As in many other technical and traditionally male dominated fields, the proportion of female professionals in private equity is increasing from entry level to the C-suite. And something is becoming obvious. Women who attended all-girls schools seem to be uniquely well prepared for this sea change.
The National Coalition of Girls’ Schools reports that 80% of women who graduated from single-sex schools hold leadership roles after high school. They are six times more likely to consider majoring in math, science and technology in college, and 83% consider themselves to be better prepared for college than their traditionally educated peers.
None of this surprises me. I have a friend who did a project at Harvard Business School interviewing female executives. She was surprised by how many of them had graduated from all-girls schools. What is the secret that allows these schools to impart such success to their graduates? One thing seems to be the fact that in an all-girls school every position—from councils and clubs to athletic teams—is filled by girls. So they arrive at college and the workplace expecting to contribute as much as they can at all levels. That kind of confidence is a powerful thing.