Even in today's modern world, there continues to be a large discrepancy between the sexes in business—whether that’s the gender pay gap or the number of women represented in executive roles.
Only 8.8% of Fortune 500 CEOs are female, and even at executive level, women earn 95 cents for every dollar earned by men.
That said, an MBA has been shown to elevate salary opportunities, and female grads see pay gains of 55-65% on their pre-MBA salaries within five years of graduation.
But there are personal gains from the experience, too. Meet three women who took unconventional paths to business school, to find out how their MBAs have been an opportunity to reassert themselves in the world—and to rekindle their career passions.
Making a difference in healthcare by expanding her skillset
After a nursing degree, Ola Kotun (pictured) has worked in various roles throughout the healthcare industry from nursing, to startup founder, to working as a health advisor at KPMG.
Throughout her career, she has been driven by a desire to make a positive impact in the healthcare industry.
“I realized that I could make more of an impact outside of clinical delivery,” she says. “There are so many problems in the way hospitals are run and their ability to create change.”
Ola noticed healthcare was lagging many other industries in terms of innovation and quality improvement, and saw the need for people with management qualifications to drive improvements in healthcare.
“To become a hospital director, you would need decades of experience, which is why we have a huge leadership gap, especially with women.”
Ola noticed that women had fewer opportunities to gain leadership roles since commitments such as children prohibited them from working the long hours, and gaining management positions.
These experiences inspired Ola to pursue an Executive MBA, to gain skills, and to close gaps in her experience.
Ola found the Warwick Business School EMBA perfectly fit her criteria. The support Warwick gave, such as night-classes and a flexible end date, allowed her to work full-time while also raising her son.
Warwick expanded her technical skill set, with classes such as accounting and financial modeling, but what she valued most from her time is the bond she made with her cohort.
“We're from different parts of the world and different industries but we’re all like-minded in we all wanted to change—not just our lives, but impact the world and work,” she explains.
To secure their bond the group even got matching Egyptian hieroglyphic tattoos.
Now working at the charity Nuffield Health as head of clinical operating model, Ola impresses on future business school graduates the need for believing in yourself and your qualifications.
“One thing I would say to women doing an MBA who might feel like an imposter is to really think about how you got there. You didn’t get it handed to you, so you should never feel like you're an imposter in that room.”
Realizing her entrepreneurial dreams through her MBA
Kathryn Moser (pictured) had a diverse career—from finance to fitness to entrepreneurship—before her Global Online MBA at Warwick, which she is currently completing.
After studying French and History at the University of Oxford, she started her career in finance as a credit risk specialist at Goldman Sachs in London.
There, Kathryn never sensed a difference between men and women’s ability to succeed, but recognized that the intrinsic nature of her job meant women weren’t often seen in executive level positions.
“You are working long hours. You are working weekends and a lot of women choose to have families and spend time with their kids. Flexibility isn't permitted.”
While she enjoyed parts of the role, she found herself doubting her passion for the job and decided it was the wrong career for her.
Kathryn moved to Australia to travel and work, and to explore her passion for sport—eventually running a gym, which wasn’t what she expected.
“It was the least glamorous experience you can imagine,” she says. “It was like blocked toilets and egotistical personal trainers.”
Deciding against remaining in her second career, she moved to Switzerland with her now-husband. There she gained a Master’s in Translation and worked at the translation company Supertext where she was inspired by the startup environment.
“[In a startup] you have your job title, but you can explore other things if you're interested,” says Kathryn. “I ran their language operations for a while, and I was running their strategy, as we were really structuring the company.”
However, when the rise of AI disrupted the translation industry, she decided it was time to leave her job. She knew she wanted to start her own business but lacked skills, so she decided to pursue an Online MBA, and found Warwick.
“I had a niche exposure to finance, but it was derivatives and hedge funds. It wasn't like accounting, and how to manage your own business budget, and marketing,” she explains.
She was immediately struck by the flexibility and community at Warwick. The hybrid learning model has given her valuable in-person networking benefits and collaboration opportunities, she says.
The in-person elements are comprised of two residential weeks at the Warwick campus or the Shard in London and one in-person module.
“The networking benefits are huge, and the social aspect. You can be more collaborative, it makes problem solving easier,” she says. “My favorite part of the Warwick experience has been the residential weeks.”
Working to drive universal positive change through leadership
Jané Cilliers (pictured) traveled a winding career path before her Warwick MBA, which she is currently studying.
She grew up in South Africa during apartheid, and her upbringing in a conservative community shaped her understanding of privilege and inequality that has driven her throughout her life.
Jané moved to the US and started thinking about how she could enact real change in the world.
“It's all about leadership. That's how I'm going to change the world. So I searched online for the ‘best leadership academy in the world’.”
This led Jané to the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, in the UK.
After years working day and night to fund her bachelor’s degree, to get into Sandhurst, she eventually graduated and joined the medical corps.
