“We thought we were learning poker, but we actually learned how to navigate the business world,” as explained by one of the women who attended special training on poker as a self-development tool. Now this revolutionary type of education is available at a well-renowned business education facility, Northwestern University Kellog School of Management. Kellog is launching a six-week extracurricular pilot program based on poker and poker strategies, to teach women the skills they need to succeed in a tough, male-dominated business environment. Ladies from Delaware should pay special attention to this opportunity because they are geographically close, and their state has recently passed new legislation on gaming.
Poker is fun, but it has always been considered male territory. Kellog found a partner devoted to flipping the tables in this respect, a woman-led company significantly named Poker PowHer. They are convinced that poker is much more than entertainment. Erin Lydon, managing director and general manager of Poker Powher, has very strong views in this respect: “Why are we bringing poker to the women of Kellogg? Because this game is a game-changer. At Poker PowHer, we firmly believe there is a link between why so few women play this game of skill and risk and why so few women advance to the top in business and industry. Through this partnership, we are thrilled to shape tomorrow’s brightest minds in business — and change the future for generations of women.”
Kellog School of Management was founded in 1908 with a mission to educate, equip and inspire leaders who build strong organizations and wisely leverage the power of markets to create lasting value. They have a Center for Executive Women focusing specifically on empowering women to help them break the glass ceiling in the corporate world. The innovative idea to use poker to train their ladies is exciting, as explained by Victoria Medvec, professor of management and organizations and co-founder and executive director of the Center for Executive Women: “We are thrilled to launch this pilot, which will help women explore and build crucial leadership abilities in a creative and engaging way. Not only will participants gain an edge in their careers by diving deep into negotiation strategies, but they will also have the opportunity to build relationships with Kellogg women across our full-time, part-time, and executive MBA degree programs.”
The program is “designed to empower women by diving deep into negotiation strategy, decision-making, and emotional intelligence,” as stated in the school announcement on the new initiative. Victoria Medvec is one of the leading teachers as a negotiation and decision expert. She will be supported by professional poker player Melanie Weisner and a series of distinguished guest lectures like psychologist and New York Times best-selling author Maria Konnikova.
The program is structured around weekly lectures by Kellogg professors, supported by small group discussions and poker lessons that demonstrate leadership insights learned through practical application in the game. At the end of each session, students can practice the skills they acquired through gameplay.