Women's Leadership Blog

MBA Application Series: Part 1

As the MBA application season is quickly approaching, FWL in partnership with Stacy Blackman Consulting is launching a new series of articles that will give you helpful tips on how to make progress in your application process. If you are interested in MBA mentorship program that is kicking off soon, please sign up here.

Your Candidacy: Transcript Issues to Consider

Many applicants have a selective memory when it comes to their transcript.  They remember the 3.8 in their psychology major but have somehow blocked out the C in Calculus and the overall 2.7.  Your transcript is what it is, and it will not change, no matter how many classes you take after the fact.  However, if you have low grades, there are things you can do to somewhat offset the damage.  The following are some potential transcript issues that can be tackled head on with a bit of advance planning:

 

• Low Overall GPA – A low overall GPA may raise a red flag for an admissions committee.  They are seeking individuals with a track record of excellence, who prioritize academics and achievement, and who have the ability to excel academically.  By taking a few classes now, you can offset some of their concerns.  While straight A’s in post-undergraduate courses will not erase your original transcript, you can demonstrate that you have the ability to excel academically, that you have identified a weakness and are making an effort to rectify it, that you are committed to learning, and that you can balance multiple commitments successfully.  All of this can help mitigate the damage done by poor undergraduate performance. 

 

• Low grades in business or quantitative classes – Even if your overall GPA is high, if the two classes that you bombed were Calculus and Statistics, this could cause concerns about your ability to excel in a rigorous business school curriculum.  For some of the same reasons detailed above, taking relevant classes now will help to put the admissions committee at ease. 

 

• No business or quantitative courses on the transcript – If you are currently in a business role that does not require fluency with business or numbers, and you do not have any of these types of courses on your transcript, you might consider taking a class now. This will demonstrate an awareness of your deficiencies and help to provide a level of comfort around your abilities. 

 

Finally, if you do plan to take some extra classes, some suggested courses to take are Calculus, Statistics, and Accounting.  These basics will set the groundwork for a typical MBA curriculum. 

 

 

Founded in 2001, Stacy Blackman Consulting has helped thousands of MBA applicants gain admission to the most selective business schools in the world.  The Stacy Blackman team, comprised of MBA graduates, former admissions officers and expert writers, editors and marketers, helps clients develop and implement a winning marketing strategy.  Stacy Blackman clients have a significantly increased probability of admission to top schools and are frequent recipients of merit scholarships.  The company is regularly featured in publications such as BusinessWeek, the Wall Street Journal and the Economist.   Visit the Stacy Blackman blog for daily news updates and admissions tips, and check out the company’s e-publications for more in depth school by school guidance.

Featured Leader - Ciji Saso: One Woman to Watch

Guest post by Kate Stence

Question #1: Tell us a bit about your background.

I’m the eldest of two sisters and grew up in the San Fernando Valley in Southern California. I attended the University of San Francisco and graduated with a degree in Psychology and a minor in Spanish. Afterward I took a few classes at Stanford Business School. This experience led to my interest in industrial psychology and helped me find my current job at Lucasfilm in their Training & Organizational Development department. Alongside this, I am an active volunteer and advocate for human rights. I am an AmeriCorps graduate, and have continued serving the community through a variety of non-profits throughout the San Francisco Bay area. My most recent work has been with C.E.O Women, HandsOn Bay Area, and FWL as a member of the events committee

Question #2: Why did you decide to work in the field of human resources, specifically training and organizational development? How does this compliment your work with women and girl rights?

I work in the field of Training because it allows me to be in an environment where the growth and development of individuals is the focus. By working in a creative company, I am encouraged to think about new and innovative ways about getting my job done, which I really enjoy. My work in the area of training and organizational development has taught me so much about being an effective leader and understanding the importance of strategy to move forward with and carry out my visions and goals. I have been able to take these skills and apply them in my advocacy and volunteer work with groups that are committed to social change and strengthening the lives of girls and women all over the world.

Question #3: What are the biggest work-related challenges you have faced? How did you overcome them?

