Erika H. James

This #InternationalWomensDay, I join the call to #BreakTheBias – whether on campus, in the workplace, or in our social lives.

This year, I’ve specifically had my mind on the bias against women who are assertive in their professional pursuits, which is a stereotypically masculine quality. When women aspiring to leadership positions have asked me for career advice, I've reflected on my own previous experiences and the occasions where I was reluctant to openly state my interests. Over the years, I learned that kind of passivity can be hindering – so I stress to up-and-coming female leaders the importance of being clear about what you want and willing to boldly ask for it.

But it will require more than just that attitude shift to produce real change; the idea of the “assertive woman” needs to become a socially accepted reality by us all. #IWD2022

So #WhartonProud to see Jason Wingard appointed as president of our Philadelphia neighbor Temple University today. Jason is not only a member of The Wharton School and University of Pennsylvania families – as former Vice Dean of Wharton Executive Education, with a PhD from Penn – but he's also a visionary in the areas of #leadership and #highereducation.

Congrats, Jason!

I had a fantastic time on my first trip across the pond to London as The Wharton School dean, highlighted by the third in-person (and first international) stop on the #WhartonImpact Tour. Thanks to the enthusiastic group of alumni who turned out – I am continually amazed at Wharton’s global reach.

And thanks to Prof. Witold Henisz for a timely conversation on the impact of Environmental, Social and Governance (#ESG) factors on the strategy and valuation of global corporations. This topic is a prime example of Wharton faculty expertise aligning with an emerging need in the business world, allowing us as a school to bring our data-driving thinking and leading insights to address broader societal challenges. I look forward to exploring this topic further with Vit and other scholars at Wharton.

As leaders in business education, we have a platform to change the narrative about business. I spoke with The New York Times about The Wharton School's evolution as classroom conversations evolve to address the bigger-picture questions – about social and environmental issues, about corporate governance, about diversity and inclusion – today's students are asking:

What should CEOs and other leaders in business be doing to prepare for a crisis, such as a potential recession? During my week in London, I joined Bloomberg News to explain why a core crisis management team should be based on more than just seniority: https://whr.tn/3xygANs

Another tip: Be intentional about documenting and reflecting on the steps you take. My research has shown that oftentimes leaders are so exhausted following a crisis that all they want to do is return to business as usual. #crisismanagement #crisisleadership