Gender parity in business education has been a persistent concern. Today, we’re taking a closer look at the importance of MBA for women and how it serves as a stepping stone for those aspiring to reach the top echelons of the corporate world.

Oxford Saïd Leads the Way of Gender Parity in Business Education

Historically, the representation of women in MBA programs has been a contentious topic. But recently, Oxford Saïd Business School brought hope to this narrative by enrolling 51% of women in its latest MBA class.

This achievement isn’t just monumental for Oxford Saïd; it’s groundbreaking for major MBA programmes worldwide. Such milestones are key to advocating for gender parity in business education.

Major Reasons Why Fewer Women Enroll in MBA

Women have come a long way when it comes to breaking the glass barrier in the corporate world. And yet, the Global Gender Gap report published by the World Economic Forum in June 2023 says that there has been a decline of women in C-suite and senior leadership roles worldwide in the aftermath of the COVID pandemic.

However, Grant Thornton’s International Business Report revealed that in India, 36% of women hold senior management positions in mid-market businesses – 4% higher than 32% worldwide.

Some of the common reasons why fewer women enrol in MBA programmes are:

• Lack of female role models: Women in the corporate world are fewer – especially in top leadership positions. Similarly, we do not see many businesswomen being celebrated in the media.

This lack of role models means that women think that it’s difficult (if not impossible) for them to achieve success in the corporate world – and hence, MBA is not of much use to them. Instead, they opt for careers like medicine, nursing, and education.

• Work-life balance concerns: According to traditional gender roles, women are considered to be primary caregivers for their children and elderly parents in our society.

It is believed that it is difficult for women to pursue a full-time MBA program and later, bear the work commitments of top positions in the business world. However, things are changing now.

• Unconscious bias: Many female MBA students, businesswomen, and other women in the corporate world talk about the unconscious bias against women in the workplace.

We need more MBA for women programs where we learn how to combat this situation.

• Cost: Exorbitant costs of MBA programs might also be barriers to some women who do not have the same financial resources as men.

In such cases, gender-based MBA scholarships can help them avail themselves of the opportunities they need to achieve their desired career goals.

How things are changing for women in the business world?

Gradually, the business world is changing to accommodate more women. According to the World Bank, 20% of businesses in India are owned by women. However, there is a growing number of women in top leadership positions in the corporate world – who are breaking down barriers and inspiring other women to follow their dreams.

Ruchita Garg started MOX in 2018 – which has become a leading digital marketing company in India today. Her clients include the likes of Google, Amazon, and Microsoft. Anisha Singh is another example. She started Mydala in 2007 as a deals and coupons website. Today, her website has over 10 million users!

Pranshu Patni founded a language learning app – Hello English – in 2013. This app boasts of more than 100 million users today.

These women and many more prove that women can rock in the world of business. According to a recent report by Startup India, the number of women entrepreneurs in India has increased by 15% in the past year.

If you choose to pursue an MBA as a woman, you can also find a number of support groups and resources women entrepreneurs need to succeed.

How SMS Varanasi promotes diversity and inclusion in its business education programmes?

SMS Varanasi does everything to provide the best MBA programmes to all deserving students, including:

• Admissions: We have a transparent and merit-based admissions process that is open to all students, regardless of their background or identity.
• Curriculum: Our business education curriculum includes courses on diversity and inclusion, such as ‘Managing Diversity in the Workplace’ and ‘Women in Leadership’.
• Faculty: We have a diverse faculty with a range of backgrounds and experiences.
• Student body: Our campus has students from all over India and from a variety of backgrounds.
• Extracurricular activities: We offer a variety of extracurricular activities that promote diversity and inclusion, such as the Women’s Development Cell and the Cultural Committee.

Besides this, we host a number of events and seminars that promote diversity and inclusion, such as the annual Women’s Leadership Symposium.

SMS Varanasi is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive learning environment for all students. We believe that the right knowledge and skills are necessary to catapult our students to succeed in a globalized economy. If you are interested in our MBA programme, feel free to call us and learn more!