A WINing Partnership: How two student leaders built a Shea Center Pillar
A mentorship program brought Áine Farrell ’26 and Sophia Petipas ’26 together from day one of freshman year. As their senior year ends, they reflect on building a community of female entrepreneurs and joining the ranks of BC’s strongest student leaders.
In four short years, this dynamic team of co-presidents turned the Women Innovators Network (WIN) into a core community pillar of the Shea Center and one of the most vital student organizations on campus.
We spoke with the pair about the growth and evolution of WIN within the Shea Center ecosystem, the signature events and speakers they hosted, and how WIN has instilled confidence and leadership skills in female undergrads from CSOM to MCAS.
So let’s start at the beginning. What made you join the Women Innovators Network and subsequently take on leadership roles?
Sophia: We both got involved in WIN immediately upon arriving at BC our freshman fall when we entered the mentorship program. We had previously met through Portico Orientation over the summer and noticed the friendly faces at WIN events early on. We planned to apply to the WIN EBoard [Executive Board] together in the spring of freshman year, and we both got our desired position as sophomore WINterns.
From there, we moved into director positions, Áine as the director of speakers and me as the director of career development. After junior year, we held the same passion and vision for WIN, so we became co-presidents in our senior year. It’s been so rewarding to experience my WIN journey alongside Áine the past four years. She’s been an incredible partner for asking questions, bouncing ideas around, and growing together.
How has the WIN community changed over the years, and how has it changed you?
Sophia: One of the biggest things we focused on during our presidency was expanding and developing the mentorship program. As a result, it has really become a stronger foundation of the community, creating more meaningful connections and engagement with WIN across class years.
There’s also been a wider variety of events, from professional and speaker-focused programming to more casual, community-building events. And we’ve increased our collaborations with other clubs, which has brought in new perspectives and strengthened our presence on campus. On top of that, WIN has developed a much clearer and more recognizable brand identity, with consistent advertising, social media, and overall visibility.
Personally, WIN has had a big impact on me. It’s helped me grow as a leader, step into opportunities I wouldn’t have otherwise pursued, and build meaningful relationships. Being surrounded by such a driven and supportive community has given me a stronger sense of confidence and direction moving forward.
“Hearing from people who were once in our exact position makes both success and failure feel more relatable and manageable.”
What are some of the events and speakers that stand out for you?
Sophia: The End of Semester Dinner [EOSD] and Female Founders events stand out most because of the range of speakers who share such diverse and inspiring career paths. What I appreciate most about these larger events is the deeper dive into their journeys—how they navigated pivots, made decisions, and built their careers.
One example that really stood out was our multi-semester collaboration with Madeleine’s Candy Shop in Boston’s South End. We visited her storefront during its early days on a WINtrek in spring 2025 and then had her return as our EOSD speaker in the fall. Seeing that full circle made her story feel especially tangible and highlighted the real-time growth and lessons she experienced as a female entrepreneur.
I also really enjoyed hearing from WIN alumni such as Jenna Steichen ’21 and Lauren Michaelson ’19, whether through speaker events where they shared their journeys after WIN or through calls during Networking Week. Hearing from people who were once in our exact position makes both success and failure feel more relatable and manageable.
How has WIN impacted the confidence and leadership abilities of your peers?
Sophia: One of the clearest examples is the WINtern position, where members come in eager to learn and quickly grow into confident, capable leaders who know how to navigate WIN and contribute meaningfully to the Eboard. It’s been really rewarding not only to watch that development in others but see it in Áine and me as well.
I’ve also seen a lot of growth at the director level, especially when it comes to leading events like Female Founders and EOSD in front of large audiences. People step into those roles and really rise to the occasion, gaining confidence as they take ownership and lead with clarity.
Even beyond the bigger moments, there’s growth in the smaller, practical skills like handling logistics, communicating professionally, and refining email etiquette. Those details might seem small, but they build a strong foundation for job readiness and interview confidence, which has a lifelong impact.
How is WIN giving BC’s female entrepreneurs the representation and peer support they need to achieve their goals?
Áine: Our Female Founders Dinner and WINtreks to local companies offer opportunities for students interested in entrepreneurship to meet and learn from women who have successfully built their own businesses. Further, our mentorship program and Networking Week offer opportunities for both peer and alumni support.
Beyond internal programming, we actively share opportunities sent to us by firms across Boston, past EBoard members, and other universities, expanding access and exposure. This impact is exemplified by WIN’s former co-president, Juliana Owen ’25. She is currently in the early stages of her own venture, and it is incredible to see an idea she developed at BC materialize into a tangible product.
How has WIN shaped your career interests and prepared you for life after BC?
Áine: A defining part of my WIN experience has been mentorship. As a sophomore, I was paired with Christie Lee ’24, who guided me through the recruiting process. She helped me with all things from refining my resume to connecting me with BC alums for coffee chats. I ultimately interned at the same firm where she worked—I may have been slightly influenced—and it meant so much to have a friendly face outside my direct team to talk to.
“Freshman me would never have pictured myself hosting a fireside chat for over a hundred people.”
I’ll be returning to the same firm after graduation, and it is not lost on me just how much Christie’s mentorship shaped that path. Now, as a senior, it is incredibly full circle for me to mentor freshmen and sophomores going through the same process. The “giving back” mindset is strong in WIN and extends beyond peer mentorship to our accomplished alumnae who generously reach out to share their journeys. It is truly a special part of our community, making an otherwise large club feel quite close-knit.
Sophia and I often joke about how we had no idea how much went on behind the scenes to make an event possible before becoming co-presidents. From outreach, logistics, and last-minute dilemmas like scrambling to find a dongle, we have learned to lead with composure and confidence. Freshman me would never have pictured myself hosting a fireside chat for over a hundred people. Now that I have done so, public speaking is far less intimidating. Beyond confidence, WIN has improved my communication and creative problem-solving skills, preparing me well for life after BC.
That’s fantastic. What evidence do you see of WIN accomplishing its mission to "foster and grow the number of women passionate about working in technology and business at BC and beyond?”
Áine: WIN’s impact is visible in both numbers and student engagement. Our Career Development events consistently see high and growing attendance. After the events, many students stay a while to ask questions and connect with professionals.
WIN’s mission materializes through the cool internships and jobs our members pursue. Many of these opportunities arise because of connections made at in-person events. While WIN remains rooted in technology, business, and entrepreneurship, the club has grown to include students from a wide range of majors across CSOM, CSON, LSEHD, and MCAS.
Do you think of WIN as a core community pillar within the Shea Center?
Áine: WIN has grown substantially since its founding in 2015, now approaching 900 members. As the club has expanded, so has its role in the broader Shea community.
WIN’s increased presence is reflected in the Shea Room itself. Sophia and I have enjoyed working with Shea Center Senior Associate Director Kelsey Renda and Administrative Assistant Molly Dugan on revamping the room to showcase all four Shea clubs. WIN now has a more recognizable presence, with our logo on the door and our favorite addition, the neon sign that glows in our signature WIN blue alongside other club signage.
Many speakers we host discuss the importance of personal branding and identity. We believe that extends to WIN as a club too. As our name implies, we seek to be innovative in all aspects and to keep improving our programs.
As we’ve grown, we’ve seen WIN emerge as a core pillar of the Shea Center. We are grateful for the women who have come before us in founding the club and building it up to what it is now. Similarly, we are proud to be leaving the club in great hands with next year’s Executive Board and excited to see all they will accomplish going forward!