Sidebar: On-Campus Support

For students interested in business, Oberlin offers programs such as Investment Banking Co., an ExCo taught by Cole Tashjian ’25 and Zach Yaqub ’26, or the Oberlin Finance Club, in which students can manage a portfolio or conduct market research.

Another active program that fits well with the new business major is the Women and Nonbinary in Finance and Economics (WNBF) club, cofounded by economics major and business concentration participant Bridget Adu-Dapaah ’25 and economics and politics double major Sharanya Rajani ’25, who is also pursuing a concentration in international affairs.

“We wanted to create a safe space for women and nonbinary [students] in a generally male-dominated major and field,” Rajani says. “We also wanted to create a space where women and nonbinary- identifying students could come and learn anything and everything about personal finance and basic economics so that they could empower themselves.”

Adu-Dapaah says WNBF gives students a chance to network, learn skills like budgeting, and hear from guest speakers.

“Students have gained a stronger understanding of financial tools, with many deciding to add business courses, take economics classes, or even pursue an economics minor to deepen their knowledge,” Adu-Dapaah says. “The club provides a welcoming environment where members can discuss finance openly, free from intimidation, which has helped many students feel more comfortable engaging with complex financial topics.”

For Rajani, WNBF has also had a tangible impact. “Growing up, I was taught that knowing personal finance and basic economics can save a person from a multitude of situations in life, and having that kind of financial freedom is incredibly important,” Rajani says. “Being on the leadership team helped me not just feel accomplished, but also polished my leadership, communication, time management, and problem-solving skills. I could come out of my shell and feel more empowered about who I was.”

—Annie Zaleski