Alumni Association Update

In 2003, 712,000 women earned a bachelor's degree in the United States, compared with 531,000 men. And 274,000 women received master's degrees, compared with 194,000 men. Yet business schools have been left behind the trend toward female majorities in higher education.

In Wharton's most recent classes, women make up 39% of undergraduates, 32% of traditional MBA students, and 20% of students in the MBA Program for Executives. While these numbers represent continuing progress, the growth is not nearly fast enough for Wharton administrators. This year, the Wharton Undergraduate Division and MBA Program for Executives introduced innovative outreach efforts to let potential female students—from teens to executives—know that business careers and degrees are worthwhile, stimulating, and achievable.

Wharton Undergraduate Vice Dean Barbara Kahn worked with New York University Stern School of Business Dean and Vice Dean Sally Blount-Lyon to create a joint initiative, "Discover Business Now," that educates high school sophomores and juniors about what it means to study business at the undergraduate level and how doing so broadens their career opportunities. The program consisted of two fall events. The first, held on November 1, 2005 in Short Hills, NJ, invited students of both genders, and the second—exclusively for girls—was held November 6 in Philadelphia.

"Having business skills opens a thousand doors," says Kahn. "You can pursue a doctoral degree, or go to a professional school. You can enter many different fields—you can be a business major and concentrate in politics, business public policy, marketing, or management, to name a few. It's not a narrow approach to undergraduate education; on the contrary, it's a broadening approach."

The MBA Program for Executives reached out to female executives and professionals at their own events, held November 16 in Philadelphia and November 30 in San Francisco. While women know the value of an MBA by the time they have reached the level of career success necessary for an executive MBA, many doubt they will be able to balance work with Wharton's demanding curriculum, while still maintaining time for their families and personal lives.

This myth was dispelled by Wharton alumni panelists and speakers, who were honest about the challenges but emphatic about the rewards. Amy Errett, WG'88, CEO of Olivia Cruises, spoke on the West Coast, while the East Coast panel included Shelley Boyce, WG'95, CEO, MedRisk; Gladys Gabriel, WG'99, purchasing director at IFF; and Lillian Heizner, WG'01, principal, Booz-Allen Hamilton.