“Foster meaningful connections”
Deepthi Kothakota is no stranger to Davis Women in Business and its intricacies. Having been with the club for the majority of her college career, she has held multiple leadership positions since she first joined two years ago. DWIB was the source of her academic and career inspiration:
“When I joined DWIB, it wasn’t the club itself that gave me the idea of what I wanted to pursue, it was listening to people’s backgrounds and upperclassmen who told me about the cool internships and jobs they had [that] gave me an idea of what I wanted to do.”
Deepthi continued, telling me that when she had joined as a general member, she hadn’t considered becoming an officer. Her experience and taking that first leap of faith helped her figure it all out: “Translating my personality traits into something more tangible and professional was something I [was able to get] out of DWIB.” DWIB was crucial in forming her abilities to improvise and be put together in front of large crowds. In her professional life, her internship supervisors noticed, praising her composure.
As DWIB’s current Associate Relations Director, Deepthi handles the club’s inner relationships and networking. “I really like my position because it has a professional element, but [I am] also constantly trying to foster a sense of community and cultivate DWIB’s core values. It’s a very fulfilling position because [I] see friendships forming because of the events we’re hosting.”
In return for Deepthi’s personal development, she gives back to DWIB with her commitment and enthusiasm. The events the Associate Relations Board hosts are lively, fun, and a breath of fresh air from the rigorous academics club members endure. Her humor is boundless and she actively uses it to help newer members feel more at home.
Deepthi’s advice to DWIBers is simple: “Foster meaningful connections wherever you go because that's what gets you places, but that’s also how you learn. Be yourself and don’t be afraid to take risks.”