Cal State Fullerton Mihaylo College of Business and Economics Women’s Leadership Program Receives $50,000 Grant from Mercury Insurance

FULLERTON, Calif. (March 8, 2018) – Today, California State University, Fullerton’s Mihaylo College of Business and Economics received a grant of $50,000 from Mercury Insurance for the Women’s Leadership Program, which provides curriculum and training specifically focused on preparing female students for advancement into top leadership positions after graduation. Launched in 2015, the program was created to help provide women with the skills and tools they need to advance into top leadership positions.

The Women’s Leadership Program is open to the Mihaylo College of Business and Economics women currently in their sophomore, junior, senior year or graduate school. Students are selected based on academic success, extra-curricular activities, community service, leadership experience and strong leadership interest. 

“Women represent half the workforce, but only four percent of the top or CEO positions,” said Dr. Goli Sadri, Professor of Management and Director of the Women’s Leadership Program at the Mihaylo College of Business and Economics. “The grant from Mercury Insurance allows us to further explore what has been impeding their progress, and gives us the opportunity to help more students achieve their full potential.”

The Women’s Leadership Program curriculum focuses on the four leadership pillars: character, competence, context and communication, as described by Callahan, C.W., & Grunberg, N.E. (2015). The two-year program includes seminars and workshops, question and answer panels, career roundtables and guest speakers. Program participants are also assigned a professional business career coach for one-on-one mentoring.

“Women make up about 50% of  Mercury’s leadership and we believe very strongly in the value of a diverse workforce, so providing this grant to Cal State Fullerton’s Women’s Leadership Program is a natural fit,” said Heidi Sullivan, Vice President, Chief Human Capital Officer at Mercury Insurance and Board Member of the program. “Additionally, our retired Mercury Insurance Chief Claims Officer Joanna Moore was a cofounder of the program and also continues to serve as an active Board Member today.

“This grant affords Mercury the opportunity to create a forum for our female leaders to mentor young women and provide them the knowledge and skills they will need to become the next generation of great leaders.”

“The mentorship and insight provided by the Women’s Leadership Program is invaluable,” said Laura Fong, class of 2018, General Management. “Thanks to Joanna Moore and Dr. Goli Sadri for all the investment and vision they have given to the program. It has been a truly enriching experience!”

For more information on the program, contact Dr. Goli Sadri at gsadri@fullerton.edu. Applications for the Women’s Leadership Program are accepted here.

About Cal State University, Fullerton Mihaylo College of Business and Economics

Located in one of the most vibrant and entrepreneurial business communities in the United States, Mihaylo College of Business and Economics at California State University, Fullerton is the largest accredited business school on the West Coast, nationally recognized for accreditation in both its business and accounting programs.

Mihaylo College provides a world-class business education, offering graduate and undergraduate programs that integrate classroom education with best business practices, technology, award-winning research, functional applications and real-world experience. Its network of over 60,000 alumni and business partners are the driving force of Southern California business.

The CSUF Irvine Campus is located at 3 Banting, Irvine (between Alton and Barranca at the 133). Cal State Fullerton established a branch campus in 1989 in an effort to meet the higher educational needs of both central and south Orange County. The branch campus was relocated to Irvine in 2011 and offers many of the resources of a large university, but in a smaller, more personal learning environment.

About Mercury Insurance 

Mercury Insurance (MCY) is a multiple-line insurance organization predominantly offering personal automobile, homeowners and commercial insurance through a network of independent agents in Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Texas and Virginia. Since 1962, Mercury has specialized in offering quality insurance at affordable prices. For more information visit www.mercuryinsurance.com or Facebook.com/MercuryInsurance and follow the company on Twitter.

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Media Contacts:

David Román, Mihaylo College of Business and Economics, 657-278-7433, droman@fullerton.edu

Kyle Reuter, PCG, 424-903-3657, kreuter@pacificcommunicationsgroup.com