The Human Resources field has long been predominantly female, and for the first time in the history of the Ivey EMBA program, this trend is mirrored in the Class of 2025, where women constitute 59 per cent of the cohort.
“The sisterhood that exists among us is so strong,” says Sara Cromwell, EMBA ’25 candidate and Vice President, People Excellence at Abell Pest Control. “I’ve never had female relationships this deep, this quick, and this supportive. We’re each other’s biggest cheerleaders, both personally and professionally.”
As part of a recent webinar called Ivey Women in HR: A Panel Discussion, four women with successful careers in HR, who are also completing an Executive MBA (EMBA), shared why they chose to do the program and gave advice for making it work.
Panellists included EMBA ’25 candidates Leah Carr, Director of Human Resources at IGNITE; Sara Cromwell, Vice President, People Excellence at Abell Pest Control; Arlette Edmunds, Chief Human Resources Officer at AGF Investments; and Anjana Moitra-Ohri, Vice President Human Resources at Roots. The discussion was led by Kim Randall, Associate Director of Ivey’s EMBA Recruitment & Admissions, who is also completing her EMBA alongside the panellists—her fellow classmates.
The discussion focused on highlights from their Ivey EMBA experience and how the program is empowering them to drive meaningful change and engage more effectively with cross-functional teams within their organizations.
The panellists also shared tips for juggling the program along with competing priorities, whether it be setting expectations with your employer and family, reviewing course material with members of your learning team, or surrounding yourself with people who support you.
You have to do hard things – Arlette Edmunds
“People have asked me why at my age and stage am I pursuing an MBA. I’m a mom to three children aged 16-21, and I have always done things for other people first. By putting myself first and making myself a priority for these super intense 18 months, I have not only earned the respect of my peers who I’m learning so much from, but I feel like I'm making my kids and family incredibly proud. You have to do hard things. While there are small tradeoffs, [pursuing my EMBA] is one the best decisions I’ve ever made.”
Put deposits in your own bank – Anjana Moitra-Ohri
“It’s the first time in a long time that I’ve put deposits in my own bank. When you enter a commitment like this, you won’t be able to show up at 100% in every element of your life. Figure out where are your negotiables and where are your non-negotiables.”
Be the change you want to see – Leah Carr
“Approach this opportunity with an open mind and a willingness to challenge yourself. To any women of colour, this program is a powerful platform to really elevate yourself and break down those systematic barriers for you to contribute to greater diversity at the C-Suite level. This is an opportunity to be the change you want to see and to inspire others to do the same.”
Carve out moments – Sara Cromwell
“You will find the time. Carve out moments throughout your life. I’ve found a rhythm as the program goes on. I’m an early bird— I like to do some schoolwork between 6-8 a.m. before I start my workday. It feels good to mark some wins off my to-do list and then I go into the workday feeling really energized. I do have to say no to some things, but it’s temporary. I’m still investing time with the people I want to invest my time with and doing the things I really want to do.”
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