Rice Business’ Executive Education Program introduces new leadership course to empower women in business

The inaugural Executive Leadership for Women session from the Executive Education Program at Rice University’s Jones Graduate School of Business brought together professionals from industries such as insurance, oil and gas, military, engineering and health care to learn how to help women advance and thrive within the top ranks of business. The session is designed for women leaders, allies and mentees who aspire to accelerate their careers and help others.

“Executive education is a crucial part of any business school, allowing executives to strengthen their skills and network,” said Michael Koenig, associate dean for innovation initiatives and executive director of the Executive Education Program. “It also allows faculty and executives to share research and industry knowledge.”

Rice Business provides open enrollment sessions for individuals as well as custom and embedded programs to help organizations move toward their goals. The Executive Education Program connects with roughly 1,700 professionals every year. Rice’s proximity to some of the most notable companies in the world afford both faculty and participants an opportunity to engage in best practices and interact with peers.

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Ellen Taaffe, former Fortune 500 senior leader-turned-professor at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, provided the inaugural course and signed copies of her book “The Mirrored Door.” She shared insights on how to break through the “hidden barrier that locks successful women in place.”

Taaffe noted that she saw very few women raise their hands and openly participate in discussions in class while she was working on her degree and assumed that it was a generational attitude. She was surprised, however, that she saw a similar dynamic when she became a professor to younger generations.

“‘The Mirrored Door’ is my metaphor for this moment of opportunity that many women face,” Taaffe said. “It’s like a door that’s blocking us, and we reflect inward and think ‘we’re not ready,’ or ‘our idea is bad,’ or ‘if I say something that lands flat, it’s going to embarrass me in the room.’ It’s all around having sky-high expectations and these early messages and a lot of judgment — judgment of ourselves as well as judgment that we perceive could come from other people.”

Even women who are CEOs and board members still experience the thought that “I don’t want to appear pushy,” she said.

“Women today still face challenges when it comes to breaking into top leadership. They also face challenges in those executive positions,” said Sunita Dharani, associate director of marketing and communications for Rice Business Executive Education. “Leading business schools agree: For women to succeed at the highest levels, they need to navigate internal and external obstacles as well as professional and personal interests, all while tapping into their own potential by sharpening their leadership skills. That’s why we’re here — to create a flexible, tailored platform for women and their allies to discover new opportunities.”

Along with Taaffe, Janet Moore, director of the Communication Program at Rice Business, led a lunchtime workshop, “Elevating your Executive Presence,” to the more than 65 women in attendance.

Taaffe provided an interactive learning session to encourage personal and professional sharing among the participants — not only to foster connection but communal and experiential learning as well. The power-packed event is representative of Rice Business programming that aims to be insightful and actionable. Programs and courses are deliberately designed to maximize learning and transfer of knowledge through highly engaged classrooms and deep learning experiences.

Future sessions from the Executive Education Program include the Management Incubator for New Managers, the Leadership Accelerator for Experienced Managers, Customer-Centric Strategy and Energy Transition for Business Leaders. Executive Education Program sessions are also open to all Rice staff and faculty, and eligible employees may apply Rice’s tuition reimbursement benefit.