The Women’s Leadership Program has a special place in my heart. It was not until I came for my WLP interview that I was convinced Babson was the school for me. Coming from a culture where women are not expected or encouraged to out-earn their husbands, I never felt so empowered until the Center for Women’s Leadership gave me a chance to realize it and recognized my potential to actualize it.

During my WLP years, I got the chance to meet Suzy Welch, organize a fundraiser for helping women dress for business success, sit on the Executive Board as Treasurer, and help other girls discover their place here in Babson’s Women’s Leadership Program. Sounds like my work is done! But if I learned anything in this program, is that a woman’s work is never done. The statistics do not lie: there are far less women CEOs, women are making less than men of equal job standing, and the national average of female students in business school is still hovering at 30%.

I find comfort, however, in the amazing work our program is doing for girls like me, girls like you, and women all over the world. I take solace in the fact that this support network will always keep a light on for me. And I feel a deep sense of gratitude that I was fortunate enough to have been a part of such a wonderful community of inspiring, courageous, and dedicated women.

As I look back on what this program has done for me, besides the fabulous scholarship, the warm sense of community, a strong support network, a fabulous mentor (whom I still keep in touch with for an occasional game of Scrabble!), and inspiration from all the other outstanding women around me, I learned that what I really got out of it all is a new mindset. We are not the weaker sex. We are a different sex. We are bright. We are powerful. We are talented. And like I said – a woman’s work is never done. We have an entire world out there to change ladies! There’s no time to waste. The only time we have is now. And the Women’s Leadership Program helped me discover that this is my time.

So what will I be doing with my time now that I am only days away from being an alumnus and not a student anymore? I am happy to announce that (even in this economic recession!) I will be consulting with the New England Consulting Group. In the near future, I plan on going back to school for journalism and combine that degree with my Babson education to be a business news anchor or correspondent for a business publication. Look for me on the cover of each and every business magazine or publication! Because even if I don’t make it onto the cover of Business Week or Forbes as a superstar CEO, at least I might in the magazine as a writer! Till then, though, keep your head and ambitions high.

Kind and best regards,

Deborah Cynn

Babson College Class of 2009