Highlights from INSEAD Women in Business
This September will mark 50 years since Hélène Ploix and Solange Perret, the first two women admitted to INSEAD’s MBA program, arrived on campus as members of the MBA class of 1968. There is no better time to celebrate women at INSEAD than by kick-starting our INSEAD Women in Business (IWiB) blog.
Our first post is a quick summary of our favorite IWiB memories from the past year.
1. Diversity Week
On June 12th, we established a new INSEAD tradition with the launch of INSEAD’s first ever Diversity Week. Organized in Fontainebleau by OUTSEAD, Africa Club and IWiB, and in Singapore by OUTSEAD and IWiB, the goal of the week was to raise awareness about minority issues and to promote diversity in the INSEAD community. In Fontainebleau, from a fun-filled fashion show, Queeraoke & cocktails to an interactive ask me anything and political discussion panel, we had it all. And in Singapore, a fireside chat, a talk by the Red Cross, a panel discussion with alumni and a pool party made this week a highlight.
In Singapore, Beatrice Weder di Mauro shared her experiences as an academic, advisor and board member and led a discussion on quotas as a tool for increasing the number of women in leadership positions. INSEAD alumni Jeremy Broome, Dora Lui and Padmini Pandya provided insights on what diversity means to them and their organisations Barclays, Deutsche Bank and Citrix, respectively and highlighted the role of men in gender diversity and inclusion efforts.
In Fontainebleau, IWiB distributed hundreds of name cards that collectively highlighted the amazing accomplishments of noteworthy women across all walks of life who have succeeded despite at times incredible adversity. As we continue to strive towards a world of equal opportunity, Professor Jennifer Petriglieri’s talk on “The misfits’ way to the top”, shed light on how to avoid the false starts, mad rushes and broken promises that so often derail the careers of many diverse “misfits” who may not fit the model of the majority.
IWiB would like to thank you for your overwhelming support and participation during Diversity Week. For a walk down memory lane, check out all the “I Need Diversity Because…” photo booth pictures we posted on Facebook. While you’re there, be sure to like our Facebook page to keep up to date on our upcoming activities.
2. Mentorship Program
INSEAD’s rich alumni network is an asset. To tap into this enormous potential, we will be launching the mentorship program in P4 for December 2017 class, with another round to follow later for the July 2018 class. The goal is to connect alumni across various years, geographies and experiences with interested IWiB members. Stay tuned for more information!
3. New Admit Outreach Program
34% of women representation is good, but not good enough. Competition for top female talent is fierce among top business schools. To help INSEAD compete for this top talent, IWiB members have reached out to all recent female admits to provide personalized support during their decision-making process.
As we gear up for INSEAD’s September 12th launch of the INSEAD iW50 campaign to celebrate 50 years of women at INSEAD, we will continue to keep in touch with all of you. Meanwhile, here is a sneak peek at INSEAD’s Limitless Campaign — celebrating women who have dared to push beyond their own limits and have succeeded spectacularly.