One challenge that I have faced has been balancing my time between my full-time job and my work in the non-profit world. For a while it felt that my life was pieced apart and I was getting pulled in two very different directions. I have come to realize that what I do in the space of organizational development and training holds a lot of value for non-profits and leaders in the community. Reversely, the constant drive for change and out of box thinking that non-profits are so good at has been beneficial to my personal development. By making connections in these different areas of my life I have been able to find a healthy balance, and at the same time bring a new way of thinking to the very different spaces that I work in.

Question #4: Tell us about the mentors you have had in your life (male/female).

My Mom. She has taught me and continues to teach me everyday the importance of honesty, standing up for what you believe in, and being fearless about life. She cares about the world and has shown me the impact that service can have on individuals and families that are fighting poverty and the many other injustices that afflict our world.

Question #5: Anything you wish you had known when you were in the very beginning stages of your career?

 Speak your mind and don’t be afraid to ask questions even if no one else is.

Question #6: What are leadership qualities you value most in others?

Listening really well. Curiosity. Passion. A desire for change. Asking really good questions.

Question #7: What is your greatest achievement?

Completing over 300 hours of AmeriCorps service in one year while simultaneously working a full-time job.

Question #8: Who inspires you?
My mother and sisters. Margaret Atwood, Mahnaz Afkhami, Gloria Steinem—the pioneers of our world.

Question #9: Do you have a mission statement or a tenet that you try to live by?

It’s important to have a strong voice in the world, that it’s okay to be different and try something new. When you take a risk and step outside of the norm this is when real change can happen. Elizabeth Blackwell really captured this spirit when she said, “It is not easy to be a pioneer—but oh, it is fascinating! I would not trade one moment, even the worst moment, for all the riches in the world.”

Question #10: Do you have work/life balance?

Yes, work/life balance is extremely important to me. Having a multifaceted life brings so much opportunity for growth and development. My family, the relationships I have with others, my volunteer work, reading, traveling allow me to have a greater awareness of the world around me. Even having to consider whether you have work/life balance, I think, is a privilege. I am truly grateful about everything that I have in my life and will continue to do my part to advocate for a better world for those in need.

 

Kate Stence is a writer, editor, and an avid endurance runner for SoleMates/Girls on the Run International and Run for Congo for Women/Women for Women International. She recently completed South Africa’s 85^th Comrades Marathon, a 56 mile endurance event for SoleMates. Currently, she resides in Paris, France and is the Associate Editor and a Blog Columnist for the International Museum of Women. Check out her writing at Her Blueprint.

Blowing the whistle on dragon lady bosses: why men prefer male managers and women do too

Guest post by Jen Dalitz:

New research from the Tuck School of Business has shown that 90% of female MBA students prefer a male boss.  A 2009 survey of 2,000 British working women revealed 63% would prefer a male over a female boss.  And a 2008 survey from the University of Toronto highlighted that women working under a sole female supervisor reported more distress and physical stress symptoms than women working under a lone male supervisor.  

So what is going on here?  Are all female bosses dragon ladies?  And if everyone prefers working for a male boss, what does this mean for the sphinxx vision of seeing women equally represented in leadership roles?

While it’s one thing for movies like The Devil Wears Prada and The Proposal to portray women bosses as dragon ladies, do the movies actually mirror your experience?  Is it history that sets the stereotypical gender of a boss as male, or all other things being equal, do women and men actually prefer men as bosses?

When I received an article from one of the sphinxx leadership program members, with links to the ForbesWomen views on Male Vs. Female Bosses I have to say I was stunned by some of the comments: “Women have been evil bosses to me in the past”; “A man any day of the week”; “Female bosses are either b*tches or bimbos”.  Wow.

For my part, I’ve had some spectacularly bad bosses who were men.  I’ve had great bosses that are men too, and a couple of wonderful women bosses who remain mentors to me today.  I haven’t had any dragon lady bosses, thank goodness, but I acknowledge that some people have.  I wonder what your experience is - whether you’re male or female - and if there’s anything women who aspire to leadership roles could learn from it.

