserved to view occasional presentations. We agree that such a strong relationship with an amazing company is definitely an achievement. We wish our friends at WIBF all the best in their future endeavours, and may they continue to grow and serve the women in King’s! 

📷 A meet and greet event, where the room discussed the topic of “Consider Mandating Quotas for Women on Boards”

This article was written by Zulaikha Zainal and Tracy Goh.