Women's Career Success Linked To Female Peers

In the corporate arena, breaking through the 'glass ceiling' remains a challenge for women aspiring to senior management roles. Research led by Menaka Hampole from Yale School of Management reveals an overlooked factor that can influence women's career advancement: the presence of female peers during their MBA education.

The study, conducted with Francesca Truffa and Ashley Wong, involved analyzing data from a top MBA program in the United States, covering the years 2000 to 2018. They found that women with more female classmates were more likely to secure senior management positions. This outcome stems from women guiding each other towards companies with policies that support work-life balance, such as flexible schedules and generous maternity leave.

The research comprised two parts: mapping students' peer networks and careers using LinkedIn data, and surveying female MBA graduates about their network usage. The quasi-experimental conditions of the study showed that a slight increase in female peers (4%) in a student's section could boost the likelihood of reaching senior management by 8.4%.

These findings highlight the importance of female networks, particularly in male-dominated fields. Women with supportive peer groups often transition to more female-friendly firms, especially during critical career stages when managing family responsibilities. Interestingly, having more women peers also seemed to increase support from male colleagues, although the reasons remain unclear.

For MBA programs, fostering structured women's networks can be crucial. Companies, too, can learn from these insights: implementing female-friendly policies can not only enhance women's career success but also improve overall productivity.

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