Written by Jocelyn Sexton, MBA ’14
This past weekend, I had the pleasure of co-hosting the Texas Executive and Evening MBA Women’s Forum. We welcomed prospective students to an extended information session, as well as a panel discussion with alumnae and current students from both programs. We ended the event with a networking reception to continue answering questions about these programs for working professionals.
Our goal with the Women’s Forum was to provide information to prospective students about the culture, curriculum, and experience at McCombs, as well as to encourage future leaders to apply to the program. The percentages of women in top leadership positions and women applying to MBA programs are both low, and we’re hoping to play a big part in increasing these.
I can’t help but wonder if the relatively low number of female applicants is due to the fact that many women lack mentors. Or perhaps it’s because potential applicants have unanswered questions about the heavy quantitative aspect of an MBA program, wonder whether it makes financial sense to go back to school or are concerned about work-life balance. For me personally, all of these aspects were true.
In my professional career, all of my direct supervisors have been men. And while I did work for a really smart, educated, and dynamic female elected official for several years, not once did anyone talk to me about furthering my education or encourage me to take proactive steps toward becoming a leader at work. I felt very “stuck” in my career and didn’t have the tools or direction to get ahead.
My biggest initial fear while evaluating an MBA degree was the math. My undergraduate degree was in journalism, and I hadn’t taken a math class since 1999. The prospect of taking accounting, statistics, and finance scared me! What if it was too hard? What if I failed out? I know now that these same concerns are shared by many — both male and female alike. But at the Women’s Forum, us students and alumnae were able to share our experiences of making it through those classes with the help of study programs, excellent professors, helpful classmates, tutors, hours of studying and more. If I can do it, others can too!
The cost of an MBA education came up quite a bit at the event too. Yes, it’s a large and intimidating investment. But alumnae and staff talked about the personal ROI and student loans, and everyone on the panel felt like it was definitely worth the investment.
Finally, work-life balance is always going to be a hot topic. The panelists had a lot of great insight and advice – such as take time off work to study for tests, “outsource everything” and make time for your children. Here is my personal story:
Within the last year, while working full-time, raising a now-four-year-old son, and going to school every other weekend in the Executive MBA program, my husband and I sold our old house and oversaw the construction of a new custom-built house. Plus, we’re happily expecting our second child. I attended the Women’s Forum at 39 weeks pregnant, and I’ll have a mid-term one day before my due date! Yes, the timing is a bit crazy. But I’m living proof that work-life balance is possible…if temporarily unconventional.
My last two-and-a-half months in the Executive program will have many unique challenges, but I’m looking forward to graduation with the amazing EMBA Class of 2014 and all the exciting opportunities ahead. And I hope some of the great women I met at the Forum will become part of the EMBA Class of 2016 and TEMBA Class of 2017.
