The Cass MBA has just been ranked among the top-40 in the world for women by the Financial Times. And this month, a host of events will bring the gender debate on-campus
Without action, repeatedly saying something is an outrage, that it cannot keep happening, and that we must strive for change, until it becomes a ubiquitous ringing in the ear, risks becoming a soundbite that brings about nothing but inertia.100 years ago, it was the actions of the Suffragettes, led by the Pankhursts, and the more peaceful Suffragists, that spoke much louder than any words ever could; today, although the campaign purpose has changed, the actions of female activists worldwide ignites the same passion.
“I do believe we are moving in the right direction,” says Marianne Lewis, the dean at , “but the more we move in that direction the more visible errors become. In the past year we’ve seen some very highly visible examples falling far below the line.
“There is a paradox in that the higher we raise the bar, the more appropriate gender related behavior we expect,” she continues, “and the more visible those cases that fall below the bar become.”
In recognition of International Women’s Day, Cass—whose was recently ranked by the Financial Times as one of the top 40 globally for women, and placed in the same ranking as the school with the lowest alumni gender pay gap in the UK —has organized a number of events in the coming month which aim to bring the debate to the business school campus—in the same way the Forté Foundation is encouraging male MBAs at business schools in America to launch Men as Allies groups.
On March 21st, the school is hosting an event entitled ‘Men behaving badly: Exposing institutional scandal’, with a panel made up of Financial Times journalist Madison Marriage, professor Chris Greer, an expert in organizational scandal, and professor Heather Brooke, an investigative journalist who helped expose the 2009 MP expenses scandal.
Aiming to highlight the imperative need for institutions to overhaul their approach to sexual harassment in the workplace, and ensure the 21st Century become synonymous with another watershed moment in history’s battle with gender equality, Cass Business School is aligning itself with a host of institutions fighting back against the odious news that surfaced from Hollywood, Westminster, and the President’s Club in recent months.
For Marianne, getting over the fear of calling out such behavior was a tipping point; Hurricane Harvey made it nigh on impossible to continue to sit on the fence, as the panels on which the anxiety and fear of calling out the proprietors sat were decimated by the storm that swept through the media in the aftermath.
“That’s clearly been going on since the beginning of the film industry,” she says, “but once people start calling out the big, visible, more powerful groups, that reinforces that you’ve got to call it out, whatever the level.”
Marianne touches on an important issue in the fight for institutional change—calling it out whatever the level. A lot of emphasis is placed on pushing more women into executive roles to bring about change from the top down. But, in lieu of focusing all the attention at the top, attitudes also have to change at grassroots level.
That’s where business schools come in. “We play an important role in continuing to raise the bar through research and education,” says Marianne, “by sharpening and even intensifying the critical lens about what is appropriate behavior, and how to identify errors and areas we need to be working on.”
Culture is pertinent to the debate, she explains, as sits in a prime position at the heart of London to expand the discussion beyond borders—“it’s one thing talking to American or British students where this has been a conversation for some time,” she says, “but we have students coming from parts of the globe where this is still pretty early in development, so we have an even greater opportunity to raise the bar globally.”
Raising the bar globally means driving women into positions of leadership. Artis Kakonge, one of the winners of Cass’s scholarships—which offers one woman from each of Cass’s MBA programs a 50% discount on their tuition—says that the school is opening up doors for women previously shut off.
“It definitely helped to overcome any financial barriers and open access to the experience and knowledge gained by undertaking an MBA,” she says. “It was an opportunity I am sure I would not otherwise have pursued without the scholarship."
She adds that the scholarship gives the mentorship and network of support needed for her to transition into an executive leadership role in the future—she is currently a barrister for a chambers in London.
Artis is chairing Cass’s ‘Respect at work: How to command it and when to demand it’ event on April 11th, and she explains that the workshop panel, made up of experienced female executives, is all about encouraging the support needed to enact meaningful change.
“People either feel ashamed, or that they are not supported enough in the workplace to come out and talk about these issues, and it’s taken a long time to get to where we are,” she adds.
“There’s still this diversity deficit, or gender gap […] but we need to encourage more women to take an MBA, and overcome the barriers that they think they may have.”
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The diversity at City University facilitates interactions and is a direction toward the unity of the world. The classes are well built to match the number and needs of all students regardless of the elements of diversity that set people apart. The use of technology in delivery makes learning even more interesting and achievable. At City University there is no distinction pegged on the issues that make people unique.
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The team of lecturers at the Uiversity are well experienced. Their level of insight and the methodologies of delivery works for the interes of the leaeners. My learning experience was largely boosted by the level of knowledge of the professors at the institution, and their passion to transfer the same to learners. I appreciate every class I attended because of the level of insight I was able to gather
The best university I’ve been to
The campus and the people I've met have made it a wonderful experience. I was reared in a small town with a graduating class of only 88 individuals, so moving to City University was a huge adjustment for me. My dorm has more residents than my whole high school combined! I enjoy the atmosphere here, and everyone is so friendly. Outstanding academic options and a stunning campus. Really great from beginning to end. The educators genuinely love what they do, and the students are ready to learn. On or around college, there is always something to do with friends, and the social scene is particularly warm.
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As a student at City university attending Bayes Business School I would totally recommend choosing this university as the experience is exceptional with great social networking opportunities . Professors are significantly helpful, delivering with excellence and professionalism. Everyone is happy to help and make you feel welcomed in such an esteem university as City, offering exceptional development and guidance through out the course.
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Incredibly amazing university, the way they polish students and help them boost their morale and think intellectually is worthwhile. Many universities have international partnerships to allow exchanges between their students. The most obvious subjects for these opportunities would be those that involve languages, and the study of people and places.
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I really like it it’s perfect for me with not too many people and not too few either. All the modules are amazing. I love the toy bar. I love all the societies that I’ma part of. Especially the colour Bollywood society
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My time at City University London was truly transformative. The university's vibrant community and diverse extracurricular activities allowed me to forge lifelong friendships and professional connections that extend beyond the classroom. I was impressed by the university's commitment to academic rigor, character development, and personal growth, which created an ideal environment for me to reach my full potential. The research-driven and industry-relevant curriculum provided me with a solid foundation in international business, while the dedicated faculty and staff offered invaluable guidance and support. I feel grateful for the well-rounded education and holistic experience that City University London offered, preparing me for success in my career and beyond.
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At the University of London, I have experienced dynamic and diverse academic environment where I was challenged by rigorous coursework. You will have the flexibility to choose from the wide range of courses, participate in numerous extra-curricular activities and take advantage of the many opportunities
