When organizers of the Women in Leadership Conference began planning this year's event, the impact of empowering the next generation of women felt tangible. Some of the organizers are in the Full-time MBA Class of 2015, whose work with admissions helped boost the percentage of women in the Class of 2016 to 43 percent. Energized by their record-breaking class, the first-year students are building on that work in what they are calling the Haas Gender Equity Initiative.
The 2015 Women in Leadership Conference organizersThe conference theme, “Empower Me: Invest in All,” reflects those experiences, says Co-chair Carmela Aquino, MBA 15. "This came about exactly because we were seeing the momentum at Haas around these ideas," she says. "We wanted this year to embody the positive drive we were seeing, so attendees walk away feeling empowered to go beyond themselves in their respective paths and do more to help other women aspiring to leadership."
The 19th annual conference, organized by the Women in Leadership club, is expected to attract more than 500 business leaders and students to the Haas School from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Sat, March 14.
The primary goals of the conference are to help women gain concrete skills for advancing in their own careers, connect with others, and get inspired, says Co-Chair Libby Hadzima Perkins, JD/MBA 15. But that's not to say it's geared exclusively toward women. In fact, "manbassadors"—as the male student actively involved in gender equity are calling themselves—have been key.
"Without the support of men in the workplace, there is only so much we can do to help promote more gender-equitable outcomes," Hadzima Perkins says. "That's why we wanted our theme to focus on the benefit that investing in women lifts everyone up, and provides a benefit to society as a whole."
Conference Highlights
Keynotes: The morning will kick off with Ann O'Leary, Director of the Children & Families Program for Next Generation and former Legislative Director to Hillary Clinton, in conversation with Prof. Laura Tyson. In the afternoon, Donna Morris, Sr. Vice President, Global People and Places for Adobe will be introduced by Asst. Prof. Kellie McElhaney to close out the conference.
Leadership Stories: For the lunchtime session, attendees will get "an intimate look into the cycle of confidence and failure in leadership" from four leaders in diverse fields.
Invest in All Alley: This new addition to the conference is a space for companies, organizations, and entrepreneurs to exhibit their products or services, to showcase their dedication to gender equality, and to raise their brand awareness.
Panels will focus on tangible skills, from mastering difficult conversations in the workplace to taking control of finances for the future.
