Krannert takes part in D.C. gathering to improve business opportunities for women

August 5, 2015  


David Hummels

David Hummels 
Download Photo

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Representatives from Purdue University’s Krannert School of Management on Wednesday (Aug. 5) participated in a daylong White House summit to explore ways to expand opportunities for women in business and adapt to changing workforce needs.

Sponsored by the White House Council on Women and Girls and the Council of Economic Advisers, the event brought together business school leaders and corporate CEOs to discuss recruiting, training and retaining leaders for the 21st century workplace and the importance of implementing policies that work for families. David Hummels, Krannert School dean and economics professor, and Ellen Kossek, the Basil S. Turner Professor of Management and an expert on work-life issues, represented Purdue in the nation’s capital.

“It was a tremendous opportunity to engage other leaders on these issues,” Hummels said. “Leading business schools like Krannert are in a prime position to facilitate not only the discussion on this important topic, but also the course of action. We had discussions on improving access to business schools and careers, making sure our business schools are preparing students for the workforce of the future, and providing career services that also take into account the needs of non-traditional students.

Ellen Kossek

Ellen Kossek 
Download Photo

“While all of these concepts are geared toward expanding opportunities for women, it’s clear that these types of initiatives will create broad benefits that will improve all students’ educational experiences and help build a stronger and more vibrant workforce.”

Kossek said universities play a key role in not only educating students, but also in creating an environment for them to succeed. To that end, Purdue will host the inaugural Leadership Excellence and Gender in Organizations Symposium in late March. The symposium is being organized by Purdue’s Susan Bulkeley Butler Center for Leadership Excellence and the Krannert School, along with partners from Purdue, other universities, the business community and policy experts.

“This conference will bring together leading scholars to address opportunities to use cutting-edge research to effect change in organizations and occupations in a way that improves gender equality,” Kossek said. “We are preparing students in the classroom, but it’s also imperative that we consider changes that create an environment in which our students can thrive and excel once they graduate.”

Hummels said the Krannert School has a history of producing top female business leaders, and continuously seeks opportunities to build on that tradition.

Among Krannert’s several prominent women leaders are:

* Beth Brooke-Marciniak, global vice chair of EY, and named eight times to the Forbes list of the world’s 100 most powerful women.

* Susan Bulkeley Butler, former Purdue trustee and first female partner of what is now known as Accenture.

* Maria Crowe, president of manufacturing operations for Eli Lilly & Co.

* Jane Brock-Wilson, a Lafayette, Indiana, native and managing director of Berkshire Partners.

* Marge Magner, founding member and managing partner of Brysam Global Partners, former member of Fortune’s list of most powerful women in business and Forbes’ list of the world’s 100 most powerful women, and former member of U.S. Bankers’ top 25 most powerful women in finance. 

Sources: David Hummels, hummelsd@purdue.edu

Ellen Kossek, ekossek@purdue.edu 

Purdue University, 610 Purdue Mall, West Lafayette, IN 47907, (765) 494-4600

© 2014-18 Purdue University | An equal access/equal opportunity university | Integrity Statement | Copyright Complaints | Brand Toolkit | Maintained by Marketing and Media

Trouble with this page? Disability-related accessibility issue? Please contact us at online@purdue.edu so we can help.