Who We Are

Business Council was created in 1973 as an organization dedicated to serving The Gies College of Business. Today, Business Council remains a large organization made up of undergraduate students from all majors and diverse backgrounds with an interest in business.

Business Council helps its members achieve their goals and build a lifetime network of some of the most accomplished, driven students on the University of Illinois campus. This is accomplished through events planned and executed by our Leadership Team and centered around our three fundamental organizational pillars: Professional, Service, and Social.

President’s Welcome

Harry fogel

After my first semester, I was really seeking to join a community that made the large community on campus feel smaller. I decided to go to Business Council’s Info Night as I heard it was an organization that helped grow professional skills and fostered community on campus. After fortunately being accepted into the organization, I can confidently say that everything I heard turned out to be true to an extent greater than I could have ever imagined. BC has changed my life for the better in ways I truly can’t describe.

During my New Member Semester, I was pushed well out of my comfort zone to grow professionally, personally, and socially. Professionally, I was paired with multiple mentors, two alumni, one senior, and a peer, all of whom helped me navigate numerous unknowns about my goals and future ambitions. As an upperclassman now, I have had the privilege to give back to Business Council as the Alumni, Internal Engagement, and Charity Fundraising Chair in each of my semesters after becoming a new member.

Our three pillars, Professional, Service, and Social, provide members of BC with a well-rounded college experience, full of countless life-long memories. Some of my favorite experiences include volunteering at Eastern Illinois Foodbank, running the annual Alumni tailgate, and kayaking for the first time on the waters of Kickapoo at our yearly fall retreat. Every day of the week, you can find events on our calendar that will teach you something new, push you to enhance your skills, and create core memories of your time in college.

Joining BC means joining a group of people who are committed to supporting, challenging, and celebrating you through every moment. At Info Night during my freshman year, I was in awe of the energy and passion that radiated from each member. This has continued throughout every semester of BC, and I know without a doubt that joining was one of the best decisions of my life. 

The members of this organization have truly had such a positive impact on my life. Through the ups and downs of college and beyond, BC members have been there to support me every step of the way. I would not be where I am today without them, so I encourage you to experience this firsthand by attending our recruitment events to truly see why BC means so much to all of our members. 

Please feel free to email me or any other member of the executive board if you have any questions about our recruitment process or Business Council in general. Good luck to you, and we hope to see you soon!

Best,

Harry Fogel

president@illinoisbusinesscouncil.com