Diana Murgulet, an MBA student and leader of the Oxford Women in Leadership Alliance, shares her experiences and insights in working towards gender equity.
The Oxford Women in Leadership Alliance empowers female MBA students at the University of Oxford’s Saïd Business School. The group creates safe spaces for open, honest discussions about challenges faced in the workplace and fosters a supportive community where everyone’s voice is heard.
As Oxford Saïd boasts one of the highest percentages of women in any business school cohort globally, the Alliance plays an active role in nurturing female talent. Currently, Diana Murgulet is guiding the Oxford Women in Leadership Alliance which continues the work she began before MBA.
Recognizing that the fight for equality should begin well before students enter university is essential. Early education, mentorship, and broader societal changes are critical in creating an environment where everyone has equal opportunities to succeed.
“I firmly believe that if you start in university, it’s already way too late,” Diana tells MBAGRADSCHOOLS. “We see that reflected in STEM, but we also see that in pretty much any discipline at high levels of seniority. So I think you have to start fixing the problem a lot earlier.” (00:50)
Before joining Oxford Saïd, Diana pursued her career in tech, a historically male-dominated industry. Diana set out to correct the gender imbalance she saw. Working with Quantum Black and McKinsey, her initiative encouraged teenage girls to enter the technology sector. The girls learned what jobs are attainable, exciting, and suitable for their skills.
After Diana joined the MBA program at Saïd Business School, she brought her experiences to the Oxford Women in Leadership Alliance.
Oxford Saïd was the perfect environment for Diana to further her interest in gender equality.
Almost half of its 2022-23 MBA cohort is female, which is the highest ratio in the program’s history. And with an international student ratio of 93%, it is also one of the most diverse MBA programs in the world.
“I was very excited to see what I can put together in terms of offering in a place that had such a diverse group of women,” she says. “What were the demands? What were the issues? What did people want to learn more about or to discuss? At a table where you bring women from all corners of the world from all disciplines, what are the issues that overlap?” (01:28)
So how is the Alliance contributing to the fight for gender equality? For a start, they organize events that range from conference-style talks to smaller, more informal discussions. It gives students a chance to share their experiences of gender inequality – both in the workplace and in their personal lives.
Having access to the broader Oxford University ecosystem also brings its advantages. For example, it allows the Alliance to host events with the Oxford Business Networks (OBNs). This collaboration exemplifies the spirit that Diana sees as vital to gender equality.
“We are interacting with the technology OBN, with the consulting [OBN], [and] the finance OBN. All of these interactions at the intersection of different areas of interest help our community develop their skills, develop their network, and feel more empowered to come to the table holding their ground,” she says. (08:36)
We described Diana’s “fight” for gender equality, but that’s probably not the right word to use. Diana believes that collaboration across countries, industries, and genders is key to achieving equality, which is why the Oxford Women in Leadership Alliance welcomes all genders.
“Having our male allies in the room is absolutely essential for making sure that our voices are heard,” she explains. “So that’s why we work significantly with our community to say, ‘Look, it’s not enough that we show up and try to climb the ladder. It’s also how we create this community in which our voices are amplified, and issues are called out as they happen.’” (02:44)
“You absolutely cannot do it in a vacuum. You can’t do it without male allies, and sometimes you know it is just about saying, ‘Look, here’s the pain points.’ Because very often the pain points are completely invisible to the other side.” (06:15)
Although even small steps help empower women, Diana believes wider change is needed to make real progress. For Diana, seeing women in positions of power is one way of changing attitudes to gender throughout society.
“Seeing women sit in VCs and investment committees, seeing women founders get access to capital, seeing female politicians … all of this could be catalysts of change and then [they] would inspire yet another generation to pick up and go do that work,” she says. (14:23)
With the world becoming increasingly technology-dependent, Diana emphasizes the importance of addressing biases ingrained in algorithms and data that can undermine progress.
Diana is aware that change won’t happen overnight. However, if we want things to be different in the next 20 years, we need to do the work now.
Achieving an equal future calls for a collective effort from all members of society, both men and women. Everyone must challenge biases, support one another, and work together to pursue gender equity. Through its initiatives, the Oxford Women in Leadership Alliance is one piece of the puzzle in creating a more equitable world for all.
If you’d like to learn more about studying an MBA at Oxford Saïd Business School, feel free to contact one of our Oxford MBA ambassadors.
