In what ways does the MBA need to reinvent itself in order to remain relevant in the 21st century? “To remain relevant, it is vital that MBA programmes include many of the topics I have mentioned above. We need to go way beyond corporate social responsibility and talk about how we embed purpose, values and integrity into organisations; we also need leaders with the motivation and skills to manage organisations that make the world a better place rather than contribute to its challenges. “Sustainability is a key topic, of course and we need to use data and evidence to inform programmes that can help future leaders deliver on commitments to EDI – for me, this means way more than just access to equal opportunity. Moreover, we need leaders who can provide the resources – human, social, economic and reputational – to help those who identify opportunities to be able to act upon them. “I think we also need to help MBA participants develop as coaches and to master the skills needed to actively listen to colleagues and help empower them to make the best
“Entrepreneurship is not restricted to starting and growing a business. Entrepreneurial leaders exist across all sectors and in organisations of all sizes. An entrepreneurial mindset can help boost productivity and innovation, create happier places of work and, ultimately, encourage organisations to contribute to the ecosystems they are a part of, thereby making the world a better place.” As a female dean, how do you think the ‘leaky pipeline’ phenomenon affects other female academics in their careers and have you had to deal with any particular difficulties being a woman in a male-dominated sector? “It is true that as people develop their academic career, male academics seem to progress to more senior positions than their female counterparts. I find this really odd, as female academics are no less skilled or impactful than their male colleagues. Throughout my career I have been mentored equally by female and male coworkers and I am determined now, as a senior academic who happens to be
decisions for themselves and their organisations.” How important are rankings to you and your school? “In my opinion, accreditations are more important than rankings. Accreditations speak to international audiences and provide a trusted source of advice, information and
female, to ensure that I mentor colleagues at an early stage in their career, helping them to progress to where they want to go. “I am completely committed to equal access to opportunities for development and growth, as well as to equal access to those resources needed to act on and respond to such opportunities. In my role at Glasgow,
Students learning to utilise artificial intelligence must develop their critical thinking, analytical skills, decision-making and good judgement
I am gathering evidence and data to help inform the decisions that my senior team and I make and to ensure that we support and encourage diverse talent. We know that greater diversity encourages better decision-making and a community of inclusion – we are huge supporters of this at Adam Smith.” The impact of artificial intelligence (AI) and other generative algorithms such as ChatGPT on management education has been well documented; what’s your position on it at Adam Smith – how can faculty best adapt to the technology in order to maximise its potential for students? “Our school believes that AI tools are potentially transformative – as well as disruptive. They increasingly feature in academic and professional workplaces. Consequently, rather than seek to prohibit students’ use of these tools, we want to support them in learning how to use them effectively, ethically, critically and transparently.
evidence about different institutions. Rankings come with many caveats: it may be that a programme is excellent, but because it doesn’t meet a certain criterion – let’s say for instance, salary after graduation – then it will not be included in a ranking. However, this is not a true indication of the quality or impact of that programme.” What kind of skills do you think are necessary nowadays in order for MBA graduates to become effective and productive leaders? “Given that I’m a professor of entrepreneurship, this is probably something that you might expect me to say. I strongly believe that alongside relevant management education – which includes a deep understanding of the bottom-line importance of values, purpose, sustainability and an authentic commitment to EDI – MBA participants can become impactful and influential future leaders if they understand and embrace creativity, entrepreneurship and innovation.
14 | Ambition | OCTOBER 2024
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