Women in Management
Recently anonymousMBA posted That’s Right I’m a Chick. In fact the MBA blogs are full of women candidates with Glamour Girl’s Guide to the MBA, Young Girls journey into MBA, and katrina’s MBA dream to name a few. It’s no surprise that many women are heading off to business school. Last year HBS‘ class was comprised of 35% women. Kellogg‘s entering class in 2006 was 31% women. With this rise in women attending business school, MBA programs have responded with resources for women while on campus and as alumni.
HBS has a powerful Women’s Student Association which serves as a network for current students as well as alumnae (over 6,500 women). In addition to events promoting mentorship and career development, HBS has a Dynamic Women in Business Conference each year which brings over 900 women (students, alumnae, faculty, business leaders) to campus.
Columbia’s Women In Business recently hosted their 14th Annual Women in Business Conference which included such topics as career building, work-life balance, and how the private sector can help combat poverty. In addition to mentoring and scholarship opportunities, this organization also helps female students connect by participating in community service.
Kellogg’s Women’s Business Association also hosted a 2007 WBA Conference on “Owning Your Future: Effecting Change Throughout Your Career.” This organization focuses on formal professional and personal development with workshops, speakers, and events as well as information social networking.
Wharton Women In Business had a wide range of interesting initiatives over the past year. In addition to their conference (with over 50 speakers and 500 guests), their members participated in a bike race for the Greater Delaware Mutiple Sclerosis Society. This organization also connects first and second year women students to build a network across the school, not just within your year.
Stanford recently created a GSB women’s website for female students with alumnae. This site not only keeps women up to date on events and programs as well as speakers, but also connects women with an online forum. Additionally, female students can participate in Stanford’s Women in Management which organizes activities and also establishes WIM groups where students can exchange ideas on issues facing women in management.
Opportunities for women on campus is just one aspect of business school that you can consider as an applicant. Be sure to research what options your schools offer and think about how you could help contribute to them. Showing schools that you are aware of their offerings and have ideas on how to build them is a great way to convince them that you are a perfect fit.