I’ve been trying to think back to the men and women bosses I’ve had over the years, and whether there where any discernable differences in their management styles.  One thing that strikes me is that most of the women were more efficient and effective - they were really certainly caring, but also very focused on the business outcomes and had a track record in delivery.  Some of the men on the other hand were more, well, “fun”.  You know, they were lighthearted, they were the first to round up the team and take us to the pub to celebrate our wins, and apart from the odd crisis at work, they appeared otherwise to have not a care in the world, which may have made them seem more approachable.  And one big difference is that all of my male bosses had wives who managed their life away from work.  Many of these wives made a full time job of looking after their home and family and, in turn, my boss... so I wonder if that played a part in how these boss blokes were perceived. And whether the fact that my female bosses didn't have a "wife" made them - out of necessity - that bit more task oriented.

It’s just a sneaking suspicion... and I could be wrong... but I know in my case it’s the stuff away from work that very much drives how my colleagues and staff perceive me.  When the pressure is on away from work, it crosses over to my work life as well.  But maybe that's just me...

If you’re a woman reading this blog, I’d love you to not only to discuss this topic with your peers, and share your views, but also to forward it on to your male colleagues and bosses for their opinion.  And blokes: truly, we’re up for it.  Tell us what you think it will take to improve perceptions of women at the top and get involved in the discussion. I'd love to hear from you all on this very important issue.

 

Jen Dalitz is obsessed with getting more women into leadership roles, in our workplaces and communities. As the sheEO and founder of sphinxx, the network for female senior managers, she runs the wildly successful Ascend development days, publishes a weekly newsletter of tips, resources and articles for working women, and mentors, advocates for and consults on topics relating to working women.

MBA Application tips: How to improve your candidacy

Guest post by Stacy Blackman Consulting

All aspects of the MBA application process will benefit from careful preparation. From your initial planning all the way to the interview, there is a lot to gain from investing hours up front. If you are planning to apply to business school in the fall, you may be wondering what you can do now to prepare. Aside from solidifying career goals and researching target schools, you can take several actions to improve your candidacy now that will pay dividends in the fall.

 

Community Involvement

Now is a great time to deepen or establish your involvement with a community organization. Consider roles that will allow you to take a leadership position and create real impact before September. Offering to organize an event is a great discrete activity that will allow you to work in a team, have an impact, and show results. For more information on various opportunities to get involved, visit our post on extracurricular activities.

 

Academic Enhancement

Whether you had issues with your GMAT score or your undergrad GPA, you can take action now to improve your overall academics before the fall.

 

If you took the GMAT once or twice and did not receive the score you think you are capable of, consider a prep course to enhance your skills and remind you how to solve those high school math logic problems.

An undergrad GPA hovering around 3.5 is generally considered fine. If your GPA is a 3.2 or below, or you majored in liberal arts, you may consider taking quantitative classes to enhance your academic profile. The MBA canon generally consists of Calculus, Statistics and Microeconomics. If you took any of those classes in undergrad and scored a C or below you should certainly re-take the classes now. Where you take the class is much less important than the course material and grade (aim for A's!!). The local community college is a fine option.

 

Leadership and Management Potential

Being promoted between now and the fall would be the ideal scenario, but you don't have to wait for your boss to act in order to enhance your overall leadership and management potential for business school applications.

 

Volunteer for that cross-functional team or project, offer to help your boss with a tough long-term goal, or get involved with employee groups at work whether through volunteering in the community or promoting diversity in your company. Letting others at work know you are interested in developing your people skills may uncover more opportunities to go above and beyond, and provide great material for your resume and essays.

 

As you prepare for application season, make sure you are taking action that lines up with your passions and overall goals. If you are preparing for your long-term future with excitement, you will be far more effective!

Please register for FWL MBA Application Workshop hosted by Stacy Blackman Consulting here.

Stacy Blackman MBA Admissions Consulting - personalized, comprehensive assistance with every stage of the application process.

MBA Admissions Panel: The Experts Speak

Calling all potential MBAs!

Thinking about going to business school? Studying for the GMAT? Mulling over the application essays?

The Harvard Club of San Francisco invites FWL members and friends to participate in a lively and interactive panel discussion with representatives of three of the world's top business schools on June 29 at the University Club. They'll be discussing curriculum
enhancements, job market prospects, global exchanges and
opportunities, and of course, admissions trends.

