Power Panel Update: Your Guide to CWIB's Biggest Event of the Year in the Face of COVID-19

I’m sure you all were excited to attend Power Panel, may this be your first or final experience. Rest assured that although the rest of our semester will not look like what we hoped it would, CWIB is hard at work to ensure Power Panel 2020 will still occur, even if we cannot meet together in person at Virginia Tech. Our amazing members deserve to hear the empowering stories of our panelists and should be able to learn what “She Is” means to them in their respective careers. While the event experience may not be the one we expected, I can promise you it will not be one you want to miss.

Since we cannot hold Power Panel on campus this year, the leadership team has opted to transfer the event to a virtual platform. There are several possible platforms being discussed such as Zoom, Google Meet, and Facebook Live. In the big world of technology we now live in, our options are endless for being able to connect with the panelists. We are confident that whatever platform we choose to utilize, you all will be able to effectively hear the panelists and ask any questions that may arise. We want to confirm that the platform used can accommodate as many attendees as possible, so you all will be the first to hear “where” Power Panel will take place once it is decided! Power Panel will still occur on Wednesday, April 8th from 6:00 - 8:00 pm.

One big shout out goes to Abby Riggs, our VP of Showcase. You all were probably not privy to see all that she did behind the scenes of organizing Power Panel. Between reaching out to numerous women to gain their interest in being panelists, to contacting the Inn at Virginia Tech with our menu preferences, and creating a promo video for the event, Abby put her heart and soul into making this event one we would all find so empowering, inspiring, and fun! We definitely shouldn’t discount all the hard work she put towards a successful Power Panel, so here’s a big thank you to Abby! We know Power Panel will be just as empowering and exciting as she planned it out to be.

For an official update on virtual Power Panel, I have included the statement from CWIB's Facebook post:

We will be sending out a virtual invite for Power Panel in light of COVID-19. We will be sending out more information soon!

In the hopes of empowering, preparing, and connecting women, Collegiate Women in Business hosts our annual Power Panel. Our panelists will discuss a wide range of topics from how to start your career, to advice about navigating your path as both a woman and a businesswoman, to even personal stories about rising above their most difficult challenges. Each year, our panelists serve as an amazing support system and a great resource to learn more about pushing past adversity in the business world.

Featured panelists include:

Jill Mills; 737 Captain -- United Airlines

Christina Daves; Publicity Strategist -- PR for Anyone

Vicki Petrides; Principle Research Statistician -- Abbot Laboratories

Admission is free and all are welcome. No advance registration is required.

We are still more excited than ever as this years’ Power Panel will be another one filled with uplifting, inspirational testimonies from successful women who were once where we are now. We can’t wait to see you all tuned in to the event! Be on the lookout in the next few weeks for Lauren’s Power Panel Preview article where she interviews the panelists and gains insight into their personal and professional endeavors. She introduces them to us so we can get a feel for who we will be hearing from at Power Panel. From steps they took to reach their goals to fun facts, you won’t want to miss out on meeting our panelists! While Power Panel will be set up differently, the benefits reaped from this event will be unlike any other. Keep an eye out for more updates to come and make sure not to let the unsettling times during COVID-19 keep you from doing your part to better yourselves, continue your learning, and help serve as a reminder to make our world a safer place in any way we can.

By: Emma Harwood