Celebrating the Women of HBS

In celebration of this year's 50th anniversary of women being admitted to the full-time MBA program, Harvard Business School, in conjunction with the Culture and Community Initiative, has hosted a series of special events, programs, and exhibitions that explore the past, present, and future of women in leadership in business and civic life.

These have included:

• Sheryl Sandberg addressed the graduating class at Class Day 2012.


• HBS faculty convened an academic conference on campus to discuss issues surrounding women in leadership.


• We celebrated alumnae leaders and explored issues around women and work in the HBS Alumni Bulletin in December 2012 and March 2013.


• The annual Women's Student Association Dynamic Women in Business Conference in February 2013 drew a sold-out audience for keynote speakers and panel discussions.


• HBS observed International Women's Day on March 8, 2013 with a series of student-focused discussions and events, including discussion of a new case: "Women MBAs at Harvard Business School: 1962-2012".


• 800 alumni attended the two-day W50 Summit on campus April 4–5, 2013 to celebrate the anniversary; hear keynote speakers Karen Gordon Mills (MBA 1977), Administrator of the US Small Business Administration; Ann Moore (MBA 1978), retired chairman and CEO of Time Inc.; and Sheryl Sandberg (MBA 1995), COO of Facebook; and attend a wide range of alumni panel discussions and faculty presentations.


• More than 4,000 alumni took part in a "Life and Leadership After HBS" survey.


• A new exhibit, Building the Foundation: Business Education for Women at Harvard University: 1937-1970, opened at the Baker | Bloomberg Center.


• Alumni Clubs have hosted dedicated discussions and events relevant to the celebration.