Women's Business Association (WBA)
Overview
The Women’s Business Association (WBA) at UC Riverside is a space dedicated to empowering students in business through mentorship, professional development, and community. After taking on an inactive organization, I led a full rebrand and rebuild, growing WBA into a community of 70+ members and expanding a mentorship program with 14 mentees.
President Melina Shafie (left) and VP Gina Gardea (right).
WBA was a previously established organization that had become inactive and unregistered. While an existing brand and Instagram presence remained, the organization lacked structure, consistent programming, and clear member engagement. My goal was to reestablish WBA as an active, recognizable, and valuable presence within the School of Business.
I focused on rebuilding WBA through a combination of rebranding, structured leadership, and experience-driven programming. Rather than traditional meetings, I prioritized creating engaging, immersive events that encouraged participation, connection, and real-world learning.
Impact
24
Board Members
(up from 15)
830
Instagram FollowersÂ
(+398 growth)
324k+
Reach/ Views
(+13,521%)
14
Mentees in
Mentorship Program
$578.54
Funds Raised
Key Initiatives
Mentorship Program
Speaker Events
Enhanced the mentorship program by improving organization, introducing a monthly mentee newsletter, and strengthening member engagement and overall experience.
Organized speaker events featuring industry professionals, including a Nike VP, providing members with exposure to real-world insights and career paths.
Company Tours
Coordinated company visits to give members firsthand exposure to workplace environments and industry operations.
Led partnerships with campus organizations to expand reach, increase engagement, and create cross-community programming.
Collaborations
Marketing & Content
Instagram Growth
Branding & Rebrand
Drove growth across Instagram through consistent content and strategy, resulting in increased followers, reach (324K+ views), and overall engagement.
Supported the organization’s rebrand by contributing to a cohesive visual identity and ensuring consistency across digital content and communications.
Performance since Sept 2025, showing strong growth in reach, engagement, and followers driven by content strategy and execution.
Instagram grid showcasing a cohesive visual identity and consistent branding across content.
Content Creation
Contributed to content creation by designing select posts and supporting content execution, ensuring alignment with brand identity and audience engagement.
(Left) Quarterly calendar graphic designed to highlight upcoming events and improve visibility of programming.
(Right) Giveaway campaign planned and executed to drive engagement and audience interaction.
Events & Programming
EmpowerHer Mixer
Organized workshops/panels featuring industry professionals to provide career insights and networking opportunities.
San Diego Board Retreat
Planned social events to strengthen the community and increase member involvement.
Farm House Collective Company Tour
Coordinated company tours to provide members with real-world industry exposure.
WBA x AIS Data-Driven Marketing Case Competition
Collaborated with campus organizations to expand reach and create cross-community programming.
Leadership & Strategy
Led the organization through a period of growth by implementing structure, strengthening accountability, and guiding strategic decision-making across programming and operations.
Organizational Structure & Accountability
Established clearer expectations and accountability systems, including a strike-based structure, to ensure consistent participation, follow-through, and team performance.
Board Roles & Responsibilities
Strike System & Board Expectations
Strike Tracker
Team Leadership & Management
Managed and supported a board of 25 members, fostering collaboration while holding members accountable to deadlines, responsibilities, and professional standards.
Communication & Workflow Structure
Led the transition from a large group chat to a structured Slack system, reducing confusion and improving communication, organization, and overall team efficiency.
Board Meeting Outline
Strategic Planning & Execution
Winter Quarter Content Calendar
Directed planning for events, content, and initiatives, aligning programming with member feedback and organizational goals to increase engagement and relevance.
WBA x HFG Interview Workshop
Operations & Workflow Improvement
Introduced more structured meeting practices and workflows to streamline communication, reduce confusion, and improve consistency across execution.
Winter Quarter Schedule
Leadership Transition
Leadership Training
Led onboarding and transition planning for new leadership, ensuring continuity, clear role ownership, and a smooth handoff of responsibilities.
Leadership Progression
Event Coordinator (Pre-Rebrand: She Means Business)
Planned and executed events focused on member engagement and professional development, coordinating logistics, programming, and on-site execution.
Event recaps from my time as an Event Coordinator prior to the organization’s rebrand to WBA.