Dean Douglas Shackelford of the University of North Carolina Kenan-Flagler Business School returned to the White House today as part of an initiative to improve opportunities for women in business.
Shackelford attended a convening hosted by the White House Council on Women and Girls and the Council of Economic Advisers. The meeting brought together leaders from the business and business school communities to discuss recruiting, training and retaining leaders for the 21st century workplace and the importance of implementing policies that work for families.
Prior to the event, Shackelford committed UNC Kenan-Flagler to a set of best practices announced today and signed by more than 45 other business schools.
The best practices offer concrete strategies for business schools to help women succeed throughout school and their careers and focus on four areas:
The commitments aim to address changes in the U.S. labor market and the need of workers to manage their professional and family responsibilities.
“In addition to being the right thing to do, these best practices ensure that we continue to support the vital role of women in the workplace and their communities,” said Shackelford. “While you’ll already find many of these best practices at UNC Kenan-Flagler – where we’re known for developing leaders – we can do more. We’re eager to partner with the business community as it changes to offer more flexibility and better embrace diversity.”
Shackelford’s participation in today’s event builds on earlier meetings hosted by the administration in April 2014, which included a meeting of leading business school deans at the White House with senior administration officials. In that discussion they described the challenges business schools face in expanding opportunities and adapting to the changing workforce, as well successful strategies they have used to address these challenges.
Today’s convening along with the commitments by business schools and AACSB International are important steps in in helping women succeed in business, Shackelford said.
The best practices will be posted on the website of AACSB International (the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business), the global membership association for more than 1,450 business schools and the accrediting body for more than 700 institutions worldwide.