George Washington School of Business News

July 3, 2008

Hot Mommas Project: GW's Sizzling New Research Initiative

Left to right: Kathy Korman Frey, Dave Juth, Esther Leff ( GW student and "Hot Mommas" project assistant)

Move over Jennifer Lopez, Katie Couric, and Heidi Klum...you aren't the only moms who have it all -- a successful career and the carpool on Thursdays. A new GWSB-sponsored initiative called, "The Hot Mommas Project," highlights everyday-female professionals who are achieving success in business and life. The award-winning research is being used to develop curricula and toolkits to train women leaders.

GWSB Adjunct Professor of management and Associate Director of GW's Center for Entrepreneurial Excellence (CFEE) Kathy Korman Frey developed the "Hot Mommas Project," which chronicles the best practices of women who have achieved success in multiple facets of their life and career. "I actually started thinking about this project in 1998 when I was in business school. One day I looked at all of my female classmates and thought, we're spending all of this money on our education, what's going to happen when we have kids?" said Frey. She noticed that all of the women were balancing multiple priorities. When she started her business consulting firm, Vision Forward, she hired highly motivated women, both moms and those without children. She began to notice that for many of the women there was a formula for success and decided to document it. "As a business professor I felt compelled to document the equations that allowed these 'Hot Mommas' to have the best of all worlds while achieving their personal and career goals."

Frey's documentation will yield the world's largest women's case-study database. Ten of the case studies were published in "Effective Small Business Management," one of Prentice Hall Business Publishing's top business textbooks. "The book will be used by schools across the country in the fall and will allow thousands of business students to benefit from GWSB research," commented Frey. The book also includes several case studies from a companion project called "Cool Daddies," which highlights successful fathers who are concerned with family and work.

CFEE, through the generosity of Businesswoman Linda Rabbitt, MA, '72, provided a grant for the initial survey research when the endeavor began in 2002. The completed research will be published in a book titled "How to be a Hot Momma: The Rule Book for Doing it All," which is currently in production and scheduled to be released next year. Frey is also looking for sponsors for a 2008-2009 global case-study competition where women from around the world will share their success stories and lessons learned. These stories will become part of the current database. Dave Juth, BBA, '88, works for FMS, Inc., a software firm, and is partnering with Frey to develop the website for the case competition. "FMS is excited to be working with Professor Frey to develop the 'Hot Mommas' case-study competition website. The unique challenges women entrepreneurs and leaders face really do require a forum specifically dedicated to studying these issues," commented Juth.

To learn more about the "Hot Mommas" or "Cool Daddies" initiatives visit www.hotmommas.org. For sponsorship information contact Kathy Korman Frey at HotMommas@VisionForward.com.

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