In Spring 2020, when all Appalachian State University students have been instructed to stay at home and learn online, Walker College of Business students participating in Women of Walker are still getting close-up and personal interaction, so to speak, with business executives.
"Learning from industry professionals has long been a dearly held value in the Walker College," said Associate Director of Business Career Services Amy Odom. "Social distancing hasn't changed the need for that!"
Odom, pictured middle row, center, advises the Women of Walker, which accelerates professional development, personal growth and leadership abilities for female business majors at Appalachian through networking, career exploration, travel and professional development workshops.
Odom said a recent session with Walker College alumna Jennifer Bowman '95, an executive and leadership development coach based in Charlotte, North Carolina was especially productive.
Bowman, who majored in production and operations management at Appalachian, advises clients utilizing 19+ years of experiences that she accumulated with Bank of America. At Appalachian, yesterday's production and operations management major is most similar to today's supply chain management major.
Bowman, pictured left, retired from Bank of America in 2014 and has been a leadership coach since, guiding clients to think about challenges and opportunities, embrace alternative viewpoints and options, and ultimately find their own best solutions.
"Just as the Walker College aims to give its students a functional understanding of all business disciplines, Ms. Bowman aims to help her clients using her functionally diverse background," said Odom. "And this is just what she gave to our Women of Walker participants!"
Odom said that the group had originally planned a coffee meeting around the Boyles Lecture Series, which was scheduled for April 3, but postponed until October 2, due to COVID-19. "We decided to move forward with a virtual meeting instead and it was awesome," she said.
Bowman met with Women of Walker by Zoom and presented on the "Power of Intention." She spent the hour helping the group apply the importance of intention during this unique time of isolation. Some key goals she defined for the group during remote work, as it relates to their online classes, were: establishing a routine; getting dressed; setting a pace, and identifying desired outcomes.
Bowman left the group by posing questions for the students, to help encourage continued momentum for their pandemic goal-setting. They included:
- What is my key to success at the end of COVID-19?
- What are your tangible/quantifiable goals?
- What behaviors can we start now?
- How do we hold ourselves accountable?
Odom says the Women of Walker's next "up close and personal" session will be next week and will feature E & J Gallo representatives providing advice on networking.
About Women of Walker
The Women of Walker program at Appalachian State University accelerates professional development, personal growth and leadership abilities for female business majors through networking, career exploration, travel and professional development workshops. Learn more, businesscareers.appstate.edu/career-coaching/women-walker.
App State Women of Walker participate in Zoom Session with Bowman
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