Women’s History Month — and International Women’s Day in particular — is a time to celebrate the communities, mentors, and leaders who help women grow and thrive. At the United Women in Business Foundation (UWIB), our mission has always been to create spaces where women can connect, learn, and support one another professionally and personally.

Behind every UWIB event, initiative, and community moment are the volunteers who dedicate their time and energy to making it possible. In honor of Women’s History Month, we asked several past and present members of the UWIB Board of Directors to reflect on their experience serving the organization — what they learned, the moments that stood out, and how UWIB shaped their journey.

Their stories highlight the power of community and the lasting impact of women supporting women.

Sam Bosin Roldan

VP of Membership, NYC Chapter Vice President (2018–2025)

For Sam Bosin, her time on the UWIB board was deeply transformative — both professionally and personally.

“My entire experience was the most invaluable time of my adulthood so far,” she shared. “Being able to connect with such driven women and foster a sense of community within New York City was incredibly rewarding.”

Through her leadership roles as VP of Membership and Vice President, Sam helped cultivate the welcoming and supportive environment that UWIB is known for today. Her experience also helped her develop a deeper understanding of herself.

“UWIB helped me understand my identity both as a female professional as well as myself outside of work.”

Stephanie Huston

NYC President (2014–2016); National VP of Communications and Executive VP (2021–2023)

Stephanie Huston dedicated an incredible ten years to UWIB, serving in both local and national leadership roles during a time of significant growth for the organization.

As NYC President, she helped guide chapter strategy, programming, and member engagement. Later, on the national board, she supported cross-chapter alignment and broader organizational development.

One of her biggest takeaways was seeing firsthand how meaningful access and encouragement can be for women building their careers.

“One of my biggest takeaways from serving on the UWIB Board was witnessing the tangible ripple effect of access and encouragement,” she shared. “Whether through networking events, community brunches and happy hours, or leadership programming, I saw how creating intentional space for women to connect and grow professionally can shift confidence, career trajectories, and long-term opportunity.”

Her decade with UWIB also shaped her perspective on leadership.

“UWIB helped shape my understanding of leadership as service. Being part of a mission-driven board taught me how to think strategically while staying people-centered — balancing long-term vision with the real needs of the women we were supporting.”

Parker Murff

VP of Philanthropy (2019–2022)

Parker Murff served as VP of Philanthropy during one of the most challenging periods for communities and organizations everywhere — the COVID-19 pandemic.

Despite the uncertainty of that time, UWIB members continued to show up for causes that mattered.

“My tenure coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic, but even in the midst of those ‘unprecedented times,’ UWIB members still contributed to campaigns such as Dress for Success, Good+ Foundation, and other causes championed by UWIB.”

For Parker, UWIB was also a place of learning, inspiration, and connection.

“I still think about some of the things I learned from UWIB events, whether about personal style habits or the impressive hustle of our Ladies Who Launch panelists. UWIB also allowed me to meet people who have ended up being good friends beyond my time on the board and whose causes I’ve later championed on their behalf.”

Lina Yeh

VP of Philanthropy (2016–2017)

When Lina Yeh first joined UWIB, she was new to New York City and navigating career changes — a moment when community can make all the difference.

“Community is everything, and the UWIB community was a huge source of inspiration and empowerment for me,” she shared.

Serving on the board not only gave her the opportunity to give back, but also helped her build connections that have stood the test of time.

“Being a UWIB member and serving on the board allowed me to build lasting connections and friendships that have continued for a decade.”

Arielle Bernard

VP of Philanthropy, VP of Membership (2022–2025)

When Arielle Bernard moved from California to New York City, she was looking for a community of like-minded women. She found exactly that through UWIB.

“Joining UWIB was one of the best decisions I made,” she shared. “Over the next three years, it gave me meaningful connections, inspiring professional development opportunities, and relationships with fellow board members that I’ll always treasure.”

One moment that always stood out to her was UWIB’s signature event, Ladies Who Launch.

“Closing the year with Ladies Who Launch was always a standout moment. The energy was electric every time — it left me feeling fulfilled by the work we accomplished and genuinely excited to return the next year to keep building on that momentum.”

Luyba (Zeylikman) Caloras

VP of Digital Media (2015); Vice President (2016); NYC President (2017); National President (2018–2022); Current BOD Advisor

Luyba Caloras held several leadership roles within UWIB, eventually serving as National President and helping guide the organization at both the local and national levels.

Serving on the board became an important leadership experience for her.

“Serving on the board taught me how to be a leader. It helped me understand how to motivate a team and see each person’s unique capabilities so we could work together toward our mission.”

Because UWIB is entirely volunteer-led, the experience of collaborating with a group of passionate women made the work especially meaningful.

“It’s a unique opportunity as everyone is a volunteer and self-selecting to be part of the board.”

Beyond leadership development, UWIB also became a source of lasting friendships and professional connections.

“UWIB has helped me make some of my best professional connections as well as lasting friendships. It’s refreshing to be part of a community where everyone wants to continue to learn, grow, and support each other.”

Many of those connections have extended well beyond UWIB events.

“I recently went to a wedding and had a friend over for my son’s birthday party — we met chatting at a UWIB event. Professionally, I still catch up with board members, previous speakers, and more.”

Andrea Jo DeWerd

National VP of Marketing (2012–2014)

Andrea Jo DeWerd served as National VP of Marketing during the early years of UWIB’s national leadership structure, at a time when the NYC chapter was experiencing significant growth and expansion.

