Equity, Diversity & Inclusion

Heidi Wu (’22)

It’s always been important to me to work collaboratively with others. So, in both professional and academic projects, I take the time whenever possible to build in opportunities for discussion and knowledge-sharing before key decisions and deliverables are due. I’ve learned by working with great leaders and mentors that the process is just as important as the result, and the relationships you build along the way make the work meaningful.

Anderson has given me the courage and confidence to be true to myself and own my leadership style. Many years ago, I was told by someone in business school at the time that I was “too nice to get an MBA.” This gave me the impression that business school was only for cutthroat, highly competitive personality types. At Anderson, I’ve learned that empathic and compassionate leaders are not only effective but necessary during times of crisis, and that this human-focused approach can bring out the best in the teams, organizations and communities we serve.

Sarah Anderson (’22)

I’ve had the honor to be FEMBA Council president during a particularly challenging time. Understanding when to be the visionary — to push for new ideas and change — and when to be the stable ground on which people can rely is a crucial thing for leaders. I had big ideas going into this year, but my greatest accomplishments ended up being the little things, those things that helped bring a sense of stability to the FEMBA experience in the midst of uncertainty.

Leadership is about knowing when to listen and what to learn. I cannot be a successful leader if I am not first willing to listen — to the people I’m leading, to the people above me, to my peers, to those smarter than I am; and then willing to learn — about the people I am leading, the goals we are trying to achieve, the resources we have at our disposal and the challenges and roadblocks we may face. Only after I have listened and learned can I truly endeavor to lead.

Alejandra Perez (’22)

Serving as president of Anderson’s Entrepreneur Association (one of the largest clubs at Anderson, with nearly 500 members) alongside a board of 22 students was my first time leading such a large team. I learned a lot about motivating others, delegating work and keeping the team accountable. So now I lead with empathy — understanding the needs of others, putting myself in their shoes and being aware of their feelings and thoughts. I look to develop meaningful, trusting relationships and celebrate everyone’s wins. I always express my concerns and inquire about challenges directly, and then listen to team responses. This contributes to positive relationships and a culture that drives results.

My capstone project enabled me to lead a group of five MBAs to work on my startup idea, a healthy snack for nursing mothers that I expect to launch after graduation. Throughout the project, I learned how to maximize each team member’s strengths. It was hard work, but also incredibly rewarding to collaborate with such a talented team.

If I could work with anyone else, it would be Spanx founder Sara Blakely. She represents everything I want to embody both as a businesswoman and as a person. She is kind, ambitious, hardworking, incredibly successful and she supports female entrepreneurs through donations that fund their aspirations. She spreads happiness and wisdom through sharing her learnings and experiences building her company, and she deeply cares about her employees (she gave each of them an all-expenses-paid vacation!). And the most important thing: she remains humble and down to earth.

Annette Blum (’10)

It should not be women’s sole responsibility to close the pay gap; men in the workplace need to champion equal pay and equal representation in leadership positions. Not only should both men and women be promoting visibility when it comes to pay and the hiring process, we need to fight for parental/paternity leave (and encourage men to take it) as much as we fight for maternity leave.

As MBAs who are often hired into leadership roles and who have strong networks, we can help drive change by asking for higher wages, negotiating salaries and speaking up about pay, opportunities and equity in the workplace. We can also mentor younger, more junior women in order to close the gap.

Courtney Cheng (’22)

A persistent situation that women face is not being credited or acknowledged or valued fully for what they contribute within their professional spaces. In my class at Anderson, an incredible number of women-identifying leaders head so many of the clubs and initiatives on campus. Our Anderson Student Association president is a Black woman, and eight other members of the 14-person 2021 ASA cabinet were also women. So much of Anderson’s student-led culture is fostered, created and carried on by women — yet in the business school environment, the stereotypical MBA candidate is a straight white man.

I came to business school with a background in higher education and nonprofit work. It was not uncommon to find others who shared one or more parts of my identity at my workplace or networking events. My experience as an MBA candidate and a student leader, as a petite, queer woman of color, has forced me to grow in a multitude of ways that I found to be uncomfortable and at times challenging. Altogether, my education and leadership experience at Anderson have taught me to take greater pride in my work, feel more confident in my abilities and recognize the quality and value of the contributions I bring to every team I’m on.

Sarah Robertson (’22)

The Women’s Business Connection helps women at Anderson grow and thrive both personally and professionally. We bring our different backgrounds together and lift each other up. We rise together to overcome challenges.

During Women’s History Month, we pay tribute to the women who forged a path before us and the women who continue to push us forward. We need to make sure future generations will inherit an accurate account of the contributions of women throughout history. We remember the hurdles women have had to get past and those that still lie ahead of us. Our community continues to work together to do all we can to support women to reach new heights and achieve a more equitable future.