TORONTO, October 31, 2002 -- Two years ago, when Michele Harris was looking into pursuing an MBA degree, she didn't know too much about business schools. Someone suggested that she should attend an open house at the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management, sponsored by the Rotman Women in Management Association, an MBA student group.

"It was such a great experience because there were so many students that could answer my questions about the MBA," said Harris, MBA'03, who will graduate from the Rotman School next spring. " When I returned to the School for an admissions interview, I was surprised to be approached by students who remembered me from the open house. By the time I had my interview, I was convinced that applying to Rotman was a great decision, because it seemed to be a more supportive community than I was expecting from a business school."

The Rotman Women in Management Association Open House is part of a month long series of activities hosted by the Rotman School aimed at promoting and celebrating women in business. All events are open to accredited members of the media. The third annual Open House is designed to encourage more women to enroll in graduate business programs, while a new initiative, SheBiz, is aimed at exposing the world of business to female high school students. On November 21, the 2002 Rotman Canadian Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Awards honours five of Canada's most outstanding women entrepreneurs. Then on December 3, an official launch will take place for The Judith Elder Program for the Advancement of Women in Organizational Leadership, which will be offered in Spring 2003. The program, developed in memory of Judith Elder, a corporate dynamo whose talents and ambition propelled her to the top ranks of such companies as Microsoft Canada Co. OgilvyOne, and IBM Canada Ltd, will take high-potential, senior-level female executives and provide them with the skills and tools they need to move on to more powerful, strategic roles in their companies.

The Rotman Women in Management Association Open House is part of a month long series of activities hosted by the Rotman School aimed at promoting and celebrating women in business. All events are open to accredited members of the media. The third annual Open House is designed to encourage more women to enroll in graduate business programs, while a new initiative, SheBiz, is aimed at exposing the world of business to female high school students. On November 21, the 2002 Rotman Canadian Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Awards honours five of Canada's most outstanding women entrepreneurs. Then on December 3, an official launch will take place for The Judith Elder Program for the Advancement of Women in Organizational Leadership, which will be offered in Spring 2003. The program, developed in memory of Judith Elder, a former executive with Microsoft Canada and IBM, will take high-potential, senior-level female executives and provide them with the skills and tools they need to move on to more powerful, strategic roles in their companies.

SheBiz, a new daylong conference on November 8th, is designed to expose young women aged 14 to 17 (grades 10 and 11) to the world of business. The day will feature keynote addresses from Barbara Stymiest, CEO of the TSX Group; Sally Scott, Director, Marketing & Communications, Holt Renfrew; and representatives from Women in Capital Markets, who will share their experiences and insights around pursuing careers in business. In addition to these sessions, attendees will have an opportunity to take part in marketing and financial trading simulations. TD Bank Financial Group is the presenting sponsor for SheBiz.

The third annual Rotman Women in Management Association Open House will be held on November 14th. It's designed to provide an informal environment to help professional women explore the opportunities and rewards for women with an MBA. Potential students will have an opportunity to meet current students, alumni, and faculty of the Rotman MBA program.

"We believe that recruiting students with diverse backgrounds enriches the educational experience for all students. Pursuing either an undergraduate business degree or an MBA can help both women and men build positive professional and personal networks, as well as develop the necessary skills and confidence to tackle projects that are dynamic and demanding," says Gary Lindblad, Associate Dean and Executive Director, Rotman MBA Program.

"The Rotman Women in Management Association Open House has been successful in helping us increase the number of women entering our MBA programs. This fall 227 students entered the full-time MBA program with women accounting for 35% of the class, compared to the fall of 2000, when 130 students entered the program and women accounted for 28% of the class. Many of the women in the new class attended last year's reception" says Wendy Arnold List, MBA'03. "Furthermore, we hope that SheBiz will also foster positive momentum and encourage the enrollment of women in undergraduate business programs."

What?          SheBiz Conference for High School Students

When?          Friday November 8, 8:30 am - 3:30 pm

Where?          Rotman School of Management, Fleck Atrium (Ground Floor), 105 St. George Street, Toronto

Media?          Please call Ken McGuffin (416) 946-3818 to confirm your attendance.

What?          3rd annual Rotman Women in Management Association Open House

When?          Thursday, November 14, 6:30 - 8:30 pm

Where?          Rotman School of Management, Fleck Atrium (Ground Floor), 105 St. George Street, Toronto

Media?          Please call Ken McGuffin (416) 946-3818 to confirm your attendance.

Recently ranked by The Wall Street Journal and BusinessWeek among the best business schools in the world, the University of Toronto's Joseph L. Rotman School of Management offers leading-edge research and degree programs, including the prestigious Rotman MBA, the newly redesigned Part-Time MBA, the Executive MBA, a first-rate Doctoral Program, the distinctive Master of Management & Professional Accounting program, the undergraduate Commerce program in partnership with the Faculty of Arts and Science, combined programs with the University of Toronto faculties of Law, Engineering and Nursing, and an innovative series of Executive Programs tailored to the current needs of businesses and individual managers.

For further information, please contact:

Ken McGuffin
Manager, Media Relations
Rotman School of Management
University of Toronto
105 St. George Street
Toronto, ON M5S 3E6
Voice: (416) 946-3818
Fax: (416) 978-1373
E-mail: mcguffin@rotman.utoronto.ca