Reimagining Women's Leadership Development

Kayla M. Gross is the Inclusion Program Manager for the Department of Computer Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, responsible for increasing and improving the enrollment, retention and experiences of female-identified students in the department. The work is funded by a multi-year grant from the Center for Inclusive Computing.

She holds a concurrent appointment in Wisconsin’s Equity and Inclusion Laboratory and is earning her Master’s of Science in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her research focuses on the experiences of women in the workplace with a particular focus on the design and delivery of women’s leadership development programs.

In 2020, Gross launched Equity U which provides affordable, accessible women's leadership education and curriculum to advance gender equity. With a focus on the political, social, and organizational barriers that impede women’s progress, Equity U equips women, allies and organizations with data and evidence-based strategies for navigating barriers and influencing systemic change.

Her dedication to advancing and improving the experiences of women in the workplace is driven by her work experiences in the male-centric world of college sports. Gross previously served as the Director of Beyond Football for Oregon State University and as Community Relations Coordinator for the University of Wisconsin Athletic Department. In both roles, she was responsible for creating and implementing a strategic vision and innovative programming to develop the personal and professional competencies of student-athletes.