Scaling the Ivory Tower: Stories from Women in Business School Faculties

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Description

This book presents the detailed life stories of nine women academics in business faculties throughout North America. Three are in their early careers, three are facing tenure, and three are recognized leaders in their field. Each of the authors presents her story as a set of choices and reveals the alternatives and the decision making process. Many choices are a trade-off between different roles; teacher versus researcher, wife/mother versus professional, researcher versus administrator. Insights are developed and shared with the reader. The women academics in this book represent a wide variety of disciplines, ages, ethnicity, and family makeup. Their paths and insights are different, but their choices are similar, and recurring themes emerge. These are explored by the editors as they tie the stories together and interpret the individual tales. Through reading this book, graduate students and professors alike can get a glimpse into other's struggles and triumphs. They should emerge with specific strategies and a clear idea of the choices that lie ahead. Laypeople who always wondered what academics did with all their free time will get a glimpse into the diversity of responsibilities and opportunities that this profession entails.

Reviews

"A valuable guide from excellent role models for all those interested in how careers in academia are formed. The stories illuminate critical issues at all career stages."-Rosabeth Moss Kanter Professor, Harvard Business School author of When Giants Learn to Dance and The Change Masters
"The authors have put together an excellent collection of stories from women with different backgrounds and interests at various stages in their careers. Not only is the book a valuable and inspiring resource for women Ph.D. students and faculty in management and related areas, it also provides useful insights for male students and faculty. Most importantly, all Deans should read it."-Kenneth R. MacCrimmon, Professor Faculty of Commerce, University of British Columbia

Author Bio

DIANNE CYR is an adjunct professor in the Faculty of Business Administration at Simon Fraser University. She is the president of Global Alliance Management and is the author of The Human Resource Challenge of International Joint Ventures (Quorum Books, 1995). BLAIZE HORNER REICH is Assistant Professor of Business Administration at Simon Fraser University. Her research focuses on information technology strategy and organizational learning. As a management consultant, she specializes in facilitation and strategic planning.