Hosted by Betsy Massar, Founder of Master Admissions and graduate of Harvard Business School, presenters include:

• Kirsten Moss, Director of Admissions, Stanford Graduate School of Business
• Hilary Caplan Somorjai, HBS '96, Harvard Business School Admissions Board Member and Career Coach
• Archana Ravichandran, Wharton MBA '08, Alumni Interviewer
• Erin Kellerhals, Associate Director of Admissions, Berkeley Haas
Full-time MBA Program
Plus, chat with recent b-school graduates during the networking
sessions before and after the panel discussion.

Cash bar, with complimentary appetizers

Open to Harvard Club/Ivy Plus Club members and their guests.

Tuesday, June 29, 2010
6 pm cocktails, program at 7 pm
University Club
800 Powell Street, San Francisco, CA
$15 members of HCSF and co-sponsoring orgs
$25 non-members
Registration required by: 6/28/2010

Register here.

More Education Means Ladies are the Ones Bringing Home the Bacon These Days

Guest Post by Tim Handorf:

The days of men being the sole breadwinner of every household are coming to an end. More and more women are making it big in the work force, filling top positions and earning big paychecks that could comfortably sustain a healthy household. In fact, it seems that with many couples these days, the woman is not only out-earning the man, she is usually also more educated than her male partner as well.
 
This reversal in trends is an interesting outcome of the increased number of women earning a higher education. Look around any mixed gender campus and you'll see that in most cases, the women outnumber the men. An astonishing 58 percent of the country's college student body was made up of women in 2006, according to an article in the New York Times. While the number of men who are striving for a higher education has remained relatively constant, the number of women earning their college degrees has rapidly climbed over the past decade. This can be attributed to the various opportunities now open to women in the work place that have not been open before, such as top management positions and previously male-dominated industries like engineering. Women are taking advantage of their relatively newfound prospects and storming the gates of the country's top schools for a chance to earn a quality education. Women now have more of a chance to secure authoritative positions within a company or successfully launch an entrepreneurial pursuit of their own.

In addition to job security, educated women are more likely to get married than uneducated women. In 2007, most relationships involved couples who were on the same educational level as one another, according to a report from the Pew Research Center. Interestingly, though, the same report also showed that 28 percent of all couples had a woman who was more educated than her husband and only 19 percent of all couples had a man with a higher education than his wife. Typically, a higher degree also correlates with higher pay, meaning that approximately 28 percent of all couples were in a situation where the woman was the top earner.

Though the professional work force has long been a male-dominated arena, women are successfully breaking in and establishing fruitful careers. Education has proven to be a driving factor for this success and it is education and determination that now place many women as the top earners for their households.


This guest post is contributed by Tim Handorf, who writes on the topics of best online colleges. He welcomes your comments at his email Id: tim.handorf.20@googlemail.com.

 

Graduate Studies or a Career? How Do Women Choose?

Guest post by Anna Miller

Not all of us know what we want to become early in life; in fact, there are stages we go through where we move from one ambition to another before we finally decide before or in college what we really wish to do with the rest of our lives. And even after we make this decision, there are other choices to make – do you need to continue with your education or are you ready to jump into a job? When you’re a woman, this decision becomes even more crucial considering that you have to weight your personal life against your professional one and try to balance the two equally.

Some women are happy being wives and full-time moms; they’re fulfilled by taking care of the home and looking after their families. Others need to achieve some level of professional success even before they can think of settling down. They usually take a break from work during their pregnancies and come back in a few months or when they feel their children are old enough to cope without them. And yet others prefer to immerse themselves in their profession without thinking too much about their personal lives; for these women, career success is an important life goal.

Grad school is a choice for those who are career oriented – if you want to become a doctor or a lawyer, you must apply for graduate studies and dedicate a good portion of your life to academia. But some aspiring professionals prefer to test the career waters before they go back to school to earn a graduate degree. For example, if you want to do an MBA or any other advanced business degree, it’s best to have some work experience under your belt.

Another deciding factor is money – it’s not cheap to earn an education these days. So if you’re struggling under a mountain of debt because of outstanding student loans, you’re likely to work for some time, pay off your loans, and earn enough to put yourself through grad school.

Also, women find that online education works well for them when they’re trying to juggle their personal and professional lives. Most of them don’t want to put their personal lives on hold just to pursue an education or a career – they prefer to do both simultaneously either because they’ve met the right man or because they feel their biological clocks ticking and want to start a family before it’s too late.

