Kathy Matsui’s new global venture capital fund drew headlines last month for being the first of its kind in Japan to focus on environmental, social and governance principles.
But the news was also significant for another reason. Matsui, who left investment bank Goldman Sachs in Japan last year and is known for coining the term “womenomics”, is a woman at the helm of an all-female leadership team — a rarity in the male-dominated finance industry.
Business schools are trying to change this. To increase the low number of women in senior finance roles, some schools are on a push to help dismantle the barriers to their progression. They are trying a range of approaches — ranging from new curriculum design to on-campus and alumni networks.
For many, the first challenge is to persuade young women that careers in this field are welcoming and rewarding. “A lot of it stems from misinformation about what the world of finance actually is,” says Haley Parrin, who recently graduated from UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School. She was the first female president of the…
