2012 Gala for Women In Business

The sound of excited voices buzzed through the Lillis atrium as the Women in Business Club's 2012 gala got underway. Now in its seventh year, the annual event pairs professional women with female undergraduates for an evening of networking and mentorship. This year's theme was "Unlocking Your Potential," and guest speaker Dean Kees de Kluyver drove home the value of setting high-flying goals through the example of Dr. Mae Jemison, the first African-American woman to travel in space. Next up was Key Bank Vice President Kelley Bloom, who shared her down-to-earth take on what it was like to work her way up to a leadership position in commercial banking. As always, the event succeeded in inspiring. "When I look around the room and see it filled with established women professionals, I wonder what marvelous things I will be able to accomplish, and what story I will tell when I am in their seat years from now," said undergraduate Julie Grimstad. View photos of the event on Facebook.