Charla Griffy-Brown: MBA Programs Can Usher Women into the Tech Industry

Charla Griffy-Brown, senior associate dean executive and part-time programs and professor of information systems technology management, describes the opportunities and barriers that prevent women from entering the technology industry in a commentary posted in popular MBA media outlet, Top MBA. She addresses some of the most common biases and stereotypes that hold women back and harm the industry. On the support side, she describes why identifying senior-level champions and industry groups’ participation are keys to garnering advancement.  Charla also describes how Pepperdine is tearing down strongholds to achieve gender parity. “Graduate-level education programs must work with women students to encourage a fully leveraged experience. Hundreds of women at Pepperdine Graziadio Business School are exposed to senior level women in tech through the Center for Women in Leadership conferences and programmes,” writes Charla. “Additionally, our alumni have opportunities to network both in-person and virtually through our full calendar of professional development events such as women in leadership conferences, SEER (Socially, Environmentally, and Ethically Responsible) symposiums and entrepreneurial opportunities.” Advancing women in tech is a long game writes Charla. “At Pepperdine Graziadio Business School, allyship is a key ingredient in our executive MBA programme and a lesson for participating executives. Students in a cohort setting spend 19 months together learning personalities and strengths, and building trust. Learning to be an ally is a best practice they take back to their own workforce.”  

Read the full article in Top MBA.