Founded in November 2001, Women of the Academy of International Business (WAIB) is AIB’s first officially established Shared Interest Group. Since then, WAIB has continued to develop and expand its mission, providing new means for promoting research on gender-related issues in international business, as well as supporting the professional needs of women in the field.

WAIB’s efforts are guided by three main priorities: (1) Providing a forum for networking among WAIB members, (2) facilitating academic mentorship, and (3) promoting research on gender and gender-related issues in international business.

WAIB has a strong presence at the AIB annual conferences as well as at local and regional meetings. Every year, we come together to exchange ideas, research results, personal or group successes, challenges, and exciting plans for the future. We host a members-only reception where we announce WAIB awards, and network and socialize with friends and colleagues. These activities give all of us an opportunity to build new relationships. In particular, junior scholars meet senior scholars and hear their insights from many years of research and teaching. Enthusiasm emerges for new projects, and co-authoring possibilities are discussed.

Women in the Academy of International Business (WAIB) was the brainchild of our Founder, Lorraine Eden, a professor at Texas A&M University. She first conceived the idea at the 2000 AIB Phoenix meetings; the idea became a reality a year later at the AIB Sydney meetings. For a history of WAIB’s early years and some thoughts on possible future directions, please read WAIB – Back to the Beginnings.

The WAIB Constitution and Bylaws sets forth clear guidelines for our SIG’s governance, membership, and official meetings. The most recent, approved version of our Constitution is available for download here.