Glenda Lowndes, Reference Assistant, Bronfman Business Library
Published Wednesday October 2nd, 2013
Women in business has been a popular topic for many years, especially when referring to women as not being able to break the glass ceiling or climb the corporate ladder. A study looking at “human capital” trends of people living in 12 major North American cities conducted by the Toronto Board of Trade demonstrated that Toronto ranked below most U.S. cities with respect to women occupying management roles. The chief executive officer of Toronto Board of Trade, Carol Wilding, states that not having a higher percentage of women in leadership roles can have implications on future growth (McFarland, 2013). She states, women bring a different set of skills and abilities, which has a greater effect on productivity. Many diverse global and national organizations are implementing programs in order to prevent discrimination and to promote equality (McFarland, 2013). For instance, Avon Products, Inc., Levi Strauss & Co., Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, and Ernst and Young are among the many companies that are seeing the value women play in organizations and are making a change (Avon Media Center, n.d.).
Schulich School of Business is also taking a lead at promoting women in business. Each year they host an event dedicated to women in business that brings students and top industry leaders together, so that they can expand their networks and develop collaborations. They even have funding opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students, specifically for women in order to help them with the financial expenses of tuition and to support their professional development (Click for more info on Women in Leadership Awards offered by Schulich). Two Schulich graduates, Eileen Mercier (MBA ’77) and Janet Rowe (MBA ’82), were recipients of Canada’s Most Powerful Women Top 100 Awards last year given by the Women’s Executive Network (WXN), a leading organization dedicated to creating development opportunities for women and recognizing women in leadership positions (Schulich News & Events, 2012).
Bronfman Business Library has also taken a lead in promoting women in executive positions. We have set up a powerful display highlighting books and e-books that concentrate on women in business from our collection located near the fireplace, featuring the Financial Times Business book of the Year Shortlist 2013 winner, “Lean In” by Sheryl Sandberg. In addition, “Women in Management Worldwide” by Ronald J. Burke, a professor at the Schulich School of Business whose research centralizes on organizational studies, including women in the corporate world, is featured in this display.
Come by and visit!
References
Avon Media Center - Featured Stories - archived. (n.d.). Avon Media Center - Media Center. Retrieved September 27, 2013, from http://media.avoncompany.com/index.php?s=10944&item=7509
McFarland, J. (2013, April 15). Canadian women hold fewer top jobs; Study by Toronto Board of Trade says country's largest cities are falling behind the U.S. in filling management roles. The Globe and Mail.
Schulich School of Business - Women in Leadership. (n.d.). Schulich School of Business. Retrieved September 27, 2013, from http://schulich.yorku.ca/client/schulich/schulich_lp4w_lnd_webstation.nsf/page/wil-financialaid!OpenDocument
Two Schulich graduates among Most Powerful Women in 2012 | Schulich News & Events. (n.d.). Schulich News & Events | Schulich News & Events. Retrieved September 27, 2013, from http://media.schulich.yorku.ca/alumni/two-schulich-graduates-named-among-most-powerful-women-in-2012/