When Fourth Academic Isabel S. ’26 returned to Stone Ridge after attending a Business and Entrepreneurship program at the University of Michigan in the summer of 2024, she came back with a spark—and a plan. Inspired by the power of networking and exposure to real-world business experiences, Isabel founded the Stone Ridge Women in Business Club to help students explore the many paths business can take and to connect them with alumnae eager to share their journeys.

“What stood out most to me was the power of networking and learning about the business world through other people’s experiences,” Isabel shared. “I wanted to create that same opportunity here at Stone Ridge.”

The club has now grown to 42 student members, reflecting Stone Ridge’s commitment to student-led exploration. Through guest speakers, discussions, and alumnae connections, members gain insight into fields ranging from finance and marketing to entrepreneurship and social impact. Isabel hopes students leave the club with clarity and confidence as they think ahead to college and beyond. “I want students to explore and better understand the business world as they decide if it could be the right path for them,” she said.

“[The Women in Business Club] allows members to witness leadership through the experiences of our speakers, and to be inspired to apply it to their own ideas and future.”

- Isabel S. ’26

A defining feature of the club is its connection to the Stone Ridge alumnae network—and the powerful sense of sisterhood that comes with it. That spirit was especially evident during a recent Women in Business lunch featuring Andréa Vieira ’94, founder and CEO of the nailsaloon in Washington, D.C.

Andréa shared her unconventional path—from journalism and documentary filmmaking to earning an MBA, writing speeches for the Gates Foundation, and ultimately founding a business she never imagined owning. “When I was a student here, I never thought owning a business was how I’d end up,” she told students. “I started thinking about entrepreneurship much later in life.”

Her story resonated deeply—not just for its success, but for its honesty. Andréa spoke candidly about risk, uncertainty, and commitment. “If you decide to go into business, it’s pretty much an all-in exercise,” she said. “You can’t really go halfway.”

She also reframed how students think about business itself. “Business is either improving on an idea that already exists or creating something new,” Andréa explained. “For me, it was about improving an experience—and building community.”

That emphasis on community mirrors the values Andréa traces back to her Stone Ridge education. “Stone Ridge taught me that community matters, intellectual curiosity matters, and giving back matters,” she reflected. “I don’t think I always realized it at the time, but you understand later how much you were shaped here.”

Andréa also spoke directly to the confidence cultivated in an all-girls environment. “I don’t think you realize the confidence you’re getting here,” she told students. “You’ll see it when you’re not here anymore.” She recalled moments in her career when she had to assert herself at the table, crediting Stone Ridge with helping her learn how to stand up for herself as a woman in business.

That confidence-building environment is central to the Women in Business Club. “Being in an all-girls space fuels members’ confidence,” Isabel noted, especially as students hear firsthand from women navigating traditionally male-dominated fields.

Though created in the spirit of all the Sacred Heart Goals and Criteria, the Women in Business Club most closely embodies Goals III, IV, and V. “It allows members to witness leadership through the experiences of our speakers,” Isabel shared, “and to be inspired to apply it to their own ideas and future.”

Looking ahead, the club plans to expand its programming and continue welcoming alumnae speakers during the 2025–26 school year. Alumnae are warmly invited to share their stories, advice, and wisdom—continuing a tradition of mentorship that inspires future generations of Gators as they make their mark on the world.

In every conversation, the Women in Business Club demonstrates what happens when Stone Ridge students are given the space to lead: curiosity becomes confidence, connection becomes opportunity, and ideas turn into impact. ❤