As an alumna, she has taken similar initiatives to further promote opportunities for women at the Business School. She recalled a time she sat down with former Business School Dean Kim B. Clark ’74 to discuss how to increase the number of female students.

“I didn’t even know him,” she said. “I got an appointment with him and laid out my little plan.”

More informally, Franklin has helped other women advance their careers, such as by helping them get positions on corporate boards. “I do that out of my back pocket,” she said. “I really believe that women who have achieved a certain level and have the ability to help other women climb the ladder really should do it. I think we have a responsibility to help each other.”

Franklin has also worked to advance the interests of women through more long-term attitudinal shifts in the culture of an organization. She said, “You don’t make culture changes in one fell swoop in an afternoon. It takes persistence and desire to do it.”

According to Hajim, Franklin’s persistence has been one of the defining characteristics of her career. “She’s carried this crusade for women all through her life,” he said.

—Staff writer Caroline T. Zhang can be reached at caroline.zhang@thecrimson.com.