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Women's Circle

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Women's Circle group photo

Mission

The Women's Circle, encompassing all Columbia Business School alumnae, is dedicated to promoting and inspiring women in business by cultivating an engaged and supportive community across the School. It is committed to supporting CBS alumnae throughout the many phases of their personal and professional lives and advocating for equity in business leadership.

Vision

The vision of the Columbia Business School Women’s Circle is that through executing our mission, CBS will have the strongest alumnae community of any business school.

Subscribe to our Monthly Newsletter
Join us on LinkedIn

Alumna Spotlight, Amy Fong

 

Amy Fong (class of '96) is President and Board Member of Helport AI and Senior Advisor at private equity fund FountainVest Partners (Asia) Limited. Prior to her current positions, Amy worked for four years as CEO of the Hong Kong chapter of the Save the Children movement, which helps the most marginalized children around the world with programs in education, healthcare, and protection. Amy has spent nearly two decades in financial services with institutions including JP Morgan, Credit Suisse, and Merrill Lynch.

One of my favorite memories from my time at CBS is sitting in Bruce Greenwald’s class immersed in the lively discussions.

Since graduating from CBS in 1996 I have reinvented myself over and over again.

When I'm not at work you will find me facilitating meditations and volunteering at Suicide Prevention Services.

My ideal Sunday afternoon includes hiking, taking a nap, hanging out with friends and enjoying nature.

The last book I read and loved was The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle – this is a book I read and re-read to remind myself of the principle that is the key to constant joy in life.

My favorite thing to do in Singapore, where I recently moved, is to meet new friends.

My favorite thing to do in Hong Kong, where I lived since 2005 (and still consider home), is going into the hills and hiking trails.

The best trip I've taken recently was to Burning Man 2024 – it’s an experience unlike any other, but not for the reasons many assume! Will tell you when I meet you in person!

And the place I'd like to go next is Tibet, where I am actually heading to in a few days.

The most helpful career advice I ever received was from my Spiritual Guru who told me, “The easiest way to make God laugh is to plan.”

The most impactful life advice I ever received was also from my Spiritual Guru who told me, “The Universe is precise, there are no mistakes. Everything that happens is a blessing, there are no exceptions.”

One piece of advice I'd offer for maintaining a healthy work-life balance is to practice meditation so you can learn to stay present at all times – that’s an excellent way to fully enjoy life no matter what you do, where you are, who you are with, whether you are working or enjoying time with family. One drains most energy (and loses happiness) when the mind is somewhere else, not fully focusing on the matter at hand.

I think aspiring professionals in my field should know to embrace uncertainty and to just enjoy the quickly evolving nature of AI advancement.

If I could spend the day with one famous woman from history, it would be Wu Zetian, the Empress of China from 660 AD to 705 AD, largely recognized as the only legitimate female Emperor in Chinese history. Under her 45-year reign, she led the country in reviving the economy, fostering cultural growth, and stamping out corruption.

Alumnae Voices

Coach's Corner

Renu Lala Vitale

Renu Lala Vitale

CWC Board Member and Executive Coach, Renu Vitale, fields your burning career questions. Renu is a member of the CBS Sanford C. Bernstein and Co. Center for Leadership & Ethics coaching program, and has been helping clients develop winning strategies and make better decisions for over 20 years. To submit your career question for consideration, email Renu at [email protected]. Please include Coach's Corner in the subject line.

Question: I keep hearing I need to "cross-collaborate" more to get to the next level. I already share my work and loop people in—but I hate playing politics. What does this feedback really mean, and what can I actually do about it?

From,
Stuck in a Loop

 

Response: Dear Stuck in a Loop,

I hear this a lot: people feeling unfairly stalled in their careers because so-called "soft skills"—especially cross-collaboration—seem to carry more weight than the quality of their actual work.

When I ask what cross-collaboration means to them, I usually get a wide range of answers:

  • Broadening my network
  • Playing the political game
  • Getting people on board with my ideas
  • Looping people in
  • Collecting feedback

So, they try. They loop people in, update stakeholders and ask for feedback. But without a true understanding of why they are doing it, it feels hollow and performative. And when the feedback still comes—you need to collaborate more—it starts to feel maddening. For many people, this can even inspire resentment: Why can’t my work speak for itself? If I’m doing the right thing, why does it matter? 

