The School of Business hosted a Women in Business panel discussion on Oct. 21 as part of their Career Catalyst series.

The panel was moderated by Lori Long, management and entrepreneurship professor at Baldwin Wallace, and included four female entrepreneurs from Northeast Ohio.

The female entrepreneurs that made up the panel were Maureen Patterson of Solus Lighting LTD, Charu Ramanathan of Vitalxchange, Amy Neumann of Free Tech for Nonprofits and Debbie May of Wholesale Supplies Plus. Long said the goal was to have female entrepreneurs from various backgrounds in order to create a unique and engaging panel.

“We tried to recruit a very diverse group as far as their backgrounds and experiences,” said Long.

The women were selected because of their drive and passion for entrepreneurship and innovation, said Long.

Carmen Castro-Rivera, director of Master of Business Administration (MBA) admissions and the coordinator of the panel, emphasized how the women all have inspiring stories that can be applied to all females headed towards a career and not just those wishing to become entrepreneurs.

According to Long, the purpose of the panel is to emphasize that “there are many women that are entrepreneurs, but it is a little harder [for females] to be successful in the field.”

The panel addressed the underrepresentation of women and business, highlighting how the field is generally male dominated. Castro-Rivera said that in the world of business, there is a lack of networking opportunities specifically geared towards women.

Long said she hopes that everyone, particularly students, who attended the panel gathered that entrepreneurship is a viable career and is important for both genders.

“The entrepreneurial skillset and mindset can help you succeed regardless of your career path,” Long said.