EMBA Students Reflect on the Seventh Women’s Leadership Symposium
Three years ago, the MBA for Executives program began to encourage alumnae, faculty, staff, and current students to nominate candidates to attend a day-long Women’s Leadership Symposium where they could engage with each other. During the symposium, the women learn more about the unique integrated and focus area curriculum, hear from thought leaders through the colloquium speaker series, and discuss topics like leadership, gender bias, and working with meaning and purpose with our esteemed faculty. There are also opportunities to continue to build their network through mixers, a reception, and an alumnae panel.
We asked a few of our current students who attended the Women’s Leadership Symposium as prospective students to share their experience, and how this event helped them on both their personal journey and their journey to the MBA for Executives:
“Attending the Women’s Leadership Symposium last fall was definitely a large part of my journey to graduate school, and Yale in particular. I was not only excited about the classes and panels I attended, but I was also energized by all of the amazing women I met that day. From medical archangels (and now my classmates) Cece Calhoun ’21, Crystal Yates ’21, and Christine Lum Lung ’21 to financial whiz Isil DiPietro ’20, who talked to me about how to balance work, school, and motherhood—they all had amazing careers, incredible dedication, and friendly, outgoing personalities. Any concerns I had about not having a business background, balancing the workload, or fitting in at SOM were shared and discussed. As a student, it isn’t easy, the work is intense and the balance is hard. But most things worth doing are hard. And luckily now that we are well past being the first women to blaze the trail at Yale, we can now walk the path together.”
—Brie Seferian ’21 (Area of focus: Sustainability)
“As soon as I sat down among all of the amazing women during Yale’s Women’s Leadership Symposium, I knew I wanted to be a part of this place and this program in particular. While I have been blessed to know some amazingly talented women in my life, I was blown away by the caliber of women in the room that day. These women were gifted, strong, fearless, and already successful in their careers—yet each of them had a passion and commitment to know that they were destined to contribute more. Take time to pause and look around you when you attend the event. These women are about to become your friends and your inspiration.”
—Dr. Christine Lum Lung ’21 (Area of focus: Healthcare)
“I was already considering several MBA for Executives programs when I attended the Women’s Leadership Symposium. I remember being impressed by the caliber of women considering Yale’s program; their accomplishments, expertise, and willingness to share their experiences was inspiring! I was convinced that classes at Yale would be an enriching experience. Most important, I was reassured that Yale wanted my voice in their classroom discussions. I also met someone who would become a good friend and eventual team member in the EMBA program. The Women’s Leadership Symposium solidified my decision to apply to (and eventually enroll in) the Yale EMBA program.”
—Julie Hawthorne ’20 (Area of focus: Sustainability)