Dr. Yaro Fong-Olivares has spent her career dismantling the false choice between people and profit, showing how investment in people fuels innovation and business results. As Executive Director of Bentley University’s Center for Women and Business, she explains how MBA programmes are building the next generation of women leaders.
Yaro Fong-Olivares, PsyD. is an organisational development leader and executive advisor with global experience helping organisations address the real dynamics that shape leadership, culture, and performance. She serves as Executive Director of the Gloria Cordes Larson Center for Women and Business at Bentley University, an applied research and leadership development organisation that partners with leaders and entrepreneurs to advance gender equity from the classroom to the boardroom.
Dr. Yaro holds a doctorate in Organizational Leadership Psychology from William James College, with a concentration in the neuroscience of leadership, an M.S. in Organizational Change Management from The Milano Management School at The New School, and a B.A. in Sociology from Barnard College, Columbia University.
How do MBA programmes empower women for leadership roles?
Bentley’s MBA classes are small and highly interactive, and the gender mix typically includes 40-50% women. That balance gives women meaningful opportunities to contribute to peer learning and to practice leadership in real time. Through case discussions, group work, and active class participation, students learn to craft and deliver their message. By taking leadership roles in case and project teams, women can build confidence, strengthen their leadership skills, and find their authentic voice. The learning environment inside and outside of the classroom provides the ideal conditions to help students refine their leadership voice and style.
At Bentley, courses such as Strategic Leadership teach conceptual frameworks for effective leadership and examine gender-based nuances in communication, decision-making, and interpersonal dynamics. Career development seminars and workshops provide women with supportive spaces to explore their leadership styles, clarify preferences, and identify targeted skill-building opportunities. Mentorship from women faculty provides visible role models and practical guidance on effective communication, influence, and collaboration.
How do MBA programmes transform students’ mindsets to open space and welcome a variety of leadership styles?
Bentley’s small, interactive classes create a social learning environment that prepares students for leadership and teamwork through group projects, case discussions, and in-class dialogue. Our Socratic approach surfaces differences of opinion, examines what shapes those viewpoints, and helps students understand their own perspective so they can better navigate the space between their view and others. Peer evaluations and faculty feedback provide concrete input students can use to strengthen their leadership skills. A typical MBA class is composed of diverse genders, nationalities, experiences, professions, industries, and life responsibilities to bring multiple viewpoints into the classroom.
MBA courses in leadership, international management, and ethics expose students to different worldviews and build the skill of stakeholder synthesis (distinct from stakeholder analysis), which focuses on integration of different stakeholder interests and provides a more complete picture of how to engage stakeholders. Our DNA of Business for Good challenges students and faculty to navigate tensions between perspectives. It asks us to consider: what does this look like for someone else?
What are some examples of MBA alumni transforming the workplace environment with their leadership?
Julie Santosus, MBA is a seasoned finance and private equity leader and a Partner at Cutwater Capital LLC, where she advises startup companies on financing structures and strategic growth. With a career spanning private equity, venture investing, and senior finance leadership, she brings deep expertise in mergers, capital strategy, and scaling businesses. A Bentley University MBA alumna, Julie also serves on multiple boards, advancing leadership and impact across business and nonprofit sectors.
Pearl Brian-Esema, MBA is a Bentley University graduate who earned a dual MBA and MS in Business Analytics and built a solid foundation for leading in data‑driven roles. Known for translating analytics into business impact, she exemplifies how graduate education can accelerate leadership readiness, career mobility, and meaningful organisational influence.
Amy Pocsik, MSA is the Founder and CEO of Bold Moves, an executive coaching firm focused on empowering women entrepreneurs and leaders. She has been recognised as a Boston Business Journal 40 Under 40 honouree and has been featured in Forbes and Fast Company for her leadership and impact and is also the co‑founder of the Women’s Business League and a longtime contributor to Bentley’s Center for Women and Business.
Lynelia Raposo, MBA, is an executive leader in the consumer goods and manufacturing sector, with corporate leadership experience at Duracell, where she has held roles with enterprise‑level scope and cross functional impact. She currently serves as President of ALPFA Boston, leading strategy, governance, and high‑impact partnerships to advance Latino leadership pipelines and executive development across the region.
Rita Assaf, MBA is a senior executive at Fidelity Investments, where she serves as Team Leader and Vice President, Retirement Offerings, overseeing strategy and execution for critical retirement solutions at enterprise scale. Her work reflects deep expertise in financial services, cross functional leadership, and delivering outcomes that support long-term financial security for individuals and organisations.
Beyond the curriculum, what opportunities does Bentley offer for aspiring women leaders?
During their graduate studies, Bentley women can join the Graduate Leadership Organization for Women (GLOW). Through GLOW, students attend Boston-area conferences building critical networks with other Bentley graduates, representing the organisation and the graduate women’s population at Bentley. On campus, they organise events showcasing members' academic and professional achievements, offering a supportive space for women in the MBA programme to network and share resources. The group fosters lifelong global connections among women business leaders.
