A Guide for Women Executives

In a groundbreaking initiative, Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University collaborates with Poker Power to offer female managers a unique program centered on mastering poker for enhancing leadership skills.

Strategic Leadership Through Poker: A Unique Approach

The Kellogg program, designed exclusively for women, aims to teach strategic decision-making, risk-taking, and emotional intelligence through poker, offering valuable workplace transferable skills.

Innovative Collaboration with Poker Power

Poker Power, founded by fintech entrepreneur Jenny Just and her daughter Juliette Hulsizer, facilitates the integration of poker strategies into leadership development. The program emphasizes parallels between poker and the business world.

From Theory to Practice: Virtual Poker Tables as Learning Grounds

Each class begins with core leadership competencies, transitioning to practical application on Poker Power’s online platform. This hands-on approach helps participants reinforce lessons, mirroring challenges encountered in the corporate environment.

Safe Environment for Skill Practice

Gail Berger, deputy director at the Kellogg Center for Executive Women, underscores the importance of practicing skills in a safe environment. This allows participants to embody and apply leadership skills with confidence during real-world scenarios.

Global Impact: Over 250 Companies Join the Initiative

Poker Power’s partnership extends to over 250 companies globally, including major players like Morgan Stanley and KPMG. The focus remains on creating an inclusive environment for women to learn, take risks, and build skills through poker.

Journey of the Founder: Poker’s Impact on Career Success

Jenny Just, the founder of Poker Power, discovered the profound impact of poker on negotiation skills during her career. She believes that honing poker skills earlier could have spared her from numerous career setbacks.

Real-world Success Stories: Poker’s Transformative Effect

Anjum Abbasi-Voight, a former student of the Kellogg poker course, attests to improved emotional composure and resilience. Regular poker practice at PEAK6, a financial services company, further enhances the retention of learned skills.

Poker’s Resurgence for Female Leaders

While poker is centuries old, it is experiencing a resurgence among female leaders. Renowned figures like Maria Konnikova and Annie Duke share insights on the game’s transferable lessons, contributing to its popularity among women in leadership.

Paving the Way: A Goal to Teach One Million Women

Jenny Just’s ambitious goal is to teach one million women how to play poker, envisioning a broader impact on empowering women in various aspects of life.

Thus, the Kellogg-Poker Power collaboration signifies a progressive approach to leadership development, using poker as a catalyst for women executives to navigate the complexities of the corporate world.

Re-reported from the article originally published in The Forbes