Deakin University

Good intentions alone won’t shatter the glass ceiling. 

Make an impact today and donate to Deakin's MBA Access for Women Scholarships. Show your support for the next generation of women leaders.

Women continue to be under-represented in leadership positions in business and wider Australian society.

Figures from the Australian Workplace Gender Equality Agency show:

• 82.7% of CEOs of non-public sector organisations are men
• 69.5% of federal parliamentarians are men
• 60.3% of members of Commonwealth boards and bodies are men
• 75% of recipients of Companion or Officer of the Order of Australia are men
• The gender pay gap has narrowed over the past five years but men earn 21.3% more than women, on average

Education has the power to change this, by developing the skills women need to succeed as leaders in their workplace and community, and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) is one of the post powerful tools available for transforming careers and equipping leaders to make a difference.  

By donating to our campaign today you will:

• Help a woman overcome financial barriers to education and develop the leadership skills she needs to make a difference in her career, her workplace and her community
• Show your commitment to helping the next generation of women leaders 
• Have your tax-deductible donation matched, dollar for dollar, by Deakin

All funds raised will go to Deakin’s MBA Access for Women Scholarships program. These scholarships are for women in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine industries, not-for-profits, SMEs and self-employment who are experiencing financial or personal hardship or a long-term medical condition and who would otherwise not be able to access the benefits of studying an MBA.

ALL DONATIONS WILL BE MATCHED, DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR, BY DEAKIN UNIVERSITY. 

Thank you for giving the priceless gift of education. Your donation will make a profound difference.

Why are Deakin University and Business in Heels partnering on this campaign?

Both Deakin and Business in Heels are committed to advancing women’s business education and want to see more successful women leaders in business and wider society.

Deakin’s MBA Director Associate Professor Colin Higgins said the scholarship was part of the University’s effort to reduce the gender imbalance in Australian MBA programs.

“Across Australia, only 30 per cent of MBA graduates are women, yet an MBA is one of the most powerful qualifications that any leader can have,” he said.

“Women should be able to benefit as much as men from the career opportunities of having an MBA, yet they are underrepresented in these courses with the two biggest barriers being time and money – this scholarship program helps to remove one of these barriers, while Deakin’s flexible learning approach helps reduce the other.”

Co-founders of Business in Heels, Jo Plummer and Lisa Sweeney both know first-hand the positive impact the Deakin MBA has on the lives and careers of women leaders and are pleased that this campaign will help support scholarships for women who would otherwise not further their education.

“Good intentions are not enough if we want to see more women succeeding as CEOs, executives and in the boardroom – we need to be equipping women with the skills they need to be successful,” Ms Plummer said.

 “An MBA is more than just a piece of paper – the knowledge you learn and the networks you build help prepare you to take your career to the next level, which is why we are wanting to support the next generation of women leaders to gain the skills they need to be successful.”

Ms Sweeney said one of the reasons Business in Heels had decided to partner with Deakin was the University’s highly flexible structure that was well suited to meet the needs of business women.

“The reason why we’re working with Deakin is we have experienced the University’s incredibly flexible and supportive learning environment that makes it easier for women juggling work and family commitments to advance their education.”

About the Deakin MBA

Our Master of Business Administration (MBA) is one of the most highly regarded in Australia. Renowned for its flexibility and industry connections, it's designed for busy professionals seeking career development while balancing work and lifestyle commitments. At Deakin, you’ll be learning from internationally qualified academics and real industry leaders. The Deakin MBA teaches you more than just theory. Our program develops the practical skills you need as a leader. 

About Business in Heels

Driven by the understanding that women do it differently, Business in Heels connects more than 160,000 women locally and globally. Business in Heels want to see business women making a difference and to do this they need to be successful. Through their three pillars of education, marketing and networking, Business in Heels works to enable relationships that yield results.