The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business recognized the WomenLead program of Georgia State University’s Robinson College of Business as one of its 2018 “Innovations That Inspire.”

Open to high-achieving Georgia State undergraduates, WomenLead provides students with opportunities in and out of the classroom that encourage them to strive for top leadership roles in the business, science, nonprofit and government sectors. Students can choose between three electives: WomenLead in Business, WomenLead in Science and WomenLead in Policy and Politics. More than 430 students have taken the course since it was introduced in 2015.

“We are enormously proud for WomenLead to receive this prestigious recognition from AACSB, and we hope more universities will offer similar leadership development programs,” said Richard Phillips, dean of the Robinson College. “It is incumbent on everyone in higher education to prepare women for leadership roles in business, STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) and government.”

WomenLead’s core curriculum – building confidence in self, building confidence in work and building confidence in community – is consistent across the courses with an emphasis on the various subject areas. The courses, taught by tenured professors in legal studies, marketing, biology and political science, offer students leadership development experiences through an on-site corporate visit, a power networking event, exposure to invited speakers and one-on-one interviews with community leaders.  The final project is a leadership poster presentation event where students present their personal takeaways from the course and strategies for development for the future.

“The WomenLead course requires reflection, self-examination, intuition and intellect, and inspiration and courage,” said Nancy Mansfield, WomenLead director and professor of legal studies. “The personal and professional growth I have witnessed in our students has been remarkable. The gift of the program is not just the skills and insights the students gain, but also the confidence and social currency.”

“The biggest risk to business schools is not the rapid pace of change. It is in failing to prepare the next generation of business leaders to cope with that change,” said Thomas R. Robinson, president and chief executive officer of AACSB. “Through its best-in-class leadership development program, WomenLead, Georgia State University is ensuring that the business leaders of tomorrow will be ready for whatever lies ahead.”