AWIB is also one of the few clubs of its kind that includes and encourages male student participation in its activities.
In this interview with BusinessBecause, the co-presidents of the AWIB, Camille Wingo and Margaret Mountjoy, talk about the club’s goals, their personal ambitions and, of course, the evolving role of women in modern business.
What was the purpose of the club when it was initially founded – and what are the club's goals this year?
Camille Wingo: This year marks the 11th anniversary for Duke’s Association of Women in Business. Our mission is to develop a strong community of women at Fuqua, and empower them to succeed and lead in the business world.
How many women are in your club – and do you have any male members?
Margaret Mountjoy: AWIB’s membership is open to all Fuqua students. We host a number of events that focus on breaking down gender perceptions at Fuqua and in the workplace. In fact, our Male Ambassador Program received Fuqua’s ‘Collective Diversity’ award for engaging men to support women in business, and we recently added two male positions to our Executive Cabinet to help support our goal of bringing men into the conversation.
Who is the most exciting speaker you've had this year?
Camille: In March, we organized the 9th Annual Duke MBA Women’s Leadership Conference – “Breaking Glass: Rising to the Top while Maintaining your Identity” – which attracted more than 250 MBA students, alumni and professionals.
Our keynote speakers were Caryl Stern, president and CEO of the U.S Fund for UNICEF, and Patricia Miller, co-founder of Vera Bradley (a fashion accessories brand). Both had great stories about their career paths and advice for aspiring female business leaders.
Where do you see yourself after you complete your MBAs? And do you think that being a member of the club will help you in your future career path?
Camille: Margaret comes from a non-profit background and I worked in sales for a technology company before business school. We are both looking to transition to marketing post-MBA. This summer Margaret will be interning at Walmart and I will be interning at Pepperidge Farm (a commercial bakery in the US).
We view our leadership of AWIB as another way to sharpen our general management skills, and contribute to the Fuqua community, since many of the career-focused events that the club hosted last year helped us immensely with the recruiting process.
Do you think that women are currently under-represented in senior management positions? If so, why do you think that is?
Camille: Statistically, yes: women make up half the US population but fewer than 5% of Fortune 500 CEO roles. We’ve made incredible progress, but still have a long way to go in achieving higher representation in senior management positions and on boards of directors.
MBA programs are a great place to start, as these are institutions that are cultivating the next generation of business leaders. However, the number of female MBA candidates is significantly lower than that of men across most top-tier business schools. That’s why AWIB and Fuqua’s Office of Admissions have a strong partnership in planning programs to attract more female applicants, and convey the value of the Fuqua MBA from a female perspective.
Each fall we host the Weekend for Women, which give over 80 MBA-bound women a preview of life at Fuqua and a chance to network with current students, faculty and alumni. Margaret and I first met at Weekend for Women when we were applying to business school two years ago – and seeing Fuqua’s commitment to women was one of the deciding factors in why we both chose Fuqua.
In your professional background so far, what are your personal experiences regarding gender equality in the workplace?
Margaret: The non-profit and education sectors are traditionally comprised of more women than men. The top leadership positions in these fields, however, are often dominated by men. While I never felt unequal to the men at my previous employers, it was discouraging to see so few women in leadership positions.
Is there a woman in a high-ranking position that you particularly admire and look-up to – and why?
Margaret: To be honest, the women that I admire most in the business world are my sisters. They have served as incredible role models for me. My oldest sister graduated from Fuqua in 2004 and has since become a partner at PWC. She is now a working mother of two and has not slowed down in her personal and professional aspirations.
My middle sister, also a mother of two, is a partner at Altius Associates, the private equity firm. She will begin an Executive MBA Program at Darden this summer. Their accomplishments have given me the confidence and inspiration to become a leader at Fuqua and in the business world.
How do you think the role of women in business will change over the next decade?
Camille: I’m very optimistic that women will continue on this positive trajectory in achieving great results in the business world. Study after study confirms that having a more diverse management team leads to better business performance. So, equipping women with the support and resources they need to advance in their careers is critical.
For any inquiries or additional information about Fuqua's AWIB feel free to contact awib@duke.edu
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