For Andrea, her time on the board was an opportunity to build skills and gain hands-on experience that accelerated her career.

“The thing I always share about my time serving for UWIB is that you get out of it what you put in,” she said. “I was early in my marketing career at the time, so I used my UWIB experience to build skills in areas I wasn’t getting exposure to in my day job.”

Through her volunteer work, Andrea learned how to build a CRM and create user segments from scratch, as well as develop and manage a website — skills that ultimately helped her grow professionally.

“Volunteering to learn on the fly for UWIB helped me add skills to my resume and level up in my day job much faster.”

Beyond professional growth, the relationships she built through UWIB have continued to have a lasting impact.

“The connections I made on the Board of Directors will stay with me forever,” she shared. “It’s been incredibly rewarding to see so many fellow board members go on to do amazing things in their careers — many now hold senior leadership roles or have launched their own companies, like I have.”

One of her favorite memories from her time with UWIB was helping organize a special event featuring author and entrepreneur Alexa von Tobel for the launch of her first book.

“She was incredibly generous with her time with us,” Andrea said. “It was also a great opportunity for me to bring my professional publishing and bookselling experience into the UWIB event logistics and setup.”

Alexandria Vella

VP of Digital, NYC Chapter; National VP of Communications (~2015–2018)

Alexandra Vella served UWIB in both local and national leadership roles, first as VP of Digital for the NYC chapter and later as National VP of Communications.

One of the biggest takeaways from her time on the board was the power of community and collaboration.

“Serving reinforced something I deeply believe: community creates what individuals cannot,” she shared. “Whether volunteering alongside members at The Bowery Mission or collaborating on a website relaunch, those moments made clear that coming together allows us to connect, learn, and accomplish more than we ever could alone.”

That “stronger together” mindset has stayed with her long after her time with UWIB.

“It’s a mentality I’ve carried with me for the past eight years.”

Her experience on the board also helped shape her professional growth in meaningful ways.

“My time on the board made me a sharper professional,” she said. “Engaging with talented women on panels, participating in peer-led workshops, collaborating with NYC communications agencies, and building relationships with some of the city’s brightest minds gave me access and perspective I wouldn’t have found elsewhere.”

Those experiences not only expanded her network but also influenced how she shows up in her career today.

Nicole Zakrzewski

NYC VP of Digital; National VP of Marketing and Communications; Current BOD Advisor

Nicole Zakrzewski first joined the UWIB board as VP of Digital for the NYC chapter before moving to the national board as VP of Marketing and Communications, where she helped shape UWIB’s digital presence and communications strategy.

One of the most memorable moments from her time serving was leading the redesign and launch of the UWIB website.

“Creating the UWIB website was a huge undertaking,” she shared. “We moved it to a new platform and designed an updated brand for the web, along with new copy and photo selections that helped push UWIB toward a cleaner and more approachable presence.”

The project also created opportunities to improve how members interacted with the organization online.

“The new site gave us the chance to clean up our membership signup flow and experiment with new ideas like the advisor raffle fundraisers.”

Beyond the project itself, Nicole’s time with UWIB led to unexpected professional opportunities.

“The UWIB site was actually the first client for Lauren and me,” she said. “We also worked together on event promotions, and since then we’ve launched our own creative studio, At Best.”

For Nicole, UWIB has remained a lasting source of community and support.

“It’s led to so many meaningful relationships and friendships,” she shared. “I’ve always felt supported by the community and everyone’s openness to help — whether that’s career advice or a thoughtful introduction.”

Cory (Warner) Merkle

Chicago Chapter VP of Philanthropy (2017); Chicago Chapter VP of Programming (2018); Chicago Chapter President (2019); National Executive Vice President (2024); Current BOD Advisor

Cory Merkle has served UWIB in several leadership roles over the years, beginning with the Chicago chapter and later supporting the organization at the national level.

One of her most meaningful takeaways from her time on the board was witnessing the impact of a strong community of women supporting one another.

“One of the most meaningful takeaways from my time serving in multiple leadership roles was seeing firsthand how powerful a community of ambitious, supportive women can be,” she shared.

Serving as Chicago Chapter President was a particularly pivotal moment.

“That was when I realized the organization wasn’t just hosting events — it was actively shaping confidence, leadership skills, and career trajectories for so many members.”

For Cory, that experience reinforced the importance of building spaces where women can connect, learn, and grow together.

Her time with UWIB also played an important role in shaping her own leadership journey.

“UWIB helped me develop early leadership skills and the confidence to take on larger responsibilities,” she said. “It gave me opportunities to lead teams, organize impactful programming, and collaborate with incredible women across industries.”

The lessons and relationships she built through UWIB continue to influence her leadership today.

“Many of the leadership lessons and relationships I developed through UWIB stayed with me throughout my career and continue to shape how I lead.”

The Power of Women Supporting Women

The experiences shared by these board members reflect what makes UWIB special: a community built on connection, mentorship, and shared ambition.

From helping women find their footing in a new city to inspiring leadership and lifelong friendships, UWIB continues to create spaces where women can grow — together.

As we celebrate Women’s History Month, we’re grateful for the many leaders who have shaped UWIB over the years and the community that continues to move the mission forward.

Celebrating the Women Behind UWIB Through the Years