Mitchell Scholar Aja Marzilli Founds and Leads USM Women in Business Club

Aja Marzilli, founder of USM’s Women in Business Club

At 19 years old, Aja Marzilli is already preparing for her final semester of college this spring. In May, she will graduate two years early with a degree in business management.

“I feel ready,” Marzilli shared. “I like the responsibility. I want to do something that pushes me out of my comfort zone because I think that’s how you grow.”

Marzilli began her higher education journey at the University of Southern Maine (USM) with 57 transferable credits that she earned as an Orono High School student participating in the Career and Technical Education (CTE) program at the United Technologies Center in Bangor. That experience is not only allowing her to graduate from college in half the usual amount of time; it also helped her develop a passion for the business world.

“Being able to take college courses in high school made me think about college,” Marzilli explained, acknowledging how beneficial CTE opportunities were in determining her career path. “I had college on my mind for junior and senior year of high school.”

Knowing that her undergraduate experience would be much shorter than the traditional trajectory, Marzilli made it a point to make the most of her four semesters at USM. She said she was eager to “make a mark” on her new community, despite having only two years to do so. Marzilli’s ambitions came to fruition in the winter of 2026 when she attended a panel at USM featuring women in business from the local community.

“I went, and I was one of three students,” Marzilli said. “It was just kind of discouraging.”

As Marzilli was leaving the panel event, disappointed by the low student turnout, she met the Dean of USM’s School of Business, who encouraged her to take on a project she had already been considering: launching a USM Women in Business Club.

“I found five girls, and we planned a launch meeting, and we outlined what we wanted the mission to be,” Marzilli explained. “We didn’t want it to be a normal club that stays within the boundaries of a normal college. We really wanted to emphasize industry connections and professional resources.”

From left to right: Iris Ayotte, Hannaford Supermarkets; David Pease, Bangor Savings Bank; Natasha Alyokhin, UMaine Women in Business Club; Aja Marzilli, USM Women in Business Club; Heidi Parker, USM Sport Management; Quincy Hentzel, Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce; Audrey Mullins, UNE Women in Business Club

On October 7, 2026, the USM Women in Business Club hosted its sixth event since its founding in March of 2026. This networking mixer was held in partnership with the University of Maine and University of New England Women in Business Clubs, attracting more than 100 students from all three campuses, as well as working professionals from the Southern Maine region. Attendees heard from a robust panel of speakers—representing USM, the Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce, Bangor Savings Bank, and Hannaford—who discussed their career journeys, provided advice on overcoming self-doubt, and responded to audience questions. Then, attendees had an opportunity to network through guided activities, intended to result in meaningful, professional connections.

“The best way I learn things about myself is by speaking with other people and finding out what I want to do,” Marzilli said, regarding why networking is a prominent focus of USM’s club, later adding, “The people I’ve been able to meet have opened doors and just changed my perspective on things.”

So far, the USM Women in Business Club has hosted a range of events, including a panel featuring CEOs, a LinkedIn workshop, and a dress-to-impress meeting. Marzilli said that in her experience, networking with fellow women is a unique activity.   

“We talk about career aspirations, but we also talk about clothing, life, family, and even our pets,” Marzilli expressed, noting, “It’s almost like a friendship.”

Marzilli credits women in her own life with inspiring her drive and motivation—namely, her CTE instructor, Rebecca Willette. Willette helped Marzilli enter the SkillsUSA Maine State Leadership and Skills Conference as a high school student, where she won a gold medal in the Career Pathways – Business Management and Technology Competition. Marzilli’s winning project, “Project Professionalism,” took hold at Orono High School as a three-session seminar to teach students the basics of professional dress, handshakes, networking, and mock interviews.

“It’s just so great to see a person who can take a student’s passion and help them make it into something successful,” Marzilli said of Willette being her role model. “She’s inspiring.”

For Willette, it has been equally meaningful to watch Marzilli’s continued success after high school.

“Aja was the kind of student who stood out because she was always looking for ways to challenge herself and grow. She took advantage of every opportunity that came her way and was always willing to push herself to see what she was capable of. She was someone I could count on to lead her peers, and it was special to watch her grow into that role,” Willette shared. “When I think about the next generation of leaders, Aja is exactly the kind of person who gives me so much hope for the future. She doesn’t wait for opportunities to come to her; she puts herself out there to find them, and if they don’t exist, she creates them. I am so proud of her and all that she has accomplished, and I know she is just getting started. It has been incredibly rewarding to watch her grow, and I am excited to see the impact she will make in the years ahead.”

Throughout her time in college, the Mitchell Institute has also become a community that Marzilli relies on for support.

 “I’m in many different communities, but this is probably my favorite,” Marzilli said. “I just feel like someone truly believes in me.”

One of those people is Mitchell Institute Alum Michele Martin, a ’99 Scholar from Scarborough High School who now works as Head of Global Brand and Integrated Marketing at Ticketmaster. She and Marzilli first connected through a monthly breakfast club for professionals that Martin co-hosts. In October, Marzilli personally invited Martin to attend the USM Women in Business Club mixer, where she witnessed Marzilli in her element.

“It was energizing to experience first-hand Aja’s dedication to building purposeful connection among students and working professionals through her leadership of the USM Women in Business Club,” Martin said. “At this event, it was clear that Aja has truly embodied what it means to be a Mitchell Scholar. Her community-minded ingenuity has resulted in increased exposure for her peers to discover their post-college pathways and for local industry leaders to meet the next generation who aspire to follow in their footsteps.”

Marzilli expressed that she is eager to be part of that next generation of leaders in Maine and is looking forward to seeing where life post-graduation takes her in just a few months.

 “Having found these communities—or, in some cases, having created them—makes me really want to stay in the state following graduation,” Marzilli said. “I love that I’ll still be a part of the communities that I’m in now—probably forever.”

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For 30 years, the Mitchell Institute has helped Maine students overcome barriers to higher education. By providing financial support, personal guidance, and a lifelong network, the Institute empowers Mitchell Scholars to graduate, build meaningful careers, and strengthen Maine’s communities and workforce through their success and leadership. Learn more.