Women in Power: Closing the Gender Gap For Female MBA Applicants

Recent data shows that there is a steady increase in women applying for MBA programs and graduate management education abroad. The percentage of women in top MBA programs has increased over the decade from 31% in 2011 to 41.2% in 2021. Business schools around the world, from US and UK to Canada and Asia have seen exponential growth in female applicants. This trend can be attributed to the incentive of gaining a competitive edge to accelerate their careers and receive a higher salary.

Although these trends show a promising future for female representation in MBA and other business graduates programs, Fortune Magazine reports that women are still the MBA minority.

MBA programs are now looking to attract female applicants and persuade more women to apply in order to close the gender gap currently present in business schools. The aim is for business schools to reach the 50% mark of female MBA enrollment. This goal inherently also tries to solve the issue of inequality for women in business and senior positions. Since many employers in the cooperate world require an MBA for promotions, senior roles and salary increases, the step towards reaching female equality in business schools becomes crucial.

For women thinking of going for an MBA, this is the right time to apply as business schools around the world want YOU!

In Honor of Women's History: Women in Power

Want some inspiration and role models to look up to? Then scroll down to see the female CEOs, Leaders, and Entrepreneurs and check out the business schools they attended! Nothing is more inspirational than seeing women in charge of some of the biggest corporations around the world. We still have a long way to go, but these women give us hope for a brighter future for the young girls aiming to be the leaders of this world.

Learn more about how Crimson can help you get into the MBA program of your dreams. From Stanford, Harvard, and Wharton to London Business School and Cambridge! They want you, and we can help you get there.

Jane Fraser

CEO of Citigroup

MBA from Harvard Business School

“I urge all the younger women in the audience, not to feel that you do have to be 120% qualified for a new job. You don’t, you can’t possibly be. So don’t let that hold you back... But at the same time, keep just enough of that fear to keep you on your toes.”

Tan Hooi Ling (from Singapore)

Co-Founder & COO of Grab Holdings Inc

MBA from Harvard Business School

“It’s about first having an impact and executing something well before you move on to the next thing. If you’re too focused, you’ll stop innovating. But if you’re too innovative, you’ll lose your focus and won’t get anything done.”

Rosalind Brewer

CEO of Walgreens Boots Alliance

Graduate of the Director’s College from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business/Stanford Law School

Advanced Management Program from Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania

“I want young girls to realize that the possibilities are big. They can be race car drivers. They can be astronauts. They can be CEOs.”

Mary Barra

CEO of General Motors

MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business 

“Education will open doors. Talent will open worlds. But it is hard work that will enable you to accomplish more than you ever imagined.”

Angela Hwang

Member of Pfizer’s Executive Team and Group President of the Pfizer Biopharmaceuticals Group

MBA from Cornell University, SC Johnson Graduate School of Business

“Diversity comes in all shapes and sizes. It's not just racial diversity. There's the experience of backgrounds, of upbringings, of where you go to school, etc. All of that contributes to our success.”

Jenny Lee (from Singapore)

Managing Partner of GGV Capital

MBA from Northwestern,  Kellogg School of Management

“Women can bring different perspectives when we talk to CEOs and we can offer different angles.”

Jennifer Fleiss and Jennifer Hyman

Hyman Co-founder and CEO, Fleiss President and Co-Founder of RentThe Runway

MBA from Harvard Business School

“We were two women without any experience in leading companies. It’s surprising when you don’t put blockades in front of yourself, and you just allow yourself to run, how far you can go.” - Jennifer Hyman

Indra Nooyi

Former (2006-2018) CEO of PepsiCO

MS in Public and Private Management from Yale School of Management

“Leadership is hard to define and good leadership even harder. But if you can get people to follow you to the ends of the earth, you are a great leader.”

Phebe Novakovic

Chairwoman and Chief Executive Officer of General Dynamics

MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania

“Results matter -- and results are, at the end of the day, all that really does matter.”

Susan Wojcicki

CEO of YouTube

MBA from UCLA Anderson School of Management

“Opportunities – the good ones – are messy, confusing, and hard to recognize. They’re risky. They challenge you.”

Sallie Krawcheck

CEO and Co-Founder of Ellevest

Former Head of Bank of America's Global Wealth and Investment Management Division

MBA from Columbia Business School

“If you're not making some notable mistakes along the way, you're certainly not taking enough business and career chances.”