ISB Women in Business Club meets 85 Broads

It was going to be another fun evening for Suzanna Thekkekara, Indrani and Ember Melcher, the 85 Broads members who had planned to visit ISB to meet the members of the Women in Business Club.

Suzanna specializes in talent management at a social investment advisory firm called Intellecap. She has been a Chapter Officer at 85 Broads Hyderabad since 2010. Suzanna holds a Bachelor's degree from St. Xavier's College, Mumbai, and a Master's degree from the London School of Economics, U.K.  Indrani is working on Project MILLEE, which aims to use mobile phone games to help rural kids learn English while having fun. Ember Melcher is an Associate Consultant at Medium Healthcare Consulting, a Hyderabad-based management consulting firm dedicated to serving clients in the healthcare industry of India.  A US native, she moved to India in 2010 to work in education development, transitioning to healthcare a year later. Ember joined 85 Broads in 2011 and graduated from Oglethorpe University in Atlanta, GA in 2009 with a Bachelors in Economics.

They were looking forward to meeting the business leaders-to-be about to graduate from ISB. The members of Women in Business Club were also looking forward to spend time with them. But little did they know that a “networking” event could soon turn into instant “sisterhood”. A great ice-breaking session by the three women set the stage for a frank discussion of sorts about the experiences of WIB members in the world out there, followed by a brief presentation on 85 Broads.

Over the next few minutes, all of us realized how 85 Broads was not just a local network you connect to during your stay in a particular city. In fact, it’s a global nexus of women, which puts you on the international map. As Suzanna puts it, you could be visiting New York for work, and you might already have some new friends there – friends from 85 Broads.

85 Broads provides all its members access to a database of women with their professional profiles, contact information, and other details. From time to time, job opportunities, special discounts, and events such as conferences are also posted on the 85 Broads network.

Currently, there are two active 85 Broads Chapters in India, in Mumbai and Hyderabad. Any new members in other cities would be welcome to take initiative and start new Chapters. A lot of ISB alumni are already members of 85 Broads. Over time, both ISB and 85 Broads intend to further strengthen such ties. So, all the women readers! Someday soon, halfway across the globe, I hope to bump into you at an 85 Broads meet!