Yesterday we talked a little bit about how more and more, companies today are seeking out candidates with an MBA degree — even for positions that historically have had no such requirement.

A great case in point is the Advertising industry. Traditionally, this creative-driven field has been concerned primarily with results not credentials. But, as clients have begun demanding a stronger business case and quantifiable results for their advertising and marketing programs, so have agencies started demanding business backgrounds for virtually all positions outside of the creative team.

In this short interview, former Advertising Media Planner and Buyer and Forté Fellow, Angel Davis, discusses why she decided to pursue an MBA and what you might want to consider as you start planning your own career path.

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If you’re getting close to finishing up your undergraduate degree, you’ve probably also started thinking about your post-college career. As you’re exploring your options, now is great time to start doing a little research on what you’ll need to succeed beyond that entry-level position.

Times have changed.  Many industries that once shunned applicants with an advanced degree now actively seek candidates with greater education, including an MBA. In fact, MBA Focus, a recruiting firm that connects employers with business-school students, reports a 103% increase in MBA-required and MBA-preferred positions posted on their boards since late 2010.

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While women now constitute 31% of business-school classes, up from about 26% in 2001, there’s still work to be done.

Last week, Forté Foundation’s executive director, Elissa Ellis Sangster, spoke to The Wall Street Journal about how companies and schools can recruit more women and why diversity matters.

Read the excerpts from her interview and find out what she has to say about gender diversity in business schools and why the disparity still persists.

Happy Holidays, everyone!

Hopefully you made it through finals relatively unscathed, and are looking forward to a little R&R and some time with the fam.

If you’re doing a little traveling to get home for the holidays, check out some of the Forté Forum podcasts while you’re in the car or waiting for the plane.  These podcasts are all about why you might want to consider an MBA as part of your future, including advice and experiences shared by some of the most successful businesswomen out there.

Get them free on iTunes