CWRU partners with Women in Manufacturing to produce leadership lab

Case Western Reserve University’s Weatherhead School of Management and Women in Manufacturing (WiM) announced the creation of a Leadership Lab for Women in Manufacturing, which will provide executive education and training to WiM members in mid- to high-level management roles in manufacturing careers. Scheduled to launch this spring, the Leadership Lab for Women in Manufacturing program consists of three sessions over eight days on the following topics:

• Women in Manufacturing: Bias Barriers and Opportunities;
• High-impact Leadership for Women in Manufacturing; and
• Skills and Strategies for Leading the Way Forward in Manufacturing.

“WiM is thrilled to be partnering with Case Western Reserve’s Weatherhead School of Management to offer this outstanding program to our members,” said Allison Grealis, president of WiM. “As the only national trade association dedicated to providing year-round support to women in manufacturing careers, WiM is always looking for new ways to help our members thrive. The Leadership Lab for Women in Manufacturing program is an example of our ongoing commitment to women’s leadership in the manufacturing sector today and into the future.” Leadership Lab for Women in Manufacturing builds on the success of the CWRU’s Leadership Lab for Women in STEM, which was created in 2014 to provide professional and leadership development for women in male-dominated occupations. Courses will be held on the CWRU campus and taught by faculty members Diana Bilimoria, the KeyBank Professor and chair of the Department of Organizational Behavior; Ellen Van Oosten, assistant professor of organizational behavior and faculty director of executive education; and Kathleen Buse, adjunct professor. “We are excited to be launching the Leadership Lab for Women in Manufacturing to provide WiM members with the tools, skills and competencies needed to create opportunities for themselves in the manufacturing sector,” said Buse, also the faculty director of the Leadership Lab for Women in STEM. “From our past Leadership Labs, we have found that, within six months of finishing the program, 40 percent of the women had sought and obtained a promotion. We look forward to working with WiM members to help them leverage their strengths to achieve continued success in their careers.” This program is supported by the GE Foundation, whose funding will allow women who work in small- to mid-size manufacturing companies to participate. Registration rates for the Leadership Lab for Women in Manufacturing program depend on the size of the company, and scholarship opportunities may be available from WiM based on specific eligibility requirements. For more information, contact Kristin Moore at 216.503.5700 or kmoore@womeninmfg.org.