2025 Women in Business Ambassador: Isabelle Sill

Why did you choose a Business Degree? And what led you to study at UNSW?

A commerce degree is extremely diverse and flexible. I was able to combine my creative thinking, enjoyment for mathematics, and desire for collaboration, within a single degree. Therefore, commerce does not limit you to a single path. The flexibility of a commerce degree ensured I could explore my strengths within a finance and business economics double major. As the UNSW Business School offers an amazing Integrated First Year (IFY) program, I felt confident in my decision to pursue this degree. 

I choose to study at UNSW as it attracts a diverse community of individuals. I knew I would be surrounded by intelligent and ambitious students, professors, and alumni, who would help enhance my career and university experience. I have been able to make unique and lasting connections with the UNSW community. 

How has your experience helped you make a positive impact in your degree, career and/or community?

The UNSW Business School offers many courses that allow students to explore topics of self-interest within assignments. I have been able to research and present passion projects predominantly related to gender inequality. Not only have I broadened my own understanding, but I have educated my peers on issues that would otherwise be undiscussed in a generalised setting. Therefore, the UNSW Business School values diverse and creative thinkers. 

Similarly, through Volunteers United, I have been able to join the amazing Reledev community that provides career-based mentoring for young women that have recently sought refugee in Australia. I have been able to bring my passion and knowledge to the classroom and leave with a new perspective to tackle future issues. UNSW offers all of these great opportunities to help students make a real difference.  

How has UNSW prepared you to lead in the workplace and community once you graduate?

As UNSW has placed a strong emphasis on student achievement beyond the classroom, I feel encouraged and supported to develop my soft skills in addition to my academic studies.

The UNSW Bcom program rewards students for being active members of their community, and even more so for demonstrating leadership, that led me to the opportunity to apply for the role as Publications Director for UNSW’s Women in Business Society, Capital W. This experience has taught me the importance of strong leadership and has readily prepared me for the outside workforce post-graduation. 

In addition, Arc and Volunteers United have offered me amazing opportunities to volunteer within my community. The diverse connections I have developed and the experiences I have witnessed, will ensure I graduate as the best version of myself. 

How is UNSW Business School helping to improve female representation in business?

The UNSW Business School has demonstrated diverse support for female representation. Their affiliation with women-led university societies, such as Capital W and Women in Technology, reinforce their mission of seeing more women succeed in the workplace.

As an Executive member of Capital W, I have been given many opportunities to run events, connect with peers, and network with industry. Likewise, the amazing Women in Business Ambassador program demonstrates the university’s mission for female representation beyond the university and within the high school classroom. 

There are many women that advocate for female representation at UNSW. However, improving female representation should not be a battle only fought by women. Real change can start when we see greater collaboration between women and men.

What inspires you to champion gender equality and female representation?

Championing for gender equality and female representation has always been considered a long journey – The same women that advocated for gender equality 50 years ago, are still advocating today!

I am inspired by what can be done today in order for future generations to reap the benefits of the hard work done by past and current women. I hope that these future women will not have to experience the same disadvantages that women have in the past.

Knowing that there is a possibility to see real change within my lifetime, is what drives me to continue championing gender equality and female representation. I hope that my passion will inspire collective action among my peers, in order to achieve real results. 

Why did you apply to be a Women in Business Ambassador and what do you hope to achieve?

Although UNSW offers many initiatives to tackle gender inequality on campus and in the workforce, the Women in Business Ambassador program is unique in tackling this issue predominantly with high school students. Real change is easier to see when we start addressing the issue as soon as possible. Our teenage years are an extremely formidable period. I feel that I can make a real difference when working with younger students. 

I hope to achieve a future cohort of strong and supportive women. In whatever path these young women choose to pursue, I hope their participation in the WIBA program leaves them with lasting connections. I am grateful to have already witnessed the development of new friendships, both amongst the students and within the WIBA team. 

UNSW Business School is committed to identifying and addressing the inequities and challenges facing women in higher education and research. We have implemented several strategies to ensure equity in student recruitment, retention, development opportunities and the promotion of women in both academic and professional staff roles.

Find out more about this and other Women in Business initiatives here.