Mannheim Female Leadership Academy (MFLA)

Mission

The Mannheim Female Leadership Academy prepares outstanding female students of Mannheim’s Business School for leadership and top-management positions in business and society. By combining academic excellence, practical leadership development, and early access to strong networks, the MFLA makes a sustainable contribution to the advancement of women leaders and to greater diversity in decision-making roles.

Objectives

To achieve this mission, the MFLA focuses on the following priorities:

• targeted support of excellent female students in the Mannheim Master in Management, Mannheim Master in Finance, Accounting and Taxation, and Mannheim Master in Operations and Supply Chain Management
• building and maintaining a long-term career network of students, alumnae, role models, and corporate partners
• increasing the visibility of female role models and addressing structural challenges in career and leadership paths based on academic evidence
• contributing to a sustainable increase in the share of women in management and leadership positions
• strengthening the national and international reputation of Mannheim Business School in the areas of leadership, gender equality, and talent development

Applications can only be submitted following a prior invitation from the Dean of Mannheim Business School and the Academic Director of the Mannheim Female Leadership Academy. Invitations are extended exclusively to the top 25% of female applicants for admission to the Master’s programs Mannheim Master in Management, Mannheim Master in Finance, Accounting and Taxation, and Mannheim Master in Operations and Supply Chain Management. Female graduates of the University of Mannheim B.Sc. in Business Administration who apply for admission to the School’s Master’s programs are also invited.

Invitations are issued at the time of admission to the Master’s program in July (based on Bachelor’s performance) and before the start of the second semester in January (based on academic performance at the University of Mannheim). To be eligible to apply at the beginning of the second semester, students must have earned at least 20 ECTS after the first exam period and must rank within the top 25% of their cohort. Please note: For applications at the beginning of the second semester, only first-attempt exam results from the first semester can be taken into account.

An application for membership in the Mannheim Female Leadership Academy is possible only after receiving an official invitation. The invitation is sent electronically each July and January to eligible applicants and students in the Master’s programs Mannheim Master in Management, Mannheim Master in Finance, Accounting and Taxation, and Mannheim Master in Operations and Supply Chain Management.

Following the invitation, interested students must apply independently for admission to the program. The application deadline is 1 August respectively 25 January each year. Applications submitted after this deadline cannot be considered.

Participants are selected on the basis of the submitted application materials and a structured selection process. In particular, the following criteria are taken into account:

• above-average academic performance
• personal video application, recorded via the provided video application tool, allowing assessment of motivation, goals, and personal commitment. Please note that German language proficiency is required. The video application must therefore be recorded in German.
• extracurricular engagement and relevant internships (especially those involving initial responsibility or leadership experience) are also considered positively in the selection process.
• willingness to contribute actively and over the long term to the Mannheim Female Leadership Academy (MFLA): the MFLA is designed as a lifelong network whose strength depends on the sustained engagement and mutual support of its members, including beyond their period of study.

A personal LinkedIn profile is required to enable effective networking and the sustainable development of your personal network within the MFLA.

The Mannheim Female Leadership Academy (MFLA) is designed as a lifelong network to support women on their path to management and leadership positions. Entry into the MFLA takes place through a structured program spanning two MFLA semesters. These two semesters do not need to be completed consecutively and can be chosen flexibly (e.g., to accommodate a study-abroad semester).

The program starts at the beginning of the semester and includes the following components:

• MFLA Leadership Lectures: one academic lecture per semester
• Women Leaders Fireside Chat: one exclusive discussion format per semester featuring a female leader from business or society
• Company Visits: one company visit per semester providing insights into leadership and career contexts
• Professional Skills Courses: complementary workshops focusing on key leadership and professional skills throughout the program year
• Career Services: Workshops on strategic networking and professional LinkedIn positioning and prioritized access to the Company Days@Business School

Upon successful participation in at least one Leadership Lecture, the Women Leaders Fireside Chats, the Company Visits, and one Professional Skill Course, participants receive a digital certificate (“Graduate of the MFLA”).

Beyond the program year, MFLA members remain permanent members of the MFLA network and receive a digital membership badge to make their affiliation visible.

Yes. The Mannheim Female Leadership Academy (MFLA) awards two digital credentials that make both program participation and long-term affiliation with the MFLA visible. Both credentials are digitally verifiable and can be integrated into professional platforms such as LinkedIn, thereby increasing members’ visibility to employers and networks.

Badge – “Member of the MFLA”

The digital badge is awarded immediately upon admission to the program. It represents lifelong membership in the MFLA and signals excellence, engagement, and affiliation with a selective leadership network.

Certificate – “Graduate of the MFLA”

The digital certificate is awarded after successful completion of the two-semester program. It recognizes sustained commitment and documents active participation in the core components of the MFLA.

The Mannheim Female Leadership Academy (MFLA) sees itself as an inclusive network. The active support of men sends an important signal: women are more likely to reach leadership and top management positions successfully when their cause is visibly supported. Men can therefore support the MFLA as allies and make a conscious contribution to advancing women in leadership and management positions.

The role of an ally is deliberately not the same as regular participation in the MFLA. The regular program remains reserved for the female participants. Selected joint event formats are planned for allies; in addition, dedicated formats specifically for allies are currently being developed. The focus lies on visibly supporting the goals of the MFLA and contributing to an inclusive network.

Admission as an ally takes place through a separate application process and is generally open to interested men with above-average academic performance. Proof of this may be provided, in particular, through nomination to the Dean’s List or by submitting a relative exam ranking issued by the student service office. The application includes a personal video statement and is submitted via the same video application tool used by MFLA participants.

Admission takes place at the beginning of each semester. The application link is available upon request. After successful admission, allies also receive a digital badge titled “Ally of the MFLA”.