Undergraduate Business Association

What is the UBA?

The Undergraduate Business Association (UBA) is the overarching "umbrella" organization that coordinates the leadership of all GW School of Business (GWSB) Affiliated Undergraduate Student Organizations. Guided by organizational values of integrity, community, and development, the UBA is an executive board of undergraduate student leaders who are dedicated to strengthening the undergraduate experience at GWSB.

The UBA serves students by strengthening their understanding of the opportunities, resources, initiatives, and organizations available in GWSB, with a particular focus on supporting first-year and transfer students. 

For GWSB-Affiliated Undergraduate Student Organizations (Affiliated Organizations), the UBA acts as the primary bridge between students, student leaders, and GWSB Undergraduate Programs, providing visibility, engagement opportunities, and support for organizational growth through the UBA's Leadership Council. In partnership with GWSB staff and faculty, the UBA elevates undergraduate voices to institutional leadership through consistent communication and student advocacy.

Core Values of the UBA:

The UBA is guided by its core values of integrity, community, and development:

• Integrity: Advocate for the needs and interests of undergraduate students within GWSB with honesty, transparency, and reliability.
• Community: Foster an inclusive, supportive, and engaged GWSB undergraduate community through facilitating and enabling initiatives that are both student-led and student-centered.
• Development: Bridge connection between GWSB Undergraduate Programs, F. David Fowler Career Center, GWSB Advancement, GWSB Operations, GWSB Communications and Marketing, and the GWSB Office of the Dean to support the professional and leadership development of GWSB undergraduate students.

Mission of the UBA:

The mission of the UBA is to support and empower GWSB-Affiliated Undergraduate Student Organizations and the GWSB undergraduate student body through facilitating opportunities to enhance their professional and leadership experience.

What are the UBA's Signature Initiatives?

Back 2 Business: Student Organization Fair

The Back 2 Business: Student Organization Fair is a semesterly organization fair that brings together the GWSB-Affiliated Undergraduate Student Organizations to showcase opportunities for students to get involved in the GWSB community. This event provides a place for undergraduate students to explore the various organizations in GWSB, network with student leaders, and identify potential events and initiatives that they might want to get involved in. Back 2 Business also supports the growth of Affiliated Organizations, which represent diverse interests such as finance, entrepreneurship, consulting, marketing, fashion, sports, and more.

• The Fall 2026 Back 2 Business: Student Organization Fair will be held on Friday, September 4, 2026, between 3:00 - 5:00pm ET in the GW University Student Center - Grand Ballroom.
• The Spring 2027 Back 2 Business: Student Organization Fair will be held in January 2027. More details will be announced at the beginning of the Spring semester.

Into the Industry Career Networking Conference

Into the Industry is a Career Networking Conference that features leaders from a variety of business industries. Speakers share their expertise and offer valuable networking opportunities for GWSB undergraduate students. This conference is tailored specifically for first-year students in GWSB and is a requirement as a part of the Business Leader Development (BLD) Program to ensure students have the opportunity to explore various business industries during their first year.

• The Spring 2027 Into the Industry Career Networking Conference will occur in February/March 2027 and more information will be released closer to the event date.

UBA Ambassador Program

The UBA Ambassador Program provides an opportunity for GWSB sophomores, juniors, and seniors to help lead coordinated tours for prospective students. UBA Ambassadors lead tours of Duquès and Funger Halls in partnership with the GWSB Undergraduate Programs team and GW Undergraduate Admissions office. UBA Ambassadors also participate in a variety of admissions-related events, such as Inside GW panels. The UBA Ambassador Program helps share valuable student insights into the GW and GWSB experience.

• To learn more about the UBA Ambassador Program, reach out to the ubaevp [dot] ubagmail [dot] com (UBA Executive Vice President) via email.

First-Year Cohort

The UBA's First-Year Cohort is designed to provide an inclusive space for new undergraduate business students who are interested in taking an active role in progressing their professional development and receiving guidance from the UBA. Designed to provide first-year and transfer students advanced and in-depth interviewing, networking, and industry-specific knowledge, the UBA's First-Year Cohort both catalyzes early growth and provides opportunities to become more involved within GWSB. 

• To learn more about the UBA's First-Year Cohort, reach out to the vpinclusion [dot] ubagmail [dot] com (UBA VP of Inclusion) via email.

UBA Leadership Council

The UBA Leadership Council is a group of student leaders who represent the GWSB-Affiliated Undergraduate Student Organizations that are affiliated with the UBA. Affiliated Organizations send 2 Executive Board leaders to each Leadership Council initiative.

• Leadership Kickoff: Leadership Kickoff symbolizes the start of each academic semester and provides a space for Affiliated Organization leaders to come together for key updates from the UBA, shared learning, connection to GWSB departments, and to foster positive working relationships between student leaders, the UBA, staff, and faculty.
• Leadership Council Meetings: Leadership Council meetings occur once a month during the academic year and provide a space for Affiliated Organization leaders to discuss opportunities for collaboration, critical campus updates, leadership development, and ways to connect as fellow student leaders.
• Leadership Showcase: Leadership Showcase occurs at the end of each academic semester as a way for Affiliated Organizations to highlight their key accomplishments from the semester. These presentations are shared with fellow Affiliated Organization leaders and GWSB staff and faculty for shared learning and celebration.

Meet the 2026-2027 UBA Executive Board (E-Board)

• President - ubapresidentgmail [dot] com (Leonie Schwetlick)
• Executive Vice President - ubaevpgmail [dot] com (Priya Giyanani)
• Vice President of Events - vpevents [dot] ubagmail [dot] com (Jakob Denesha)
• Vice President of Marketing - vpmarketing [dot] ubagmail [dot] com (Ella Amato)
• Vice President of Inclusion - vpinclusion [dot] ubagmail [dot] com (Dessa Molina Martins)
• Vice President of Operations - vpoperations [dot] ubagmail [dot] com (Vedika Deshpande)
• Vice President of Finance - vpfinance [dot] ubagmail [dot] com (Maanav Shah)

Engage with the UBA on Instagram