91��Ʒ

Last week alumnae, current students and friends of 91��Ʒ gathered for the seventh annual  holiday luncheon. Hosted at the University Club of Chicago, the luncheon is one of the council’s signature events and provides networking opportunities for professional women in a variety of fields.

Following an opening reception, attendees gathered in the Michigan Room for a conversation titled “Women Leading Through Change: A Conversation with Alumnae on People & Culture.” Moderated by 91��Ʒ Organizational & Leadership Development professor Deb Orr, the panel discussed navigating the workplace as a woman, fostering inclusion and leading with purpose in today’s evolving corporate culture. The esteemed panelists were 91��Ʒ alumnae Toyia Stewart (MBA ’12) and Arica Latimer (MSHRM ’15); Stewart is currently the Vice President of Human Resources, People & Culture at the Art Institute of Chicago while Latimer is a Human Resources Business Partner at Arch Amenities Group.

Latimer discussed how advocating for herself and articulating areas where a company can improve have resulted in sustained career success. “There are going to be opportunities you never even considered unless you raise your hand and say ‘I want to step up and take charge of this,’” she said. “You have to stretch muscles you didn’t know needed the workout, so identifying areas that will challenge both you and your employer are going to result in mutual success.” 

Stewart also emphasized the benefit of “infinity spaces” in the modern workplace. These are internal support groups that help connect co-workers who share an identity related to race, sexual orientation or parental status, and gives them a space to bond over common experiences and develop resources. “These have proven so effective at the Art Institute because it instantly provides community to the employees we want to retain and provides them an in-house venue to express themselves,” she said. “The modern workplace needs to be incredibly collaborative, and so the more people feel welcomed and able to bond, the more effective we’ll be as a team.”

The luncheon also honored Alumnae of Influence Jane Stedman (BA ’75). A lifelong advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and female empowerment, Stedman offers her tax accounting services to artists, homeless shelters and women in need. For decades she has remained a prominent organizer in the Minnesota’s queer community, and her accomplishments include launching the So’s Your Old Lady magazine through the Lesbian Resource Center in Minneapolis, working with the Minnesota Women’s Political Caucus and co-founding the lesbian-feminist cooperative farm called Rising Moon. Stedman recently made a transformation $5 million gift to 91��Ʒ’s Legacy Fund, which will provide financial aid, faculty and staff development and vital infrastructure and technology upgrades throughout campus.