The choice of grad school or a job depends on:

• Your choice of career – some require you to apply for grad school immediately after your undergraduate degree while others allow you the freedom to work for a while before you decide to earn a master’s degree to further your career in terms of a promotion, raise, or both.
• Your personal preference – you may decide to stay in academia for a few more years rather than find a job.
• Your finances – you may be averse to taking out another loan to finance your graduate degree, so unless you’re able to find a scholarship, it’s best to start working so you can pay off your debt and start saving up for grad school.

This guest post is contributed by Anna Miller, who writes on the topic of online degree. She welcomes your comments at her email id: anna.miller009@gmail.com

 

 

8 Influential Businesswomen and Their Smart Lessons

A guest post by Melissa Tamura

As an aspiring lawyer, there are many women I look to for inspiration in being successful in handling business. No matter what profession you are in, businesswomen can teach you how to be determined, confident, and authoritative in the way you handle your profession and life. These are just 8 women, in addition to many more, that are inspirational for women everwhere for the lessons they teach us.

1. Oprah Winfrey Oprah Winfrey is a highly powerful woman in today's society. She has taught women everywhere how to overcome barriers like sexual abuse and racial stereotypes in order to achieve immense success. Her story is a story of resilience, strength, and fun confidence. Winfrey was born into poverty with a single mother, but used her hardships as a way to become an intuitive and effective communicator with women everywhere. In 1988, Oprah Winfrey assumed ownership and production responsibilities for her show, "The Oprah Winfrey Show." Winfrey created her magazine, O, in 2000 and now owns Harpo Productions.

2. Hilary Clinton In 2008, Hilary Clinton served as a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination. She attended Wellesley College and later went on to attend law school at Yale. She is a great example of a woman who takes on huge challenges and yields results. Even though she did not win the presidential election, Clinton now serves as the Secretary of State for President Barack Obama.

3. Carleton Fiorina Carleton Fiorina served as President and Chief Executive Officer for Hewlett-Packard, the information technology corporation based in Palo Alto, California. Her achievements are remarkable, because she is emblematic of diversity in a technological field that can be lacking driven women. In 2005, Fiorina stepped down from her role at Hewlett-Packard. However, her story shows how someone who once was a secretary can work to achieve the ranks of one of the most respected and powerful women worldwide.

4. Abigail Johnson Johnson runs Fidelity Investments along with her father Edward Johnson. Abigail Johnson is a powerful example of a woman able to break into the financial industry and manage over $1.1 trillion dollars.

5. Indra Nooyi Indra Nooyi is CEO and Chairman of PepsiCo and delivered strong profits for sales of $43 billion in 2009. Nooyi sticks to her guns and helped PepsiCo develop a company mission centering on sustainability and healthiness.

6. Bonnie Hammer At 61, Bonnie Hammer serves as President for NBCU Cable Entertainment and Universal Cable Productions. She shows that age knows no limits and that women can achieve success beyond age limitations.

7. Andrea Jung Jung is phenomenal for her work in helping women to support themselves as CEO of Avon, which enables women to go door to door and sell makeup products.

8. Irene Rosenfeld As CEO of Kraft Foods, Rosenfeld has broken barriers in industries where men typically fill CEO roles. Her leadership helped Kraft Foods to outperform the S&P in the last couple years. These women are powerful examples of influential businesswomen with guts, determination, and an ability to get results. They are confidant and unwilling to allow anyone else to take the business roles they deserve.

Written by Melissa Tamura, who writes about online schools for Zen College Life.

 

4 Reasons Not To Be An Entrepreneur and Why You Should Ignore Them

Overcoming Your Fears: The Entrepreneur's Journey

 

So you want to be an entrepreneur, right? That was my life dream. It was my solution for "having it all": a successful professional, personal and family life. These were my motivations. What are yours?

 

Like many entrepreneurs, I had major fears before taking the plunge. Having the entrepreneur’s dream, and making it a reality are two different beasts. There are many mental roadblocks that can inhibit you from taking the plunge: 

 

I’m not sure about my idea. What if I fail?

