Kellogg-Schulich EMBA Enrolls Unprecedented Number of Women

Women only hold 14.2% of the top five leadership positions in S&P 500 companies, according to CNN Money Analysis. York University’s Schulich School of Business, in partnership with Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, is working to change those numbers.

A 2015 Executive MBA Council Membership Program survey revealed that the average Executive MBA classroom was filled with just 27.6% women. This year, the Kellogg-Schulich Executive MBA Program broke records when they admitted 40% women to their January 2016 class.

In an article about the unprecedented enrollment of women, Su-Lan Tenn, Assistant Dean of the Executive MBA Programs with Kellogg-Schulich, talked about why the development is so crucial. “In classroom discussions, gender diversity balances out perspectives. It also reflects the reality of diversity—it isn’t just about inclusion of different cultures, ethnicities or geographies,” Tenn said.

The Schulich School offers various opportunities for female candidates to help foster their professional career development. There are a large number of Awards and Scholarships available, as well as the Women in Leadership club. The club is a student association that is the voice of advocacy for women in business. Its mission is to connect, empower, and inspire women leaders at the School.

For Niluka Kottegoda, a student at Kellogg-Schulich, the number of women enrolled in the EMBA can only be a good thing. “Personally, I think the diversity in our class is one of the most eye-opening aspects of the program,” she said. “We all have different personalities, life circumstances and approaches; interacting with people who are different than you gives you the skill and understanding to work with and get along with almost anyone.”

However, gaining diversity and more women in EMBA programs around the world isn’t easy. In the same article, Tenn explained why she thought women can be so difficult to recruit. “At this time in their lives, women are faced with the decision to stay on the fast track, balance a family with work or if they already have a family, where to invest their scarce time,” she said. “Though our prospective candidates hold senior roles, it’s still the case that women are the primary caregivers—even if at home responsibilities are held equally.”

To learn more about the Kellog-Schulich Executive MBA program, ranked #1 in Canada by the Financial Times and The Economist, visit the school website.

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