In the last couple of years, there has been a steady rise of women breaking the glass ceiling and assuming leadership roles of some of America’s largest corporations. In 2012, Fortune magazine announced that women CEOs set a record by taking more than 20 spots on the Fortune 500 list, including Marissa Mayer, president and CEO of Yahoo! — who took the No. 1 spot on the “40 Under 40” list this year; Indra Nooyi, chief executive officer of PepsiCo; Ginni Rometty, chair and CEO of IBM; and Ursula Burns, chair and chief executive officer of Xerox.
As more professional women continue to slowly but surely break down barriers in the traditionally male-dominated C-suite, news of their accomplishments has initiated conversations about attracting more females into the business world, particularly as it pertains to their enrollment in business schools.
“Having positive role models is inspiring for women as they consider pursuing their M.B.A.,” says Zoe Hillenmeyer, a Washington University M.B.A. grad and senior consultant at IBM. “But it’s more than just that — it is critical for helping curb unintentional bias and categorical thinking, meaning when we see more women at the top, men and women are going to experience the subtle, slow adjustment that women can lead as well as men.”
Joe Fox, associate dean and director of M.B.A. programs at Washington University’s Olin Business School, argues that not only are prominent female leaders impelling a new level of awareness among the public, but they are also, in turn, creating new paths in the traditionally male-dominated business school environment.
“Back in the 1950s, ’60s, and on into the ’70s, there weren’t that many great career paths, role models and icons in the world of business and management that were like other women, or that were other women for that matter,” explains Fox. “And it was much more likely that you would find role models and icons in medicine, science or law, and so they had a step up in those fields.”
