A Message From The Dean

Message From the Dean

Dean Deborah Merrill-Sands

Never before has the word "leader" been so used and misused. And yet, never before has the need for principled leadership been more apparent – in business, government, and the nonprofit sector.

At the SOM, answering this call drives our work every day.

A recent SOM survey of successful businesswomen highlights a different model of workplace leadership that demands serious attention: A majority of the women surveyed say that being "in charge of others" is not what motivates them. Women desire to exercise power with others and not simply over them. Making a difference is more important to them than expanding turf. At the same time, women are ambitious. They want to have influence at the highest levels in setting the agenda, the direction, and the priorities of a company or organization to the benefit of customers, stakeholders, employees, and the community. This unusual combination of principled, collaborative leadership and the drive to deliver results underscores our unique approach to management education.

Simmons MBA students demand excellence. In addition to teaching the essentials of a classic MBA, our highly regarded program trains leaders to deliver strong economic performance, enhance social value, and manage across differences in a multicultural workplace. A Simmons MBA gives you the critical thinking skills, credibility, and confidence for making sound choices and building successful careers.

For 30 years, Simmons has prepared women to lead and manage effectively and ethically in a world that deserves no less. We are proud of the way our graduates are making a difference on a daily basis as they lead their organizations to be more productive and more purposeful. I invite you to join our community.

Deborah Merrill-Sands
Dean; Co-founder, Simmons Center for Gender in Organizations
Ph.D., Cornell University