Each year ambitious women apply to MBA programs in order to enhance their knowledge and take the next steps in their careers. According to the Forte Foundation, female MBA enrollment hit a new high in 2023, rising to 42%—up by around 10% over the last decade. 

Gender diversity within the MBA classroom is therefore increasing at many of the world’s top schools. 

At Hong Kong University (HKU) Business School, the MBA cohort comprises 47% female students. They come from a wide range of backgrounds, including young professionals looking to get ahead in their careers, experienced technical experts aiming to diversify their skillsets, and mothers seeking to balance family life with a career in business. 

All bring challenges to the classroom they plan to overcome via an MBA. So how exactly does an MBA provide a career boost for women in leadership? 

1. Broaden your knowledge base

The value of an MBA extends beyond just what you learn in class, however developing an understanding of business fundamentals is at the core of the MBA experience. 

Modules covering topics ranging from competitive strategy to managing digital innovation ensure you graduate with a well-rounded business acumen, prepared for the challenges of a management career. 

For Disha Kataria, this was a key reason for deciding to enroll in the HKU MBA in 2023. An experienced medical professional with several years of experience in dentistry, she felt an MBA would help bridge the gap between her extensive technical expertise and a lack of managerial experience in the business side of the medical industry. 

Currently midway through her studies, the wide range of modules she has been able to take, including electives in areas such as analytics, have allowed Disha to take the next step in transforming her career. Today, she is undertaking a marketing and strategy internship with the Hong Kong office of a leading multinational corporation in the medical device industry. 

2. Gain career opportunities

Disha is just one of many women in business who have leveraged the knowledge they have gained during an MBA to take new steps in their careers. 

The MBA ecosystem provides a strong platform within which to do this, with the opportunity to leverage extensive career support including mentoring, one-to-one coaching, company visits, and leadership talks—all hosted via a business school's career services. 

Within the HKU MBA, the career services are tailored to assist each individual student based on their professional background and aspiration. With around 35% of the career staff being women, this provides an environment where female students feel comfortable, understood, and supported, says Mercy Liu, assistant director of marketing and admissions for HKU MBA programs. 

“Women may understand the hurdles of our female students a little bit more and they may feel more at ease to talk about certain topics, including challenges in balancing their drive in career progression and personal life during the MBA as well as in business” she explains. 

The extensive support that an MBA offers means students such as Disha can unlock new career opportunities. Many undertake internships with partner companies offering the chance to gain insights into their target industries. 

Serina Suzuki enrolled in the HKU MBA in 2021 to gain career opportunities with top multinationals. She embarked on three internships across the consulting and financial sectors during her studies, culminating with an offer to join JP Morgan as a summer associate. She was later able to turn this opportunity into a full-time offer. 

“During the application process the HKU MBA career team was a really great help, from the interview preparation to landing the opportunity,” she says. 

3. Enhance your mindset and recognize your potential 

While the MBA’s combination of theoretical business knowledge and practical experiences can help you seize new career opportunities, equally important is the impact that studying can have in developing your mindset. 

For many ambitious women, enrolling means gaining exposure to role models and the chance to learn from inspiring women in business during guest lectures and networking sessions. 

HKU MBAs gain the opportunity to hear from the likes of Cindy Chow, executive director and CEO of the Alibaba Entrepreneurs Hong Kong Fund, and June Wong, CEO of Value Partners Group. 

Such opportunities encourage you to reflect on your own personal journey in business. Paired with her internships, where she gained an in-depth look insight into different industries, these experiences helped Serina shift towards a lifelong learning mindset. 

She feels the MBA program helped her gain a diverse outlook and adopt a long term vision of her career potential. “Be true to yourself and listen to your own voice, and be fully accountable for what is to come,” she says. 

For women in business, enrolling in an MBA can provide the knowledge and experience to help you understand your career potential. And, with a mixture of extensive in-class learning and diverse extracurricular opportunities on offer, an MBA can provide you with the tools to boost your career and make the most of your potential.