Many female founders return to school after exiting their startups due to a range of personal motivations, from fulfillment to strategic needs. Research indicates women often face greater scrutiny and require more credentials for similar roles compared to men. This situation reflects the phenomenon of 'perception gaps' where women feel underestimated based on prior roles. Additionally, many feel 'success guilt,' prompting the need to validate their investments in themselves. Pursuing advanced degrees can help alleviate these pressures and allow for personal and professional repositioning.
Many women navigate what I call 'perception gaps,' being underestimated or typecast based on their past roles. After an exit, they may feel pressure to prove what's next, especially if their identity was deeply tied to their company.
Even after success, women often experience 'success guilt' or feel the need to justify further investment in themselves, especially if caregiving or cultural norms are in play.
Going after an advanced degree can help with this feeling by allowing women to 'reposition themselves' and 'reset' after an exit.
Only 36% of female tech founders in North America have an advanced degree, versus 41% of male founders, PitchBook data from 2023 shows, even though women have recently outpaced men in undergraduate programs.
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