However, Jané quickly realized the military was the wrong path for her, and joined Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders), working as an emergency infrastructure engineer and then project coordinator in countries such as Haiti, Northern Uganda, Bangladesh and the Central African Republic.
Her work was making real change, but it felt short term and she wanted to make a more long-lasting difference.
“There's no economic, sustainable way for a good quality of life. I couldn’t just keep putting a Band-Aid on the problem,” she explains.
After moving back to the UK and working at the NHS she felt there was a gap in her knowledge that would help her enact real change: she needed a better understanding of business.
“I get the private sector, I get the military, I get the public sector. I don't get business. The entities with the highest revenue in the world are all corporations, not countries. They are the people that can change things.”
This understanding led her to Warwick’s MBA, where she felt she could gain business skills and influence sustainable change through entrepreneurship and social impact.
As a woman, wife and mother, she continues to face challenges balancing her academic study with her wife’s work as a palliative nurse, and caring for her daughter.
Jané is involved in Warwick’s Women in Business group, a professional network that meets to discuss issues such as imposter syndrome and societal expectations.
“Impostor syndrome never really goes away,” she says. “It's a lot of fighting the internal noises, and then you have to deal with external noises. And, somewhere between that you have to learn and be yourself.”
As with her career before, Jané is open to exploring different career paths after her MBA, including sustainable energy and private equity, but will continue on her journey to make a positive impact in the world.
I loved Warwick business school.
The staff is supportive, my academic tutor was key in my development throughout the 3 years and you have to meet with her/him every term. Most professors are helpful and would happily offer support if needed. You also have office hours and can contact professors by email and through the forum.
In general, WBS instills in you the willingness to learn and the resilience needed for you for whatever career you choose.
Very international community which broadens your horizon and makes you more open minded and self aware. You will most certainly make friends and memories for life. I recommend that you get outside of your comfort zone and try new activities with your friends!
WBS also has a great reputation and offers careers opportunities, and careers support throughout the degree.
There is the opportunity to do a year abroad to further develop on a personal level. I wasn’t able to do this due to Covid but I would have loved to do it during normal circumstances! Would definitely recommend this.
Although Warwick is not a city university, the campus vibe has a lot of advantages, especially at an undergraduate level. You are always around familiar faces, and in a student environment. Moreover, Birmingham is only 20 mins away from Leamington spa and London is only one hour away! Perfect for a day trip or a weekend getaway!
Student
Verified
1/12/2022
On Campus
Life at Warwick Business School
Pursuing my master's degree at WBS has been a game-changer in my life. With high-quality education, interaction with students from across the world, amazing campus life and much more. I was able to learn about business, finance, project management and strategy all in one course: MSc in Management at WBS. Besides the top-notch education from the best professors, I also enjoyed being a part of fun societies and participating in fun activities such as scavenger hunts and so much more.
The school also organises many company visits and interactions which help students get a head start at finding a job. As my course came to an end, I also have a good full-time job placement in my hands.
Overall, my experience at WBS was a great one.
Asad
Verified
27/06/2022
Blended
Outstanding
The Warwick Business School was like a dream come to life for me. The University ranking speaks for itself, from top-tier facilities to some of the best professors I had to honour to study with I fell in love with my course. Interactions with people from all over the world gave me a newfound confidence in myself.
Career prospects after graduating are endless due to the contacts of the universities and the success rate for previous students, it does open a lot of doors for students in various career fields. The campus life is quite good as well with a lot of student groups and clubs, and extra circular activities to engage students at all times. Loved my experience.
Wenrui
Verified
19/05/2022
On Campus
A good business school
It is a very cutting-edge, career-oriented business school, all courses are very practical, and the college does a very good job of career service. From the hardware and facilities to the staff, the student experience is at the core of the school and student satisfaction is taken very seriously. I understand that many universities in the UK are relatively traditional and can occasionally be rigid in terms of rules and regulations, and although WBS has a relatively short history, this makes it more innovative and dynamic, which is essential for a business school. The downside is that because it is on the outskirts of Coventry, it is a long bus ride to the city centre, not to mention the difference in experience from a big city like London.
Hrithik
Verified
2/09/2020
On Campus
Campus
The people, campus, staff. It’s a very enjoyable environment and it’s particularly good for learning and playing sports. The people there are extremely friendly and welcoming and it’s very easy to make friends
Student
Verified
3/08/2020
What I Like About Warwick
I’ve personally liked my experience at Warwick so far because of the amazing people I’ve gotten to meet and how many opportunities we students are provided with to learn and grow.
Within Warwick, I’m part of the Business School, a learning haven comprised of well-structured modules and extremely helpful people
All in all, a great place to be :)
Student
Verified
27/07/2020
Campus Life
One thing that stood out for me was the campus life, you felt like part of a community. The social aspects of the student union and on-campus accommodation meant you can easily get together and enjoy with friends. Additionally, I felt the course provided a variety of subjects allowing me to enhance my knowledge, from Marketing to Law and Finance. Overall I would most definitely recommend this university to friends and family.
