International Women’s Day is celebrated each year on 08 March to honour the economic, social, cultural and political achievements of women worldwide. This year’s United Nations theme, Rights. Justice. Action., highlights that - globally - women and girls have just 64% of the legal rights of men and that in nearly 70% of countries surveyed, women encounter more barriers to justice than men.
At the UCL School of Management, we remain committed to championing gender equality and empowering diverse voices. Today, we spotlight members of our community whose work, leadership and lived experiences contribute to a more inclusive and equitable future.
MEssages from ucl school of management leadership
Director and Professor Davide Ravasi
In today’s fractured world where equality, diversity and inclusion are seen by many as negative, counter-productive and increasingly less important in society, we remain strongly committed to these principles.
The theme for the UN International Women’s Day this year is ‘Rights. Justice. Action.’ As a School we are proud of our ongoing commitment to supporting women and others with protected characteristics to achieve their potential and lead the way in a global call for solidarity.
Nina Seppala, Deputy Director (Academic Affairs)
International Women’s Day celebrates the diverse achievements of women around the world. As a society we have come a long way in achieving gender parity, but there is still a way to go – particularly in recent years amidst a backlash against equality action and an increase in threats women face on a daily basis.
At the UCL School of Management we constantly strive to support women and other minorities to continue to push upwards in society.
As part of our commitment to empowering diverse voices in business, we proudly hosted the ElevateHer 2025: Women in Entrepreneurship Day – Shattering the Glass Ceiling, celebrating women’s leadership and innovation in the entrepreneurship ecosystem.
Research and highlights
Serving on a prominent FTSE-100 board benefits men, but not women
UCL School of Management Professor Raina Brands’ work is at the forefront of striving towards gender equality. Her research integrates the study of social networks and the study of gender stereotypes. Her recent paper on FTSE-100 board members investigated the experiences of women and men serving on these boards.
Raina found that whilst serving on a high-profile board benefits men’s careers, the opposite is true for women. The higher profile the board, the less likely women were to get a subsequent board appointment.
“Improving gender diversity is far more complex and nuanced than just redressing the balance in numbers. This research shows that recent improvements are not sustainable as women and men have vastly different experiences serving on the boards of more prominent firms.”
Explore Professor Raina Brands’ FTSE-100 board research
our commitment to equality
UCL School of Management renews Athena Swan Bronze Award
UCL School of Management successfully renewed its Athena Swan Bronze accreditation, reaffirming its ongoing commitment to advancing gender equality in higher education.
Professor Raina Brands is the School lead for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and led the application process, supported by Sinéad Togher, the School’s Accreditation and Diversity Coordinator.
The new Athena Swan action plan is underway, with the aim of submitting a strong application for a Silver award in 2031.
Learn how we renewed our Athena Swan Bronze Award
spotlighting our community
Leadership, opportunity and impact: the UCL MBA celebrates International Women’s Day
We’re spotlighting members of our MBA community, including Programme Director Professor Harveen Chugh, Professor Paolo Taticchi, and current MBA student Julia. Together, they reflect on women’s representation in leadership, the role of allyship in shaping equitable workplaces, and how the UCL MBA is cultivating responsible, inclusive future leaders.
Discover how the UCL MBA community is advancing women’s leadership
Empowering Women in Data: Sabah Khan’s journey from UCL School of Management to Marks & Spencer
Sabah Khan graduated from our MSc Business Analytics in 2025, launching her career in data analytics shortly after.
Sabah reflects on her journey into data, the evolving gender landscape within the field, and her hopes for a more inclusive future for women and girls pursuing careers in technology. For Sabah, while progress has been made, she hopes to see more women reaching leadership roles in technology and data industries.
Read Sabah Khan’s journey into data and her vision for women in tech
MSc Entrepreneurship student and Chevening Scholar Roaa Ahmed Nassar talks women leading change worldwide
Roaa is a strategy consultant and certified positive psychology coach from Egypt, with over a decade of experience working across startups, scale-ups and entrepreneurship support organisations in the MENA region.
She tells us what international women’s day means to her, her passions for ecosystem-building, and why she hopes to see more women in leadership shaping more inclusive and resilient systems.
Meet Roaa Ahmed Nassar and her mission to empower entrepreneurs globally
