The zeal and business culture is undeniable among Vanderbilt undergraduates. From student-run ventures that epitomize innovation to educationally-driven business clubs fostering learning and collaboration, Vanderbilt’s business ecosystem offers a diverse array of opportunities for students to engage and grow.
Alpha Kappa Psi (AKPsi)
The Omega Nu Chapter of Alpha Kappa Psi (AKPsi) established at Vanderbilt in 2006 is the oldest co-ed business fraternity on campus. This international organization, whose mission boils down to furthering the individual welfare of its members and fostering scientific research in commerce, accounts and finance, is also among the world’s oldest. While membership in many fraternities is restricted to current undergraduate or master’s students, AKPsi’s membership includes a diverse array of individuals such as students, faculty, alumni and honorary members who may be initiated, with only one honorary member per fiscal year. Per the Vanderbilt chapter’s website, members are granted access to current members and alumni, all of whom may assist them in discovering passions, networking for internship positions, and preparing for upcoming interviews. Furthermore, there is their staple 6-week Business Development Program upon joining. Aditya Bhatt, a sophomore, highlighted the impact of AKPsi on his time at Vanderbilt.
“AKPsi [has been] a great way to expand my community and network on campus, [which] helped me gain mentorship for my academic and career goals,” Bhatt said in an email to The Hustler.
Now, when it comes to attaining membership, AKPsi is quite selective with its multistep process. Prospective members undergo several rounds, including application submission, coffee chats, elevator pitch presentations, interviews and an hour-long intense mimicry of speed dating.
Black Business Student Association (BBSA)
A very new addition to Vanderbilt’s club catalog, the Black Business Student Association (BBSA), articulates its primary objective as enhancing accessibility to a range of business opportunities for all African Americans and/or people of African descent at Vanderbilt. The club aims to elevate the visibility of Vanderbilt’s Black business community by forging partnerships with organizations and corporations in Nashville and beyond. Through a variety of focused initiatives, educational workshops and partnerships with industry leaders, BBSA’s goal is to connect members with resources and networking opportunities necessary for their success. Nonetheless, the organization aims to extend beyond immediate job placements, as it aspires to equip members with the skills, insights and connections that enable them to excel in various career fields over the long haul.
Sophomore Leon Mhingiro, one of the inaugural executive board members of BBSA, expressed his excitement to embark on such a journey.
“It has been such a fulfilling experience to help in building such an organization,” Mhingiro said in an email to The Hustler. “It’s an honor to work with these people as we connect with firms, the Career Center, and other organizations [to] expand opportunities for Black Vandy.”
Delta Sigma Pi (DSP)
With its rather competitive nature and multi-round filtration system for the pledge classes, the Omicron Chapter of the International Fraternity of Delta Sigma Pi, Inc. (DSP or Deltasig) at Vanderbilt stands as one of the few business organizations on campus that mirror Greek organization structures. The co-ed pre-professional business fraternity seeks to provide a networking system within and outside the Vanderbilt community, connecting students with strong business interests to foster new opportunities, personal growth and lifelong friendships. Members benefit from accountability partners, professional development opportunities, networking with industry leaders and alumni, case and interview preparation sessions and resume workshops. Additionally, DSP serves as a hub for support systems for students navigating the stresses of job and internship hunting, as well as a plethora of organization-sanctioned social activities that can alleviate such pressure.
Phi Chi Theta (PCT) Pre-professional fraternity in business and economics
With 41 chapters present on campuses throughout the United States, Phi Chi Theta (PCT) is another co-ed pre-professional fraternity focused on business and economics education, while also inclusive of students with all majors and minors. The Eta Delta chapter at Vanderbilt emphasizes the development of professional leadership skills, the creation of broad networks for resource sharing, the promotion of adaptable values for an evolving world and the fostering of essential business acumen for achieving success. Membership selection in PCT follows a structured recruitment process each semester, overseen by the executive committee. Criteria for active membership, or “brotherhood,” include resume review and one or more interview rounds. Upon joining the organization, PCT members in good standing gain access to applications for scholarships awarded annually through the Fraternity and the Phi Chi Theta Educational Foundation.
