Women UCalgary MBA students build community to navigate industry

More women than ever are entering the previously male-dominated world of business and leadership and signing up to take their MBAs at the University of Calgary. 

But there’s still more work to be done, which is why networking events such as the April 15 Women in MBA Mixer at the Haskayne School of Business are vital. 

Third-year MBA student Catalina Amaya experienced this first-hand, having organized her own networking and community-building event aimed at helping other women in the MBA program find empowerment through leadership and mentorship. 

Developing a new generation of women business leaders 

Amaya says she developed friendships with other women during her classes, appreciating they shared a mutual understanding and comradery, that she could only find in fellow women classmates.   

It was through a Haskayne-hosted event that she met her mentor, longtime Alberta energy-sector CEO Dawn Farrell, and invited her to talk to other women in the MBA program. Farrell agreed — on the condition that Amaya gather 20 classmates for the talk. 

The successful event, supported by Haskayne’s Centres of Excellence, was an eye-opener for Amaya about the value of community. 

“As women, we need to find our pack,” she says. “Sure, we can make it alone, but it is so much harder than having a group of other people supporting you, and whom with you can relate and share those kinds of struggles”.  

“That was one of the most important learning experiences that came out of that session.” 

Recent MBA graduate Andria Stephens, BN’05, MN’10, MBA’25, who attended Amaya’s event, said, “Hearing Dawn Farrell speak reminded me of the power women hold to reshape business, not through force, but through connection, vision, and collective strength”. 

Women in business continue to challenge barriers with more women opting to complete an MBA. In 2024, MBA enrolment at UCalgary was split at 44.7 per cent women and 55.3 per cent men.  

Being an authentic leader  

Through her mentor, Amaya learned the road to effective leadership is not always about emulating one type of leader. 

When discussing the difficulties of women in leadership, she says she doesn’t have to remove the feminine aspects of herself to be effective.  

“I don't need to behave like you. I can be a great leader while being a woman, being soft, being emotional, and intuitive,” says Amaya. 

“Being a strong leader means embracing the parts of you that make you unique and learning how to use them as your secret weapon.”   

Amaya says its willingness to host events like this month’s Women in MBA Mixer shows how Haskayne fosters a positive supportive learning environment.  

“The people I have encountered in Haskayne have been super-respectful,” she says. “They are really open-minded — it says a lot about the kind of people that Haskayne is inviting.”  

Supportive women mentorship focus of mixer event 

To continue fostering leadership and connection, Haskayne’s Women in MBA Mixer is on April 15 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Scurfield Hall. 

The evening features Haskayne Dean Gina Grandy and accomplished women in business and UCalgary alum, such as:

• Melissa LaForge, MBA'22, Senior Vice President Chief Accounting Officer with Enbridge
• Moji Ajele, MBA'24, Executive Director, BNI Global, Alberta South
• Sarah Zuliani, BSc (Eng)'13, MBA'24, Financial planning and analysis at South Bow
• Danielle Gifford, MBA'20, Director of AI at PWC and adjunct professor at Haskayne. 

The goal of the event is to support women in business by helping them navigate challenges and gain perspectives from industry peers. 

Register here to learn from women business leaders, access mentorship and network with like-minded professionals.