BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Through a special invitation, Marissa Hagler ’25 traveled to Harvard University in April to participate in the first Women Founders Circle.
Organized by the student group Harvard Women in Entrepreneurship, Hagler was among 25 female college students from the Northeast and Midwest invited. This conference was designed for students interested in growing their business ventures and becoming leaders in this field. Participants engaged in skill-building and networking through interactive workshops and discussions with women in national business leadership roles.
“I’m so grateful for this opportunity and for meeting these incredibly strong, independent, and powerful women,” Hagler said. She said, “I learned what it’s like to run a business as a woman, her struggles and rewards.”
Hagler, an elementary education major, is the founder of a business and podcast focused on raising mental health awareness. Get through difficult times. She receives funding through IWU Titan New Venture Challenge and her podcast Top 10 Mental Health Podcasts in Illinois for April 2024.
The conference taught entrepreneurs about the importance of trust in the workplace, how to deal with investors, and techniques to improve marketing and advertising. Hagler also participated in a pitch contest and received valuable feedback on business operations from visiting CEOs. Hagler said a highlight of the trip was meeting keynote speaker Cindy Gallop, who has more than 30 years of experience in brand building, marketing and advertising.
“It was a milestone I never thought I would reach to realize that I am striving to be on the same level as these amazing women.Representing IWU at the national level was , it was a dream I never thought would come true. Since this experience, my love for my message, my love for school, and my love for business have grown even more,” she said.
Hagler pointed out that the business world remains a male-dominated field, and many women feel unheard or unfairly evaluated for their opinions on business strategy.
“When a woman speaks up, it’s seen as aggressive, but when a man speaks up, it’s seen as confident. Women in such powerful roles in business help us debunk these myths and beliefs.” ,” Hager said. “Women are so powerful and passionate, yet we are seen as ‘too emotional’ when in reality our ideas and goals bring a different perspective to business.”
