Meet our 12 Inspirational Women Leading Business Education 2024

Professor Hannah Holmes is Dean of the Business School and Deputy Faculty Pro-Vice Chancellor in the Faculty of Business and Law at Manchester Metropolitan University, leading one of the largest faculties in the UK.

Under her premiership, the University’s Business School won the award for the Best Innovation Strategy at the Association of MBAs & Business Graduates Association Awards this year. The award illustrates the success of the School’s commitment to student employability, engaging 5,000 students in a Strengths Coaching Accreditation, designed to help them develop core skills such as resilience, confidence and self-awareness alongside their formal qualifications. The initiative has been a great success so far, with 30% of students who took part this year securing placements with the Times’ Top 100 Employers.

What do you love about your work?

I love being in a position to positively impact on the lives of our students, our faculty, and our wider community. It is a privilege to be able to use my position and influence in the School and the wider University to, create an inclusive environment where people can thrive and achieve their ambitions.

“I have a significant (perhaps strange) respect for Dolly Parton, not just for her skills as a singer-songwriter but for her philanthropy, confidence, and commitment to doing the right thing.”

– Hannah Holmes, Manchester Metropolitan University

I also love being part of a global network and community of Business Schools who are committed to developing purpose-driven responsible leader and to make a positive contribution to society.

Beyond your qualifications, what qualities do you believe have helped you in your career journey to the role you hold now?

I hope that I am authentic in my approach to leadership and that I make a positive contribution through my commitment to supporting others and adding value where I am able through building networks and positive engagement. 

Gender parity in business education – and in business – is more of a reality than it once was, but progress still needs to be made. What would you like to see to make such aims achievable?

It is tough to balance everything and recognising, we all lead complex lives with multiple priorities and everyone brings different strengths to the table. Valuing these differences, and creating environments that support people at all stages of their lives, is something that I think would help to further gender parity and inclusion more broadly. 

What do you read or view for ideas and inspiration?

I have a significant (perhaps strange) respect for Dolly Parton, not just for her skills as a singer-songwriter but for her philanthropy, confidence, and commitment to doing the right thing! But beyond this, I draw regularly on mentors, including reciprocal mentoring from our students, as well as people across the HE and business world. I seek advice often to talk through what could work, what might work, and what experiences people have to inform the actions and decisions I take.

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