Vanderbilt Asian Pre-professional Society (VAPS)
Vanderbilt Asian Pre-Professional Society’s (VAPS) mission is to grow a global network of highly motivated student leaders. Active membership in VAPS entails participating in the mentorship program — an integral component of the organization’s ethos — either as a mentee, mentor or by being a board member. This program is marketed as a cornerstone of the organization and seeks to offer opportunities for guidance that facilitate personal and professional growth. In addition, VAPS hosts workshops on resume and behavioral interview basics, equipping members with the skills and knowledge necessary to secure coveted positions in the job market.
Vanderbilt Business and Medicine Club (VBAM)
Per their Anchorlink introduction, the Vanderbilt Business and Medicine Club (VBAM)’s mission is to educate Vanderbilt undergraduate students on the diverse array of business opportunities within the medical industry. Beyond a few intersectional classes offered across the economics, medicine, health and society and Spanish departments, as well as the business minor, there aren’t a lot of school-sponsored possibilities to explore the intersection of business and medicine. This is due, in part, to the multifaceted nature of this field. VBAM aims to fill this gap by offering mentorship, professional development and networking prospects to students interested in healthcare and business. Through speaker events and career preparedness workshops, VBAM covers topics such as establishing private practices, hospital work, consulting, investing, medical research and other relevant opportunities to address the deficiency of business knowledge often absent in core science curricula.
Vanderbilt Out In Business (VOIB)
Vanderbilt Out In Business (VOIB) serves as a hub for undergraduate students at Vanderbilt who both identify with the LGBTQ+ community and harbor a keen interest in business, economics, mathematics, entrepreneurship and beyond. One of the key highlights of VOIB is the networking platform it provides by facilitating interactions between students, LGBTQ+ alumni and industry professionals. Whether through workshops, tailored programs, speaker series or social events, these connections enrich their academic and professional experiences and open doors to potential internships, job opportunities and mentorship relationships.
Vanderbilt Women in Business (WiB)
Founded in the spring of 2015 by six undergraduate women, Women in Business (WiB) sought to disrupt Vanderbilt’s predominantly homogenous business community by establishing an organization dedicated to uplifting women and other identities that are historically marginalized within the business world. It now has over 600 campus members and is overseen by a leadership team of over 30 students.
WiB prides itself on being a mission-driven organization. They set ambitious goals for progress, leading with love and openness. This is reflected through their Mentorship and Externship Programs, which occur every semester. The former involves the selection of a small cohort to be individually matched to industry leaders in Nashville, eventually leading to long-term relationships and even job offers. The latter, the Externship Program, a more recent addition, provides participants with internships at Nashville-based companies. Sophomore Grace Park, who is now the current vice president of the club, participated in both programs and commended their usefulness.
“I [came to] Vanderbilt very confused about the business world. However, I was lucky enough to join WiB which, through the Mentorship & Externship programs, has given me clarity and confidence in my career path,” Park said in a message to The Hustler.
Moreover, their now new signature annual event, MakHERs Market, celebrates female entrepreneurship. It is a pop-up marketplace that not only showcases the diverse offerings of women-owned businesses in Nashville but also champions philanthropy, as portions of the proceeds are directed towards meaningful community causes in the city. WiBbers, an affectionate term used for members, also get to participate in Speaker Series events featuring keynote speakers: C-suite executives from renowned companies like Facebook, Anthos Capital, American Airlines, Goldman Sachs and Universal Music Group.
Whether it is being coached to acquire skills needed to develop entrepreneurial ideas into viable business ventures or learning how to be an asset to already existing businesses and companies, Vanderbilt’s extracurricular organizations serve a broad spectrum of needs, preferences and interests.
