Women at HBS

Since 2013––the 50th anniversary of women being admitted to the full-time MBA program––the School has undertaken a wide range of efforts to promote inclusion and accelerate the advancement of women leaders who make a difference in the world, focusing on areas where alumni urged and where HBS felt it could have the greatest impact––in areas such as increasing the number of women case protagonists and strengthening the curriculum., in enhancing alumnae connectedness, and in effecting change in business and society.

This site has been designed to provide you with information and access to programs, resources, recent articles, and relevant links related to women in business and society, as well as links to the W50 celebration at HBS in 2012-13.

Programs for Alumnae
Alumnae Circles
The Women’s Leadership Forum
Women on Boards
HBS Women’s Association

Academic and Campus Links
Race, Gender & Equity Initiative
Women’s Student Association

Celebrating the 50th anniversary of women being admitted to the full-time MBA program in 2012-2013, Harvard Business School, in conjunction with the Culture and Community Initiative, hosted a series of special events, programs, and exhibitions that explored the past, present, and future of women in leadership in business and civic life.

50th Anniversary Events

Following are highlights of the 50th anniversary celebration at HBS:

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 faculty and academic researchers from other institutions presented papers at the "Gender and Work: Challenging Conventional Wisdom" conference in February 2013.
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".
A documentary film, A Woman's Place (pictured above), was produced to explore alumnae's experiences at and beyond HBS.
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.
An exhibit, Building the Foundation: Business Education for Women at Harvard University: 1937-1970, opened at the Baker | Bloomberg Center.
Alumni Clubs hosted dedicated discussions and events relevant to the celebration.

W50 SUMMIT

Accelerating the advancement of women leaders
who make a difference in the world.

APRIL 4–5, 2013
HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL
BOSTON, MA

HBS Resources

Alumni Career & Professional Development – Career management and professional development resources for HBS alumni.
Harvard ManageMentor and Spark – From Harvard Business Publishing, these two on-demand leadership development resources provide HBS alumni with tools to enhance their professional skills.
Baker for Business – This three-tiered service (self-service; assisted search; and fee-based research services) combines the talent and expertise of Baker Library researchers with select Baker information resources, delivering customized, quality research, analysis, and summaries in easy-to-read reports.

Alumnae-Led Resources

The Acceleration Project (TAP), cofounded by HBS alumna Jane Veron (MBA 1991), offers consulting opportunities to high-caliber women who wish to channel their talent back into the economy. TAP recruits, trains, and mobilizes professionals who deliver strategic and tactical advice to a wide range of clients.
Chief, cofounded by Carolyn Childers (MBA 2008), supports New York—based women in their journey to executive leadership. The private network is designed to give high-level professional women critical connection and resources as they continue their path to VP and C-suite leadership positions. Chief provides mentorship, coaching programs, and peer access.
iRelaunch, cofounded in 2007 by Carol Fishman Cohen (MBA 1985), produces innovative products and services for professionals seeking to return to work after a hiatus and for employers recruiting from this talent pool. They also manage a comprehensive database of corporate return to work programs around the world.
Landit, cofounded by HBS alumnae Lisa Skeete Tatum (MBA 1998) and Sheila Marcelo (MBA 1998), Landit offers a personalized playbook for women seeking to move their career forward. Whether you are looking to transition to a new opportunity, re-enter the formal workplace, or take your career to the next level, Landit provides resources to help women achieve career fulfillment.
ReBoot Accel, founded by Diane Flynn (MBA 1988) and Patty White (MBA 1989), believes in the life-long career power of women. Their programs get women current, connected, and confident to return to work with impact and influence. ReBoot Accel has a suite of training and placement programs that help women land jobs and return to the workplace.
Werk, founded by Anna Auerbach (MBA 2010) and Annie Dean (a recovering Wall Street attorney), Werk makes companies flexible. Their technology puts flexibility insights and data into the hands of companies to help them work smarter. For job seekers, they host a job board with pre-vetted flexible work opportunities.

In Their Own Words

Recent articles on HBS alumnae and women’s issues

Video series:
Has your life after HBS evolved as you expected? How do you connect with the alumni network? Have you made a difference in the world? These and other questions about life and career were posed to nearly two dozen alumnae recently. Their answers were captured in a series of brief video interviews. Click on each of the questions below to view their comments.