Students at Berkeley-Haas Find Support for Women MBAs

As women lean into leadership and management roles, the Full-time Berkeley MBA Program is proud to be a part of the growth and development of influential women across many fields.

And we are always developing new ways to support women MBAs, with programs and resources such as:

 The Berkeley-Haas Gender Equity Initiative (GEI), a student-organized initiative focused on increasing the number of women MBAs in the full-time program. Launched by students in the class of 2015, the GEI shook things up in many ways, increasing the number of female speakers on campus, encouraging male students to take part in supporting women in business, and contributing to significant growth in the number of women in the program.

 Women in Leadership Conference, the oldest and largest student-organized conference at Berkeley-Haas. With a mission to empower and celebrate female leaders, WiL unites over 500 students and professionals on campus for a full-day of speakers, workshops, and networking opportunities. Conference attendees learn about the professional and personal experiences of high-profile female execs, as well as tackle practical skills, like how to negotiate salary or build a personal brand.

Far-reaching teaching and research findings. The full-time MBA program is home to some of most innovative women in business, with prominent female faculty members, such as Kellie McElhaney, whose research makes the business case for gender diversity in the workplace, Laura Kray, who shines a light on successful negotiation tactics, and Jennifer Chatman, who has shown a positive correlation between “PC” behavior in the workplace--and creativity in that workplace. These faculty make a difference through teaching as well, for example, helping a Colombian multinational build an inclusive and sustainable culture.

First-hand interaction with leading women in business. One of the best ways to learn from women in business is to hear from women in business. And that's why Haas hosts distinguished women from many fields through the Dean’s Speaker Series, where students hear and learn from such female leaders as Deborah Hopkins, CEO of Citi Ventures, and Rosalind Brewer, CEO and President of Sam's Club. Students also hear from alumnae at commencement and at orientation, where featured speakers have included Citibank, N.A., CEO Barbara Desoer and Indiegogo Co-Founder Danae Ringelmann. 

Of course, school culture also plays a role in determining the best MBA fit for women, and our female students often name our Defining Principles, such as Confidence Without Attitude and Students Always, among the top reasons they chose Berkeley-Haas and why they thrive here.