Santa Clara University: The Global Women's Leadership Center at the Leavey School of Business Announces Women Leaders for the World Program

Business Wire, March 30, 2005

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- The Global Women's Leadership Center (GWLC), sponsored by Santa Clara University's Leavey School of Business and the School of Engineering, today announced the 14 leaders who will participate in the inaugural Women Leaders for the World Program to be held at the University this summer.

The Women Leaders for the World Program is designed to equip participants with the leadership skills, research, coaching, and support network needed to produce breakthrough results. The women selected are from Uganda, Uzbekistan, Indonesia, South Africa, and the U.S.

The participants will come to SCU's Mission Campus for a residential leadership development program July 24 through August 4. The goal of the program is to help women from business, government, civil society organizations, and academia build a global network of leaders who can shape the future of communities around the world.

"Women remain the world's greatest untapped resource of leadership at a time when economic, social, political, technological, spiritual, and environmental challenges demand new levels of creativity, talent and innovation," said Barry Posner, dean of the Leavey School of Business. "The GWLC is addressing this need through this new, powerful program. We look forward to hosting this distinguished group of women leaders."

The GWLC announced the selection of women for this new program during a breakfast event celebrating Women's History Month at the University on Wed. March 30.

"The Global Women's Leadership Center continues to be guided by leadership principles of competence, conscience, and compassion," said Linda Alepin, GWLC's executive director. "We are dedicated to providing these incredible women with the support they need to find lasting success during this groundbreaking educational offering."

The panel of women speakers included Jing Lyman, leader and advocate for the advancement of women, Amy Gonzalez, regional manager for Women Unlimited, and Carol Sands, founding director of the Halo Fund.

The Women Leaders for the World Program will include classroom and small group sessions, social networking, research, and site visits with organizations and thought leaders in the Silicon Valley. The curriculum will cover courses in innovation, creativity, global leadership, strong cohort networking, and ongoing coaching.

The women were selected for the program based on applications and a project they will bring with them to develop further during the program and implement back home. There are four places available and the GWLC is soliciting additional applications. An application for WLW can be found online at business.scu.edu/CIE/gwlc_women_leaders_program_2005.htm. The cost of the program is $6,500.

Participants will earn the Global Women's Leadership Center Certificate and become part of a global network of women leaders. Corporate sponsors for the program include Applied Materials, Logitech, Silicon Valley Bank, and Wells Fargo. For more information, contact Linda T. Alepin, GWLC Executive Director, at 650-948-4122 or at lalepin@scu.edu.

About the Global Women's Leadership Center

The Global Women's Leadership Center (GWLC), sponsored by Santa Clara University's Leavey School of Business and the School of Engineering, offers women's leadership programs, including the Women Leaders for the World, Global Women's Leadership Program, customized workshops, classes, leadership forums, and At the Well, forums for exploration and dialog. The GWLC is a volunteer organization. For more information visit www.gwlc.org.

About Santa Clara University

Santa Clara University, a comprehensive Jesuit, Catholic university located in California's Silicon Valley, offers its 8,213 students rigorous undergraduate curricula in arts and sciences, business, and engineering, plus master's and law degrees. Distinguished nationally by the second-highest graduation rate among all U.S. master's universities, California's oldest higher-education institution demonstrates faith-inspired values of ethics and social justice. More information is online at www.scu.edu.

Women Leaders for the World Program Participants

International:
Nigora Akinova (Uzbekistan)
Lydia Bakaki, J.D., MBA (Uganda)
Shana Mohan, MA candidate (South Africa)
Honorable Annette Mukabera (Uganda)
Asclepias Rachmi Soerjono, Ph.D. (Indonesia)
Denise Thiebalt, Pretoria (South Africa)

United States:
Chandra Alexander
Joan Banich
Mary McCusker, B.A.
Mary Repine, B.A.
Maureen Ross
Anuradha Srikantan, MBA, M.A.
Meg North Taylor, B.A.
Alma Cota de Yanez

Selected Information on Several Women Leaders

--Annette Mukabera: Mukabera is the youngest member of the Ugandan Parliament. "Politics is an expensive venture and young women lack the necessary resources, qualifications, and motivation," she said. Mukabera hopes to gain new skills that will enable her to empower women to enter politics, fight HIV/AIDS, and continue writing legislation that makes a difference.

--Nigora Akinova: Originally from Uzbekistan where she was a financial management and accounting professor at the University of World Economy and Diplomacy in Tashkent, Akinova lives in Warsaw, Poland learning about democracy. Her goal is to encourage democracy, market economies, and women to build a modern society.