What Female Deans Want MBA Women In The Class of 2017 To Know

Nancy Bagranoff

Dean

Robins School of Business

To the women of the Class of 2017, what is the key piece of advice you have for those who seek to make their mark in business?

“I think Sheryl Sandberg has it right, they need to lean in. Often times, when I travel with students, I see women taking notes and men asking the questions. There’s a cultural difference. Women study, but they’re not probing their curiosity. They will need to speak up. Raise their hands. People won’t wait for them so they need to make themselves heard.”

What advice do you wish someone had shared with you about being a successful woman in business?

“Nothing is as bad as it seems or as good as it seems. Something may seem terrible at the time, but that goes away.”

What is your favorite quote or mantra that you live by and you’d like to pass on to women in the Class of 2017?

“The Platinum Rule: treat others as they want to be treated. It takes the Golden Rule one step further.”

Wendy Loretto

University of Edinburgh Business School

To the women of the Class of 2017, what is the key piece of advice you have for those who seek to make their mark in business?

“Not particularly original, but be yourself and in your own way. One thing we’re so proud of at Edinburgh is that we’re not necessarily of the viewpoint that to be a good leader you have to follow the traditional or macho rule. There are different ways of being a leader. You can succeed and lead in a different way.”

What are the hard truths or realities that aspiring business women should be prepared for?

“Unfortunately, discrimination and gender assumptions are still there. They are less overt and more hidden than previously, but that makes it more dangerous and makes it more difficult to tackle. Also, women should be aware that they are not assumed to be able to do everything. Don’t feel that you’ve got to do everything to be a successful female leader.”

What advice do you wish someone had shared with you about being a successful woman in business?

“Be confident and know there are different ways to be a good leader. Particularly, when I started in retail before academia, to be successful was to adopt a very masculine or macho form of leadership. Success was an individual thing; you won and the others lost, a constant upward trajectory. I wish someone had said to me it’s not a race to any one point; that you can take the time to explore and that there are very much different ways of being successful.”

What is your favorite quote or mantra that you live by and you’d like to pass on to women in the Class of 2017?

“I would reiterate that there are different ways of being successful. The way you believe in success is very personal and believe in that. People get too caught up if not leaning in they’re not being successful. Be youRself and believe your way to success will be the right way for you.”

“Don’t feel you’ve got to please others and being able to smooth over conflict and be the mediator i don’t think anyone should be expected to do that along the way.”

Isabelle Bajeux-Besnainou

Dean

Desautels Faculty of Management

To the women of the Class of 2017, what is the key piece of advice you have for those who seek to make their mark in business?

“One piece of advice that I would offer is most definitely to stay true to your values and to always take the high road. In business, being known for what you stand for and upholding those values are key to making and leaving your mark.”

What are the hard truths or realities that aspiring business women should be prepared for?

“As women, we often strive for perfection in many dimensions of our lives. But it’s important that we allow ourselves to not always fit a ‘job description.’ Sometimes we don’t even apply for positions because we don’t ‘tick all the boxes.’ Do not be the one to hold yourself back.”

What advice do you wish someone had shared with you about being a successful woman in business?

“You can do anything that you put your mind to. Don’t ever feel limited–even in business situations where you will very often be the minority as a female.”

What is your favorite quote or mantra that you live by and you’d like to pass on to women in the Class of 2017?

“Someone incredibly inspiring in achieving so much in his life was Nelson Mandela and among many of his quotes, this one is particularly pertinent as you embark on your new journey: “It always seems impossible until it is done.”