Wo(e)men in business

Updated on: Monday, November 16, 2009

Q) What does ‘The International Alliance for Women’s (TIAW) 2009 World of Difference Award’ hold for you?
A) It means recognition by an alliance of 55,000 women worldwide of the work we at the ‘Initiative for Women in Business’ are doing to help women advance economically, and in their careers. As someone who was born, educated and began my career in India, lived and worked in Dubai and ended up in Canada, the international nature of this award is particularly meaningful. Also, to have the initiative share space with award winners from across the globe is enormously satisfying.

Q) Why does business education draw fewer women?
A) Fewer women are drawn to business education because of the many misperceptions that exist about business careers among women. In 2000, the North American research firm Catalyst performed a landmark study, which showed that the reasons include few role models, business careers being seen as incompatible with work/life balance, a lack of confidence in mathematical abilities and the fact that almost twice as many women as men felt less likely to be encouraged by their employers.

However, while many business degree programmes and schools do have disparity in the number of women students, others are making progress. For instance, this year, women represent 40% of the Rotman School’s Executive MBA (EMBA) programme and 32% of our Omnium Global EMBA programme. Interestingly, a couple of years ago, Rotman introduced an early morning (7-9 am) version of the parttime evening MBA. By changing the class timings to ones better suited for working women, we increased the number of women from 15% to 29%.

Q) How does one bring about a change in the common perception that women do not have a flair for business (like mathematics or reading maps)?
A) It’s hard to argue that women lack a flair for business when we see the pace of growth in women-owned businesses. In the US, women own 40% of existing businesses, which are growing at twice the rate of US firms as a whole. Attitudes are changing and the work of the Initiative is helping women find more support in the workplace, find role models and dispel myths about what qualities are needed to be in business.

Q) Why is an independent drive necessary to empower women economically and beyond?
A) Women are socialised to see their personal and professional networks as mutually exclusive entities, while men are socialised to blend their networks. The way women define success and achieve it can be very different from that of men. The Rotman initiative helps women understand how to leverage their strengths and works on each woman’s definition of success.

Q) What does the Rotman Initiative for Women in Business, now in its second year, specifically offer?
A) Launched in 2008, the ‘Initiative for Women in Business,’ supports women from the classroom to the boardroom by offering continuing education, mentorship and networking opportunities. The programmes are held at the Rotman School of Management in downtown Toronto, with some specialised programmes offered in cities worldwide. Programmes are available for women at every stage of their careers.

Timesofindia

Wo(e)men in business

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