How Women in Business Can Benefit from a Male-Dominated World
Although business schools — and the overall business world in general — has long been a male-dominated sphere, things are changing for women in business.
While in recent years, many business schools have seen overwhelming increases in enrollment for women, an overall shrinking in the number of applicants (both male and female) has meant a decline in the number of qualified female MBA candidates.
Men Still Outnumber Women in Business School
For women applying to these programs, prospects can often seem grim. Even at MBA programs with the highest percentage of women students, the numbers rarely surpass more than 42%. While this is a tremendous leap forward from five years ago, with the highest rate in 2011 hovering at 32.3%, there is still much progress to be made.
Despite these seemingly disappointing statistics, an increased awareness of the need for female candidates in MBA programs throughout the U.S. may actually be beneficial for women looking to earn their MBA.
The Fight for Women MBA Candidates
According to a Wall Street Journal interview with Idalene Kesner, dean of Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business, MBA programs will often “fight” over female MBA candidates, outbidding each other with offers of scholarships.
Business schools have also recently implemented more programs to encourage women to pursue an MBA degree, inviting undergraduate students and even high school students to consider how a business degree might fit into their future career.
Some programs, like one at the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business, even involved mentoring Girl Scouts and making connections between cookie-selling season and business strategy.
Other business schools are trying to make their MBA programs more women-friendly by partnering with programs like Catalyst Inc. to bring more female speakers to campus, and teach more case studies with women at their center.
While these institutions will need to be careful in how they inspire more women to pursue business degrees (i.e. not over-exaggerating each woman’s position as a minority), these new efforts represent truly good news for women, and women need to take advantage.
Top Business Schools for Women
In a U.S. News breakdown of the top business schools for women, the schools which top the list in 2015 also happen to be some of the top programs in the country:
- Stanford Graduate School of Business (42%)
- Harvard Business School (41%)
- University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School (40%).
For women, this means that not only are business schools “fighting” for qualified women applicants, but that the highest ranked programs are winning the fight.
The ultimate result of increased MBA enrollment for women is an increase in the number of women in business and specifically in leadership roles. Considering the long history of male-domination in the business world, this shift is crucial. Today, there are only eight female CEOs in the Fortune 100, and yet all but one studied at elite business schools like Harvard, Yale and Columbia.
Have No Fear! Millennials are Here!
Research has uncovered a number of reasons why the increase of women in business, and business schools, occurs so at such a slow pace. According to a survey from the Harvard Business Review, however, things appear to be improving: three quarters of millennial women believe that their career should be at least equally as important as their partners — a major shift in perspective about gender roles from past times.
Women currently interested in pursuing an MBA should be prepared to take advantage of these changing perspectives and business school’s attempts to increase female enrollment. It should also be a responsibility of women pursuing advanced business degrees to communicate the benefits of an MBA to other women.
Women moving through the business world still fight an uphill battle, but with the right tools and encouragement, the path can be leveled.
About the Author
Alanna Shaffer
Staff Writer, covering MetroMBA's news beat for Atlanta, Houston, and Dallas.
