Whether it’s “leaning in,” “opting out,” or “having it all,” the subject of gender equality in the workplace is at the forefront of cultural discourse and Bentley’s Center for Women and Business is addressing these important issues with female students both in and out of the classroom. As part of a Global Women’s Leadership course, during spring break, 14 undergraduate students traveled to Sweden and Denmark to study the countries’ progressive corporate policies on gender equality.

Designed to provide the understanding and skills needed for a successful career in global business, the course in Global Women’s Leadership specifically addresses the gender-based challenges faced by women in industry.

“To prepare for the trip, in class, we addressed many of the typical career barriers women face in the workplace,” noted the course instructor, Management Professor Susan Adams. “We discussed how many of the issues are determined by the national culture in which a woman lives and how public policy and company culture either facilitates or creates these barriers.”

Throughout their ten days abroad, students along with Professor Adams and Center for Women and Business Program Director Trish Foster met with executives from top international companies such as Volvo, PwC, Spotify, Maersk, Google, and Carlsberg to learn about the many ways companies are focusing and improving upon gender diversity.

“They heard a variety of positive messages about supporting women’s careers but also saw that it is easier said than done,” Adams said. “The message from nearly all the business executives was there is more work to do to holistically support female talent and that having men do their fair share at home is a key part of the solution.”

In addition to meeting with business professionals, students participated in several outings to further explore the cultural landscape of the Scandinavian countries. “We took full advantage of our stay and really immersed ourselves in the Swedish and Danish cultures by exploring museums, top universities, and meeting with local residents,” Suzy Hallak ’16 says. “I made connections that will last a lifetime.”

The Global Women’s Leadership course is a requirement for the Women’s Leadership Program, established by Bentley’s Center for Women and Business. Through a variety of academic and experiential learning opportunities, Bentley undergraduate women who are accepted to this program gain real world knowledge, insight and practice while obtaining critical skills in negotiation, communication and collaboration. Leadership students are matched with a graduate student mentor as well as a professional mentor and are required to attend workshops and keep a journal of their experience.