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Hi everyone! My name is Elena and I am running for Secretary! I am currently a second year International Business student, and I have been an active member of WILS for two years now. This society has been such an important part of my life and has really pushed me to grow as a person. This year I was fortunate enough to hold two committee positions (Treasurer and Mentor Scheme Director), so I would love to take on a new role as Secretary to continue contributing to this incredible community!

Why should you vote for me?
1. I’m supportive – I have attended almost every WILS event over the past two years and have gone above and beyond to support every member of our society. I am always happy to help other committee members with organising events, communicating with partners/sponsors, and attending events. I also love meeting new members and supporting them in any way I can. For example, last year I supported foundation and first year students in the Mentoring Scheme by pairing them up with third/final year students and our sponsors. I find it extremely rewarding to help others achieve their goals, so if you ever want to reach out I’m always happy to help in any way I can :)
2. I’m very organised and have excellent time management skills – I love to plan and keep my commitments organised! This year I have balanced working two part-time jobs, two committee roles, travelling, and uni work (and still had time to binge watch ten seasons of Criminal Minds). Being secretary will require a lot of administrative work which I have experience with after volunteering at a VA hospital for three months. I am also already familiar with most of the procedures for room bookings and applying for grants due to my role as Treasurer.
3. I’m accountable and dedicated – I will always honour my commitments and do the best possible job that I can. This year I was responsible for recruiting AlphaSights as one of our sponsors, and I plan to help recruit more sponsors next year! I believe that success is a team effort, and WILS is indubitably the best team to be a part of!

My goals for next year:
1. More diverse partners/sponsors – WILS is about empowering students from all courses, so I would like to connect us with more partners/sponsors in industries like STEM and marketing which are currently underrepresented.
2. More employability support – As students, many of us struggle to master skills like professional networking and CVs. This is especially true for international students who are not familiar with CV templates and assessment centres in the UK. I would like to collaborate with the Careers Centre to deliver more workshops that will help prepare members and boost their employability skills.
3. Introduce a WILS alumni network – Our society has acted as a launching pad for so many successful women across various industries. We should utilise these connections to help support current students and keep alumni engaged with our society.

Feel free to reach out if you have any questions or if you just want to get in touch :) I look forward to (hopefully) becoming your next Secretary!