Here’s the good news - what often feels like a vague leadership gap is actually a very specific—and learnable—skills gap, with a goal of shifting from ‘performative collaboration’ to "productive collaboration." 

So how do you break out of the loop? 

Here are 6 steps to highly-effective cross-collaboration:

1. Reframe what collaboration actually means. 

Cross-collaboration isn’t just looping people in. It’s about partnering across teams—early and meaningfully—to draw on diverse perspectives so you can reach the best outcome, more efficiently. It’s less about broadcasting what you’ve done and more about integrating others into the “how" from the start.

2. Identify the right stakeholders and be clear on why they matter.

Ask yourself who else needs to be involved, and why. Take the important step of documenting this. For example, if you're leading a product delivery, the marketing team needs to understand when and how to bring it to market. Starting with this clarity will make your outreach more purposeful and far more effective. Vet your list with others to make sure you haven’t left any team out.

3. Share your vision early.

Don’t wait until you’re deep into the work to bring people in. Early on, share your vision, mission, and approach. Then engage them—ask for their feedback. Taking the marketing example further, they’ve likely supported many product launches and may have insights on messaging that could even influence your product strategy. If you feel overwhelmed by the feedback, step back and recognize that your outcomes will only improve as you have clear things to react to.

4. Ask what they need to succeed.

You might assume people will speak up if they have something to add—but most won’t unless you ask. So be clear and ask what they need from you and to share potential obstacles. You’ll get a treasure trove of insight that can shape the direction and success of the whole effort.

5. Set a regular cadence to stay on course.

Start with individual check-ins if needed, then shift to a group setting for efficiency. Consistent structured touchpoints build trust, surface concerns, and create collective ownership. And remember to ask what you can do to help them move forward. 

6. Give credit generously.

Consistently acknowledge contributions—big or small. Shining a light on others lets people know you recognize their efforts and motivates them to stay engaged. 

Over time, when you apply these steps across multiple partners, you’ll not only gather richer insights that shape your work—you’ll build stronger support and shared ownership. You’ll also recognize that it’s not about consensus building, but rather it is about strategic influence.

One thing I’ve noticed: some people hold back from this level of collaboration because they fear they’ll lose credit or that they’ll disappear into the group effort. Remember, your role isn’t to come up with all the ideas. It’s to lead a successful outcome through collaboration. So when you exercise the skills outlined in these steps, you'll be recognized as the leader you are setting out to be.

Shoutouts

Women's Circle Shoutouts

 

  • Elizebeth Varghese ('07), Deloitte Principal / Partner & Space Economy Acceleration Leader, will present The Carl Sagan Center Director's Award at the SETI Institute's 2025 Drake Awards. The Drake awards recognize groundbreaking discoveries and the brilliant minds driving the search for life beyond Earth. https://drakeawards.seti.org/
  • Michelle Gaines '16 welcomed her second child Rory on Jan. 5. He was a little early but already 9lbs 1oz and thriving.
  • Emily O'Halloran '07 recently joined the board of the Inspire Mexico Foundation. It provides a Youth Center in Los Cabos Mexico for kids and teens so they can access essential resources, educational support, and enriching activities.
  • Yvonne Fung '18 welcomed daughter Cora on February 11. She arrived with a strong pair of lungs and a kick that will knock anyone out.
  • Holly MacDonald '08, will become CEO of Bessemer Trust when the current CEO retires in early 2026. She is presently Chief Investment Officer at Bessemer.
  • Jennifer Prosek '99, Founder and Managing Partner of Prosek Partners, has been named to Observer's 2025 PR Power List.
  • Christine Alemany '04, was recognized as one of the 30 most influential Fintech Marketers by Fintech Marketing Hub. These influential Fintech Marketers were chosen based on their degree of influence and achievements over the past year, including ability to shape trends and inspire others.
  • Aynat Ravin '01, was selected as one of the "Top 100 Women in the Technology Industry for 2024" by King Street Ventures (KSV). Advising start-ups as well as female founders is a personal passion of hers. 

Please share your achievements with us! Email [email protected] with “Shoutouts” in the subject line or post on our Women’s Circle LinkedIn Group

Alumna Spotlight

Events Hub

Upcoming Events

Upcoming Womens Circle Events

 

Event planning for 2025 is underway! Please check back for postings.

