海角社区

Applications to the MBA program are now open.

Next deadline for Fall 2025:
January 15, 2025

Learn how to apply

Women in Business

Because we are
part of a community.

At the 海角社区 Desautels Faculty of Management, we aim to embody the 鈥檚 stance that women鈥檚 leadership must be today鈥檚 cause and tomorrow鈥檚 norm. that 鈥渇irms with more women in senior positions are more profitable, more socially responsible, and provide safer, higher-quality customer experiences 鈥 among many other benefits.鈥

The changes in the business landscape over the pandemic have further highlighted the need to change the paradigms that often prevail in organizations by promoting greater representation of women in executive decision-making. The need for a diverse workforce, inclusive culture, and new leadership traits has never been more apparent.

We invite women to join our full-time MBA program and accelerate their advancement as leaders now, to push innovation and the breadth of perspective in business administration further and farther.听听


Jump to: The landscape | Career resources听触 Networking opportunities听触 Ambassadors听触 狈别飞蝉听


Desautels鈥 Commitment to EDI

Developing a respectful, diverse and inclusive culture for all is key to ensuring everyone who passes through our doors feels safe, welcome, valued and heard. At the Desautels Faculty of Management, we are committed to advancing equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) to better serve our community and its minorities. Read about our EDI efforts and updates from 海角社区 Desautels first Black woman dean, Dr. Yolande E. Chan.

The landscape

According to the 听补苍诲 :

  • 2021 = increase in the proportion of senior female managers globally
  • At 31%, up from 29% in 2020, it has finally passed the 30% tipping point needed to catalyze real change, as identified at the Fourth UN Conference on the Status of Women
  • Nine out of 10 businesses worldwide now have at least one woman in their leadership teams
  • Although 82% of women aged 25 to 54 now participate in Canada's workforce, they are still underrepresented in leadership roles. Women hold only 25% of vice-president positions, and 15% of CEO positions.
  • Women comprise 19.5% of the board members for Canada鈥檚 top 500 companies.
  • Just 8.5% of the highest-paid positions in Canada鈥檚 top 100 listed companies are held by women.

Career resources

Soutar Career Centre听

The Career Management team at Desautels offers all students a tailored career coaching experience. Through guidance, psychometric testing and feedback, innovative programs, events, workshops and speaker series, you receive customized, valuable support as you explore different career options and navigate your own career path.

海角社区 Dobson Centre for Entrepreneurship听

海角社区 is recognized for entrepreneurship excellence and is #1 in Canada in producing the most successful women entrepreneurs. The 海角社区 Dobson Centre for Entrepreneurship proudly boasts more than 400+ active startups, of which, as of 2019, are co-founded by women. Collectively, they have raised $1.5+ billion and created more than 8,000 new jobs.

In November of 2021, the Centre launched the 海角社区 Dobson Entrepreneurial Women Lean Startup Program. The 8-week program provides women innovators an opportunity to develop their idea into a viable business concept while delving into the particular challenges and concerns that women frequently encounter, such as barriers to funding opportunities, and perceived encumbrances on work-life balance.鈥


Networking opportunities

At Desautels, we provide a number of networking opportunities to develop connections and relationships with classmates, faculty, alumni and other community members during one鈥檚 MBA studies. Tap into what you need to grow your business potential as a woman today!

海角社区 MBA Full-Time Mentoring Program听

The 海角社区 MBA Full-Time Mentoring Program serves to build a strong and vibrant community of professionals engaged with the Faculty in furthering and supporting the careers of its MBA graduates. The network, now open to all, was originally conceived by and for female MBAs. At a 2005 ceremony for the program鈥檚 40th anniversary, a group of female MBA students and alumni discussed the unique challenges and opportunities that executive women were faced with. This inspired them to explore the possibilities of connecting these pioneering career women and alumnae with current MBA students. Thus, the MBA Mentoring Program was borne.

Desautels Graduate Women鈥檚 Association (DGWA)听

The DGWA's mission is to maximize the professional development of female students and alumni of the 海角社区 graduate programs through strategic engagement with the 海角社区 community and broader Montreal networks. We enable networking opportunities, celebrate successful women in business and facilitate interactions with influential people.听 Graduate Clubs and Activities

Desautels Women in Business (DWIB)听听

Desautels Women in Business (DWIB) aims to provide a platform for undergraduate students to explore the opportunities and careers available to them. They are continuously expanding their strong network of women interested in a career in management: from professionals to current students and professors to alumni. Together, they aim to educate and inspire our students to achieve their goals with confidence as they begin to shape their futures.听听

