I must be honest, when I began looking into graduate programs, I did not consider Fuqua at first. I had my heart completely set on another school and all my focus was on that program. It wasn’t until I received an invitation to attend the annual Duke MBA Women’s Leadership Weekend that I started to see myself applying to Fuqua. As an international student with no prior experience studying in the U.S., I had no real expectations of what I could gain by signing up for this event. Ultimately, it changed my educational future!

Returning home from the event, I was completely inspired. I was enthralled with Duke’s program, its awareness of the unique issues that women face within the workplace, and how Duke professors and alumni were working to address these issues. I remember hearing from Mita Mallick, a Fuqua alum and a leader in the inclusive leadership space, and her advice, “Leaders should be consistently asking women what support they want and need.” It stayed with me because I felt that’s what Fuqua faculty, admissions and program managers did for me.

This event was only the first in a series of experiences I would have. Soon after I received my letter of admission, I learned about Fuqua’s progress in women’s enrollment. The Daytime MBA program reached gender parity with the Class of 2026, a program first, and the percentage of women in the Weekend Executive MBA (WEMBA) program far exceeds female executive representation in most corporations. What a success!

Impactful Conversations at All Levels

During our Leadership, Ethics and Organizations class in the first term, we discussed the statistical data uncovering that there is still significant gender bias in business especially when it comes to promotions and high-performing women. The depth of discussions and the support that I have received from my entire cohort and the staff inspire me every single time I am on campus.

These conversations also take place beyond the classroom. The structure of the campus and the many events held throughout the year allow for many opportunities to gather and reflect on personal experiences in an informal setting. With the support of the school, I had the pleasure of organizing a Women of WEMBA Dinner for our cohort. This helped us get to know each other better right at the start of our first few residencies.

Soon after, I learned about the Duke MBA Association of Women in Business (AWIB), a club run by Daytime MBA students. AWIB was hosting a networking event for women in each of Fuqua’s MBA programs. Of course, I couldn’t miss this chance to meet all the wonderful women across Fuqua.

The Value of Diversity

One thing I have learned from my experience at Duke is that when we speak of women’s issues within the workplace, these issues are not limited to just business practices but extend to all aspects of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI).  ‘Women’ in the workplace are not a monolith. Duke has done a tremendous job of creating cohorts of people that are as diverse as the world we live in. There are women (and men) of different ages, cultures, religions and backgrounds. What this does is create a diversity of thinking and a safe space for women to draw upon and share with one another, to ultimately expand our understanding and bring change as future leaders.

Finally, as I see the journeys of my fellow classmates, I can’t help but mention that this is the first program I’ve seen where the school is exceptionally supportive of parents and mothers. The program has been very accommodating of maternity leave and other needs that occur with any young family. I could not wish to be a part of a better community. Team Fuqua challenges me professionally, and academically every day, while providing a support system with the ultimate goal of creating better leaders.