Jones Journal -- Alumni Magazine of the Jones Graduate School of Management, Rice University

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Deanna Sheaffer, Editor
Director of Alumni Affairs
Jones School of Management - MS 531 Rice University
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Conference Focused On ‘Perspectives on Women in Leadership’
– By Maileen Hamto, Assistant Director of Public Relations and Robin Holzer, Class of 2002

GWIB Conference keynote speaker Helen Vollmer.

Finding female role models through their research about leadership was a challenge for second-year Rice M.B.A. students Tricia Mitchell Kim and Jennifer Fangue. Case studies that illustrate effective leadership traits and managerial styles rarely showcase successful and effective women leaders.

“I had trouble seeing myself — as a woman — through these case studies,” Kim said. “The examples often showed how a male manager handled work situations, and Jennifer and I became interested in finding out what a woman would do and how she would be perceived when addressing the same situation.”

The two began pursuing an independent study project to explore current academic research on women in leadership. “Our studies about managerial styles led to even more questions: How does a woman learn to lead? Who are her role models? Does her style differ from those of her male counterparts? Are there leadership ‘tools’ that are off-limits to women in certain settings or industries because of societal norms about female behavior?” Fangue said.

Tricia Kim (MBA ‘01) and Bob Westbrook

Kim and Fangue, officers of the Rice Graduate Women in Business, collaborated to organize a forum designed to address issues affecting women leaders. Their collaboration resulted in “Grace Under Pressure: Perspectives on Women in Leadership,” a half-day conference that took place on March 16, 2001.

The conference, sponsored by Enron Corp., J.P. Morgan Chase & Co., and the Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Management, featured keynote speaker Helen Vollmer, chief executive officer of Vollmer, a Houston-based public relations firm, along with a panel of prominent women leaders. Panelists included: Judith Cravens, retired president of the Texas Gulf Coast United Way; Monika Drake, former assistant director of career planning, the Jones School; Marla Hutchison, principal, Deloitte Consulting; Christie Patrick, vice president, public affairs, Enron Corp.; and Bette Wickline, director, Women’s Business Initiative, J.P. Morgan Chase & Co.

Keynote speaker Vollmer opened with an anecdote about a chairman, acutely aware that his company needs more women executives, addressing the all-male board. He places a fashionable pair of leather pumps on the table and asks, “Gentlemen, where are we going to find the executives to fill these shoes?”

Vollmer moderated a lively panel discussion that focused on some of the subtle, unconscious perceptions and beliefs about women in leadership. Brief clips from films such as “Twelve O’Clock High,” “Erin Brockovich,” “Working Girl,” and “Stepmom” were presented to illustrate common perceptions about women leaders. Panelists discussed the differing leadership styles of men and women, perceptions and stereotypes of women leaders, and work-life balance. They also emphasized the critical importance of networking and mentoring.

The panel discussion was followed by breakout sessions intended to foster more in-depth exploration of the issues that affect women leaders. Session topics included: succeeding in a male-dominated environment, achieving work-life balance, transformational leadership in the new economy, leadership stereotypes and you, and developing mentorship opportunities.

Rice GWIB looks forward to making the conference an annual event.
For more information, visit www.ricegwib.org.