Highlights From The Virtual MBA + Master’s Tour Spotlight On Women In Business

The virtual MBA + Master’s Tour Spotlight on Women in Business, held March 19 via Zoom, was packed with keynote speakers, MBA admissions decision makers, and opportunities.

Although virtual, there was ample opportunity to network, have Q&A after the presentation, and get application advice. Though different in location, application processes, and majors, the schools all lead with one focus: women.

Women are at the forefront of the MBA+Master’s Tour, placing a spotlight on ways you can be a powerful force as a woman in business, a leader, an innovator, and make a lasting impact for the future. If you’re indecisive about going to school to obtain an MBA or a master’s degree, this article may help you make a solid decision.

The opening admission segment started with a representative from Forte, a nonprofit organization that aims to change the balance of power in the workplace and increase the number of women leading. In this session, there were presenters from Hult International Business School in Boston, EDHEC in France, and Georgetown University in Washington, DC.

Each school offered a variety of specialized master’s programs. Hult International Business School offers management, finance, marketing, and more. EDHEC offers Management, Master’s of Science, and EDHEC Online. Georgetown offers both on-campus and online master’s programs in higher education, human resources management, project management etc.

“Are you ready to stand up for something greater than yourself? “Are you ready to be a force?” This is the question posed at the end of the Bentley University video clip regarding the McCallum Graduate School of Business, which offers in-person, online, and hybrid options to students.

Bentley University is ranked 11th as the best college in the US according to Wallstreet Journal, and the master’s in finance is number 4 by the Financial Times. In addition, their drive to empower women is signified through The Gloria Cordes Larson Center for Women and Business (CWB), which amplifies the power of all women from the classroom to the boardroom.

MBA programs are available in accounting, business analytics, finance, health care management, etc. and master’s programs are in accounting, business analytics, finance, and human factors in information design.

Diversity is also prevalent with partnerships with organizations such as the National Black MBA Association, National Society of Black Engineers, Prospanica, National Association of Black Accountants, Association of Latino Professionals For America, ROMBA, and many more.

According to Digital Defynd, women’s representation in top corporate positions is still disproportionately low compared to their male counterparts, revealing a persistent gap. Factors such as wage disparities, cultural biases, and structural barriers within corporate hierarchies continue to impede women’s ascent to senior leadership.

UC Davis MBA in California’s presentation provided a Q&A with an alumna with a personal perspective as well as more insight into the three-year graduate program.

“When I started the program I actually was on sabbatical,” said Alice Vega, MBA, senior accountant at Culture Biosciences. “I’d spent about six years as a staff accountant; I didn’t have a lot of opportunities for growth when it came to promotions. And so I wanted to revamp my career and pivot into finance, which is where I decided to get an MBA.”

Alice was able to become director of finance by her second year and received another promotion before graduation. Finding student organizations to join and create leverage also were great confidence and support boosters that crafted leadership skills. UC Davis offers Women in Leadership Club and Conference, Metro Edge Emerge Summit, and GSM Student Association. All organizations promote diversity, equity, and inclusion.

If there is to be a take-away from the spotlight on women in business, it is that it’s possible, and it’s happening. Every day women are prevailing, making history, and changing lives.