Delivering a powerful address on leadership, authenticity, and paving the way for future generations, Bansree Parikh, said: “Knowing that I’m holding the door of opportunities open for other women is what keeps me motivated to push boundaries in my field. The future is a woman.”
As the keynote speaker at the UC Women In Business Leadership Forum on March 8, Parikh, president of the Inland Empire market for Bank of America, underscored the importance of “being brave and confident and not expecting perfection,” says Pooja Bhatia ’25 MBA, president of the UCR student Women In Business (WIB) organization, who organized the forum. “Bansree Parikh also talked about building strong relationships, maintaining a strong professional reputation, prioritizing financial wellness, and thinking about the next generation and creating opportunities for them.”
Each of Parikh’s points were directed to the forum’s more than 100 attendees—including graduate students, alumni, and professionals—at UC Riverside’s Alumni & Visitors Center.
Marking its third year and labeled “A Day of Learning, Leadership, and Impact,” forum activities are designed to unite women across the UC system, and the event coincides with International Women’s Day and Women’s History month. UC Irvine and UC San Diego hosted the forum in the previous two years. “Our goal is to share experiences and explore how women are driving change in business,” says Bhatia.
The day began with a welcome and networking breakfast followed by a Negotiation Workshop conducted by UCR Associate Professor of Management Elaine Wong, who recently received two prestigious awards from UCR business students for exceptional and innovative instruction. Wong focused on negotiation skills and executive leadership during the workshop and offered strategies for effective communication, confidence-building, and achieving better professional outcomes.
“Attendees walked away with practical tools to apply in salary negotiations, leadership roles, and business decision-making,” says Bhatia.
After a networking lunch, the first panel discussion—“The Entrepreneurs: From Startup to Scale-up”—featured entrepreneurs who have built successful businesses. “They shared their journeys, lessons, and strategies for navigating growth and uncertainty,” says Divanshi Rawat ’25 PMBA, director of social media marketing for WIB. “They discussed the impact of their work on customers and seeing the real difference their businesses made in the lives of the people they served that kept them going, even in moments of self-doubt about the success of their ventures.”
These panelists were Sharon K. Gillenwater, tech founder, author, and entrepreneur, who built and sold content provider Boardroom Insiders; Wendy Romero, founder and CEO of Love 4 Life Association, a nonprofit focused on bullying and suicide prevention and mental health advocacy; and Julia Vu, founder and CEO of event tech startup Event Community.
One of the attendees, UCR business analytics student Jasmine Ma ’26, shares the guidance she gleaned from the workshop. “The most overlooked factors in startup success are determination, passion, and self-care,” says Ma of what she learned. “They also discussed the importance of community, clarity, and courage. Sometimes you need to make tough decisions but choose to follow your values and trust your instincts and what you know.”
The afternoon’s second and final panel discussion, “Leadership & Diversity: Women at the Helm in Corporate America,” featured corporate leaders reshaping their industries through strategic leadership, inclusion, and innovation.
“This panel addressed the essential balance of hard skills, soft skills, and the mindset of leadership, along with the importance of resilience and adaptability in navigating corporate challenges,” says Rawat. “The panelists emphasized that success in leadership is about more than technical expertise—it requires a strong sense of self, the ability to pivot in changing environments, and the mindset to continuously grow and lead with impact.”
These panelists were Daniela Andrade ’22 MBA, former mayor of Banning, California, business leader, and real estate expert; former Fortune 500 executive Shubhra Kathuria, founder and CEO of e-learning provider Nova School; and Nwaka Onwusa, former chief curator and vice president of curatorial affairs at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
At this second panel discussion, Ma took away advice about balancing creativity and business. “They discussed making an impact with the passion you have, and the importance of hard skills, soft skills, and a strong mindset,” she says. “They also mentioned the power of collaborating with diverse teams.”
Throughout the day, several 5- to 10-minute Q&A sessions gave participants an opportunity to ask about career growth, leadership, overcoming challenges, and industry trends. “The high level of engagement demonstrated the audience’s deep interest in learning from the panelists and applying these lessons to their own professional journeys,” says Rawat.
The day wrapped up with a networking hour—including custom-made UC WIB Leadership Forum cookies—and a group photo; a separate photo booth with props; and participation in Networking Bingo, where everyone was encouraged to step outside their comfort zones and strike up conversations and make connections. Each attendee took home button badges printed with slogans, like “Paving the way,” “May we know them, may we be them, may we raise them,” and “I attended UC WIB Leadership Forum 2025.”
After the event, a student attendee shared this takeaway in a post-event evaluation: “This event gave me the confidence to step up, network, and take charge of my career.”
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View the 2025 Program Booklet