 

Failure is what happens when you stop trying. No idea is perfect. Ideas evolve much like people. They grow, change, and need to be nurtured to blossom.  Too many people think the idea is the key to entrepreneurial success. In reality, the idea is just the starting point.  The challenges come with the journey that follows.

 

When I started Marry Me Live, I was a true idea romantic. I quickly realized that business success could not rely on the idea alone. Execution and evolution is the key to business prosperity. Although we are still true to the original mission (enabling everyone to attend the wedding regardless of geography), everything else about the business has evolved and changed in one way or another. 

 

It is such a big risk. Is it worth giving up job security?

 

We all say we want to be an entrepreneur when times are bad.  The question you need to ask yourself is “Would I still be willing to give up my job when times are good?”

 

Entrepreneurship isn’t for everyone.  There is risk. There are ups and downs.  It takes a certain mindset to stay positive when things look bleak. If the entrepreneurial drive is stronger than the benefits you receive at the best of times, it is time to re-evaluate your situation.

 

Look yourself in the mirror and determine if your current position is getting you closer to your entrepreneurial dream. If the answer is “no”, staying in your current situation is the “bigger” risk. 

 

I'm scared. How do I get over my fear of “taking the leap”? 

 

You are likely reading this article because you want to take the leap. You are halfway there. You’ve done your research. If you have not done your research, start by talking to entrepreneurs. You will realize that they are not super humans, but everyday people like you and me. Those individuals took the leap because their passion for their business overtook their fear of failure.

 

Still not convinced? Do something that scares you just a little bit everyday.  Talk to that handsome stranger in the elevator, go skydiving, sing karaoke in a very crowded bar, whatever it is that gets you out of your comfort zone. 

 

When you realize you are still alive and breathing, you may be closer to taking that leap after all.

 

I cannot afford to be an entrepreneur! How will I finance the business?

 

If you are passionate about being an entrepreneur, you will find creative ways to make it work.  It could be a part-time job, friends and family investment, small business loan, or being a full-time employee/nights and weekend entrepreneur.  

 

Keep in mind that you may not be able to afford your current lifestyle. Being an entrepreneur takes sacrifice. But, when you have the vision, the sacrifice is worth it.

 

These are a just a few of the many thoughts that I’m sure are swirling around in your head. After reading this, if you still think you want to be an entrepreneur, the best advice I can give you is to not over-think the process!

 

The biggest hurdle of all is keeping your fear of the unknown in check. The entrepreneur’s journey is risky, but it is that same risk that can make your dream a reality. You will never feel completely prepared, but that is what makes the journey so thrilling. Once you realize this, taking the plunge is much easier than you think. So step back, relax and jump!

About the Author:

Stacy Yamaoka is the co-founder of Marry Me Live, a live wedding streaming and wedding webcasting service enabling wedding couples to share their wedding LIVE with family and friends around the world. Stacy Yamaoka is also the Director of College Mentorship for Future Women Leaders.  

Trailblazing Women: Haas Women in Leadership Conference 2010

Last week’s Women in Leadership Conference at the Haas School of Business could not have come at a better time! After a long applications season, I couldn’t believe I had an invitation to the MBA program of my choice.  As the good news sunk in, I wondered about the road ahead, so I sought to learn from women trailblazers who had come before me. As FWL's VP of Development, I joined my fellow officers at this year's WIL Conference.

Conversation at the consulting career panel featured a lively discussion of work-life balance issues. As a career switcher, I found the insights of experienced women in many firms incredibly helpful. A few tips for finding success that I found applicable across industries:

• Follow your own passions and seek out relationships with colleagues who share your values.
• Build your expertise so you can leverage unique strengths to negotiate salary and flexibility in your schedule.
• Learn about yourself and speak authentically to feel powerful in intimidating, male-dominated situations.

Earlier in the day, keynote speaker and founder of Bare Escentuals Leslie Blodgett spoke powerfully to the audience, sharing her story of founding her cosmetics line with down-to-earth confidence. Though I don’t have a particular interest in the cosmetics industry, I was touched by Leslie’s story of how much her relationships with customers matter to her and how she has been able to stay true to herself as the CEO of a growing company.

In addition to many other inspiring events at the conference, I also enjoyed the opportunity to connect with officers and attendees also creating their paths.

Did you attend WIL this year? What were your takeaways?