Achieving an MBA in Executive Leadership is a declaration of intent. It signals to those at the top that you're coming for their job, and fast. For women, who traditionally have not had the same network supports to help them scale the dizzy heights of the corporate pyramid, the qualification can turbo charge their ascent.
It's why The Irish Times and the 30% Club, the organisation committed to ensuring that at least 30 per cent of company boards are held by women, have teamed up to offer a fully funded scholarship for an innovative new postgraduate leadership programme.
The two have partnered in the initiative to promote greater gender balance at senior, C suite and board level.
The MSc in Executive Leadership is an internationally recognised programme that is run over two years on a part time basis, enabling participants to bring their learning directly back into their workplace.
The programme is being run by Irish Times Training and Ulster University. It is aimed at women who are already senior executives in a leadership role in their organisation but with ambitions to go even higher. To gain entry, applicants must already have significant budgetary or people management experience, gained over at least five years in a managerial role.
The course is designed to accommodate busy careers. Starting in October 2018, it comprises eight tranches of three-day classroom based sessions, which take place at The Irish Times building in Dublin. One five-day module takes place at the prestigious Global Leadership Institute at Boston College, USA.
As befits a comprehensive post graduate leadership programme, the course includes a range of case studies, ebooks and online materials, all of which are available from Ulster University's library. Induction and graduation take place at UU's Jordanstown campus, and assessment is via company based assignment given at the end of each module.
On successful completion of all nine modules, participants will be awarded a Post Graduate Diploma in Executive Leadership and, following the completion of a dissertation, will receive an MSc in Executive Leadership from Ulster University.
To apply for the programme, and be in with a chance of winning the scholarship, application should be made to The Irish Times Human Resources Department by September 28th,. Include a copy of your CV, illustrating how you meet the programme entry requirements, and a statement outlining your rationale in undertaking this programme, including how the programme could help you with your professional development.
It's in everyone's interest that women do succeed at the highest level in their career. For example, research shows that companies that have more women on their boards, for example, have better financial results than those that don't. By one account, companies with the most women board directors showed a 16 per cent higher return on sales than those with the least, and a 26 per cent higher return on invested capital. Quite simply, female leadership is good for females, and good for business.