“One of my big goals is helping more women to get in leadership positions,” said Leeds School of Business Dean Sharon Matusik at the MBA and MS Informational Luncheon for Women on Friday, October 5. Specifically geared toward women considering a graduate degree in business, the event is part of a larger effort by Leeds to raise awareness of how a business education can provide women with limitless opportunities in the business world.
Dean Matusik, the first woman dean at the Leeds School of Business, shared details from her career including her decision to pursue a graduate degree and the impact that had on her personal and professional career. She thoughtfully answered questions and outlined the benefits of obtaining an MBA or MS degree at Leeds, highlighting the school’s talented community of women, including faculty, alumni and mentors.
Tackling the Gender Gap in Business Education
Matusik openly discussed Leeds efforts to encourage more women into the leadership pipeline, including End the Gap, an initiative developed to support gender equity and recruit a 50/50 student body across Leeds. End the Gap is also designed to encourage more women to pursue business degrees and ultimately shift the playing field around gender in business from the classroom to the C-suite.
The Dean’s talk was followed by a panel of current students and alumni representing the collaborative community of women at the school. Topics covered ranged from course workload and internship opportunities to entrepreneurship and the cohort model of the graduate programs.
Current MBA student, Mariah Baerend, said “You’ll know everyone in your cohort. I made some of my closest friends in the program.” Others echoed her sentiments, including another current student, Sonia Prakasm, who felt that her classmates really brought out the best in her and helped her excel in the program.
The overarching theme of the event was really to demonstrate to the prospective students that having a business education can provide the pathway to succeed in any sector of business they choose. Whether they want to excel in the organization they’re in or are interested in shifting careers, the Leeds School has options to help them meet their goals.
The New Face of Business
With the growing amount of research that shows women who are in leadership positions in business contribute to the growth in revenue, employment and financial efficiency, Leeds is well-positioned within the strong entrepreneurial community of Boulder to graduate women for these roles here and beyond.
Some of the other efforts Leeds has launched for high school-aged women are the Women in Business case competition and Women in Business day, admitted student events and personalized outreach, and social media aimed at informing young women about the benefits of a business education.
Upcoming events in October include:
For Current Students
C200 Women's Executive Leadership Organization for a panel discussion and reception for graduate students on Wednesday, October 10, 2018
For Prospective Students
Women in Business Leadership day for high school women students
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