Student
Verified
6/07/2020
Excellence self catered
The campus is very welcoming and Modern. There are many opportunities at Warwick but it is up to the student how do they want to make the most out of it and the staff at the school will definitely helo as much as possible. The location and the ranking have been amazing.
Bakytzhan
Verified
4/07/2020
Warwick business school
Warwick business school is one of the best universities around the globe with a solid base of economic and business studies. Moreover, students get a chance to study in a diverse and warm environment with professional stuff which tries to provide the best opportunities for career development. One of the memorable features of the university are great events which sometimes take a place in one of the landmarks of the London city, the Shard building.
Student
Verified
12/08/2023
On Campus
BSc Management with Marketing
I loved Warwick business school.
The staff is supportive, my academic tutor was key in my development throughout the 3 years and you have to meet with her/him every term. Most professors are helpful and would happily offer support if needed. You also have office hours and can contact professors by email and through the forum.
In general, WBS instills in you the willingness to learn and the resilience needed for you for whatever career you choose.
Very international community which broadens your horizon and makes you more open minded and self aware. You will most certainly make friends and memories for life. I recommend that you get outside of your comfort zone and try new activities with your friends!
WBS also has a great reputation and offers careers opportunities, and careers support throughout the degree.
There is the opportunity to do a year abroad to further develop on a personal level. I wasn’t able to do this due to Covid but I would have loved to do it during normal circumstances! Would definitely recommend this.
Although Warwick is not a city university, the campus vibe has a lot of advantages, especially at an undergraduate level. You are always around familiar faces, and in a student environment. Moreover, Birmingham is only 20 mins away from Leamington spa and London is only one hour away! Perfect for a day trip or a weekend getaway!
Student
Verified
1/12/2022
On Campus
Life at Warwick Business School
Pursuing my master's degree at WBS has been a game-changer in my life. With high-quality education, interaction with students from across the world, amazing campus life and much more. I was able to learn about business, finance, project management and strategy all in one course: MSc in Management at WBS. Besides the top-notch education from the best professors, I also enjoyed being a part of fun societies and participating in fun activities such as scavenger hunts and so much more.
The school also organises many company visits and interactions which help students get a head start at finding a job. As my course came to an end, I also have a good full-time job placement in my hands.
Overall, my experience at WBS was a great one.
Asad
Verified
27/06/2022
Blended
Outstanding
The Warwick Business School was like a dream come to life for me. The University ranking speaks for itself, from top-tier facilities to some of the best professors I had to honour to study with I fell in love with my course. Interactions with people from all over the world gave me a newfound confidence in myself.
Career prospects after graduating are endless due to the contacts of the universities and the success rate for previous students, it does open a lot of doors for students in various career fields. The campus life is quite good as well with a lot of student groups and clubs, and extra circular activities to engage students at all times. Loved my experience.
Wenrui
Verified
19/05/2022
On Campus
A good business school
It is a very cutting-edge, career-oriented business school, all courses are very practical, and the college does a very good job of career service. From the hardware and facilities to the staff, the student experience is at the core of the school and student satisfaction is taken very seriously. I understand that many universities in the UK are relatively traditional and can occasionally be rigid in terms of rules and regulations, and although WBS has a relatively short history, this makes it more innovative and dynamic, which is essential for a business school. The downside is that because it is on the outskirts of Coventry, it is a long bus ride to the city centre, not to mention the difference in experience from a big city like London.
Hrithik
Verified
2/09/2020
On Campus
Campus
The people, campus, staff. It’s a very enjoyable environment and it’s particularly good for learning and playing sports. The people there are extremely friendly and welcoming and it’s very easy to make friends
Student
Verified
3/08/2020
What I Like About Warwick
I’ve personally liked my experience at Warwick so far because of the amazing people I’ve gotten to meet and how many opportunities we students are provided with to learn and grow.
Within Warwick, I’m part of the Business School, a learning haven comprised of well-structured modules and extremely helpful people
All in all, a great place to be :)
Student
Verified
27/07/2020
Campus Life
One thing that stood out for me was the campus life, you felt like part of a community. The social aspects of the student union and on-campus accommodation meant you can easily get together and enjoy with friends. Additionally, I felt the course provided a variety of subjects allowing me to enhance my knowledge, from Marketing to Law and Finance. Overall I would most definitely recommend this university to friends and family.
Student
Verified
6/07/2020
Excellence self catered
The campus is very welcoming and Modern. There are many opportunities at Warwick but it is up to the student how do they want to make the most out of it and the staff at the school will definitely helo as much as possible. The location and the ranking have been amazing.
Bakytzhan
Verified
4/07/2020
Warwick business school
Warwick business school is one of the best universities around the globe with a solid base of economic and business studies. Moreover, students get a chance to study in a diverse and warm environment with professional stuff which tries to provide the best opportunities for career development. One of the memorable features of the university are great events which sometimes take a place in one of the landmarks of the London city, the Shard building.