 

Regional Connections

To learn more about CBS Alumna events in your region or to host a regional event contact:

  • Teresa Farmaki [ email ] - CBS Alumni Club of London Women’s Network
  • Amy Fong [ email ] - Alumni Club of Hong Kong Women’s Initiative
  • Diane Malcomson [ email ] - CBS Women’s Circle Boston
  • Aynat Ravin [ email ] - CBS Women’s Circle Washington DC
  • Jennifer Villarina [ email ] - CBS Women’s Circle San Francisco Bay Area

If you’d like to host a Women’s Circle event in a region not listed here contact Jennifer Villarina 

Past Events

Advice & Connections sponsored by CBS Women’s Circle

Women’s Circle Board members met with graduating Columbia Women in Business (CWiB) to share their advice and experience. 

Date: Tuesday, April 29 from 7-8PM ET
Location: Virtual session

The Path to Corporate Board Service with Maggie Benkert ’16 sponsored by CBS Women’s Circle

Speed networking session on the topic of path to corporate board service.

Date: Tuesday, April 15, 6-7PM
Location:  Virtual session

The Value of Communality for Leaders sponsored by CBS Women’s Circle

Professor Rebecca Ponce de Leon shared her research on communality in leadership and then we had an engaging networking hour. 

Date: Wednesday, March 26, 6-8PM ET
Location: Artes Cafe, 106 W 73rd Street, New York, NY

Virtual Speed Networking sponsored by CBS Women’s Circle

Speed networking session with Maryam Banikarim ’93 on the topic of career acceleration.

Date: Wednesday, March 6, 2024
Time: 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Location: Virtual session

Meet the Board

Women's Circle Board


The Women’s Circle is governed by a Board of Directors composed of 20 alumnae dedicated to increasing alumna engagement. Their efforts include providing career development learning across all life stages, programming focused on entrepreneurship, innovation, and technology, as well as fundraising.

Board Directory

Board Briefing

Women's Circle Board

Board members Aynat Ravin, Renu Vitale, Onika Williams, Inger Dewey Golob, Jennifer Villarina, Emily O'Halloran and Gretchen Meyer at the Spring Board Meeting, March 26th 2025

 

On March 26th, we kicked off spring with an engaging day for the Women’s Circle Board. We held our Spring Board Meeting and, that evening, welcomed a full house for a special event featuring Assistant Professor Rebecca Ponce de Leon. Her presentation on The Value of Communality for Leaders sparked timely and thought-provoking conversation—one of our most engaging sessions yet.

A major highlight from the board meeting was the approval of 14 exceptional new board members, expanding our Board of Directors to 25. With over 80 impressive applicants, narrowing it down was no easy task. We're keeping the rest of the candidate pool in mind for future openings, and encouraging all applicants to stay connected through volunteer opportunities with the Women’s Circle.

Since launching in January, our monthly WC Newsletter has been a hit. We’re excited to expand it with fresh content and are currently looking for alumnae contributors—especially for features like In Her Own Words. Let us know if you'd like to write!

We also unveiled our newly redesigned webpages —a hub for upcoming events, news, and ways to stay connected with the Circle.

Looking ahead, we’re on track to host about 10 events this year. Our Speed Networking Series, tailored to different life and career stages, continues to be a favorite. We’ve also seen wonderful turnout at regional events in Boston, Hong Kong, London, and Washington, D.C.

We’re excited about what’s ahead and remain committed to keeping you in the loop. Stay tuned for our next update following the October 2025 Board Meeting!

Warm regards,

Emily O’Halloran
Co-President, Columbia Business School Women’s Circle

Jennifer Prosek
Co-President, Columbia Business School Women’s Circle

Get Involved

Get Involved with Women's Circle

 

Interested in becoming more involved with the Women's Circle? There are many ways to lean in with us.

Subscribe to our Monthly Newsletter

  • Subscribe

Join us on LinkedIn

  • Join our LinkedIn page

Volunteer on a Board Committee

  • Contact Emily O’Halloran

Host a Regional Women's Circle Event

  • Contact Jennifer Villarina

The Women's Circle is funded by the CBS Annual Fund. Thank you for your contributions!

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