Desautels Graduate 2SLGBTQIA+ Association (DGLA)听

The Desautels Graduate 2SLGBTQIA+ Association is an organization open to all students with an interest in creating more inclusive experiences in the Desautels community and in their future professional settings.听Graduate Clubs and Activities


Meet our female ambassadors

Our female MBA Ambassadors are eager to share their perspectives as MBA alumnae and current students. Connect to learn about the program, student life at 海角社区 and in Montreal, post-graduation paths and more.听听

Alumnae Ambassadors

Jackie Hudspeth

Jackie Hudspeth (MBA'21)
Specializations: Finance, Business Analytics
BFA, Television & Broadcast Journalism (Dodge Film School, Chapman University)
Los Angeles, California
| jacqueline.hudspeth [at] mail.mcgill.ca (subject: 海角社区%20MBA%20Inquiry) (Email)

Learn more

As both a former CEO/Founder of a television production company and a major airline corporate trainer, my professional goals were: 1) a way to connect the dots of my experience in entrepreneurship, leadership and operations/tech; and 2) a way to build a business toolbox with strategy, finance, and analytics frameworks. Desautels gave me that and then some! Through my work with MIINT, I studied venture capital and was able to leverage our alumni network to work for some of the brightest in the industry. From Silicon Valley VC to start-up operations to听 start-up advisory right here in Montreal - it鈥檚 been a thrilling ride that has pushed my limits, tied together my skill set, and fortified lifelong connections with inspiring business leaders 鈥 past, present, and future. Choose the type of people you want to work with and for, keep your moral compass north - the rest will follow.

Jaquelynn Mateluna

Jaquelynn Mateluna (MBA'21)
BScience, Biology
| Email

Melissa Palumbo

Melissa Palumbo (MBA'21)
Specialization: Strategy & Analytics
Bachelor of Commerce, Finance & International Business
Montreal, Canada
LinkedIn | melissalpalumbo [at] gmail.com (subject: 海角社区%20MBA%20Inquiry) (Email)

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听I came to Desautels looking to make a career change, and to discover my professional strengths and passions along the way. Throughout my time in the MBA, I had the opportunity to take part in multiple initiatives - including the 海角社区 Not for Profit Consulting Program and the Desautels Graduate Women's Association - that helped me significantly in not only discovering my passion for strategy and organizational design, but that also allowed me to develop my own voice and confidence as a professional.

Meg Pedrick

Meg Pedrick (MBA'19)
BA International Development, French Language and Literature
Montreal, Canada
| meg.pedrick [at] mail.mcgill.ca (subject: 海角社区%20MBA%20Inquiry) (Email)

Beibei Song

Beibei Song (MBA'20)
Specialization: Finance
Biochemistry
Jiangsu, China
| beibei.song [at] mail.mcgill.ca (subject: 海角社区%20MBA%20Inquiry) (Email)

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听During my MBA, many of my classmates were experts in finance who helped me learn a lot about the industry. I completed my CFA exams during the MBA, which also help a lot attracting recruiters.


Student Ambassadors

Katia Bichar

Katia Bichar
BSc Chemistry, Minor in Management
Montreal, Canada
| katia.bichar [at] mail.mcgill.ca (subject: 海角社区%20MBA%20Inquiry) (Email)

Learn more

My choice was Desautels because it is located in Montreal. Desautels has a small cohort size, I was told it is less competitive than Rotman and it truly is the case -听we feel like a family.听I chose Desautels because I was doing my program full-time and I wanted to take all my 鈥渃ore鈥 classes at the beginning and then pick my electives accordingly. At some other schools听core classes are all spread out over the two years so you must pick an elective before you have completed all your core classes.

Megan Norland

Megan Norland, MBA/Law
BA Combined Honours in Early Modern Studies and English, Minor in French
Ottawa, Canada
| megan.norland [at] mail.mcgill.ca (subject: 海角社区%20MBA%20Inquiry) (Email)

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I have wanted to become a lawyer for many years. After working as an office administrator and paralegal at a top-rated boutique law firm, I saw the importance of understanding business in running a successful firm, where business development, financial, and team management skills are all required. 海角社区 uniquely allows students to combine the MBA with both the BCL and JD law degrees. The business training and career development opportunities offered by the Desautels MBA program combined with 海角社区鈥檚 transsystemic law program, encompassing Common, Civil, and Aboriginal traditions of law, offered the complete foundation I sought. I also recognized that my fellow students would shape my MBA experience. The structure and culture of the Desautels program, its international student body, its location in Montreal, the integrated International Study Trip, and its reputation as a leading business and law school made 海角社区 my top choice.

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