International Women’s Day on March 8 stands for progress, solidarity, and the visibility of women in all areas of society. At WU Vienna University of Economics and Business, this day also gives us an opportunity to highlight initiatives we have launched to support and connect women in their careers. Because one thing is for sure: When women support each other, new opportunities are created.

One example is the Female Scholar Program, launched in 2017, a network specifically intended to support women in building careers in academia. The focus is on bringing together young female WU researchers with top female scholars from around the world. In this way, the program turns the spotlight on academic role models and highlights different approaches for building an academic career. The network was established by WU Professor Patricia Klarner, head of the WU Institute for Organization Design.

Female Scholar Program

The Wise Women of WU mentoring program

WU is also working to advance women in leadership positions outside the academic sphere. The Wise Women of WU mentoring program, established in 2018, is aimed at female WU graduates with at least five years of professional experience. The goal is to support them in taking the next step in their careers. Ten participants receive one-on-one mentoring by experienced female top managers with executive board, management board, or supervisory board experience. Through this personal exchange of ideas, the mentees gain valuable insights, strategic perspectives, and actionable ideas for their professional development. At the same time, the program makes an important contribution to increasing the number of women in leadership positions and bringing more WU alumnae into top positions.

WU Alumni Services website

Networking is key in this context. The WU Executive Academy Female Leaders Network connects female WU Executive Academy students and graduates across countries and industries. With nearly 2,000 members from over 71 countries, the network has evolved into a vibrant international community. Its goal is to accompany, empower, and connect women in their professional and personal journeys, in line with the network’s mission statement: “Together we are stronger.”

Female Leaders Network | WU Executive Academy

International Women’s Day is a reminder of why initiatives such as these matter. Programs like Female Scholar, Wise Women of WU, and the Female Leaders Network show how targeted support, mentoring, and strong networks can help shape careers and open up new perspectives. They also show what is possible when women support each other – and they send a strong signal for the future.