Cultivating Leadership Skills: What You Won’t Learn in Business School
Embrace and cultivate your future as a leader by becoming your own advocate for professional growth and advancement. Prepare to champion your career-long development using insights from Selena Rezvani – speaker, consultant and author of The Next Generation of Women Leaders.  Her practical how-tos for negotiating the workplace will be drawn from the advice and remarkable lives of successful women. Learn from the real world what you won’t in business school about leading and shaping a career with meaning.
Presenter: Selena Rezvani, Author, Speaker, Consultant

Follow Your Dreams with Confidence
How do you make smart choices that align with your dreams to find meaningful work and long-term career satisfaction? In this session, Alexandra Levit, workplace author and speaker, will help you uncover your true passion through self-assessment. Then you’ll learn how to research careers that match your unique skill set, track down job opportunities and network in your field. Define your version of career success. Don’t rely on what others think. Create the career of your dreams! Presenter:  Alexandra Levit, Workplace Author and Speaker

First Impressions: Powerful Insights on How Others Perceive You
What role do first impressions play in the life of a leader?  What matters most on those first few seconds?  Jeff Anderson, Associate Dean at University of Chicago Booth School of Business and head of Chicago Booth’s renowned Leadership Effectiveness and Development (LEAD) program will guide you through an interactive seminar that will illuminate how others size us up and how to use those first impressions to establish enduring credibility.  You’ll gain critical insight into how you see others and how others see you that will add tremendous value to your first year team experiences and beyond. 
Presenter:  Jeff Anderson, Associate Dean, Leadership Development, Chicago Booth

Workshops for MBAs in the Class of 2010, 2011, 2012 and Alumnae
Participants will select from one of the sessions below:

Communicating for Success
What are the key drivers for success in your internship or first position after graduation?  Effective communication skills, hands down.  Join Jodi Glickman Brown, founder and president of Great on the Job, in a seminar to help you convey competence, confidence and professionalism in every workplace encounter.  Jodi will discuss how to differentiate yourself from your peers through strategic and persuasive communication skills.  Be regarded as a “high potential” employee from the moment you step into your new position. Participants will role play various situations and will have an opportunity to learn and practice Great on the Job’s proven strategies for making themselves stand out at work.
Presenter: Jodi Glickman Brown, Founder & President, Great on the Job

Social Entrepreneurship
For many years there has been controversy over the idea that business has a social responsibility beyond “maximizing shareholder value”. In this session, Timothy Fedderson, Wendell Hobbs Professor of Managerial Economics & Decision Sciences and Director of Social Enterprise at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University will outline some of the historical context of this debate and the emergence of the idea of social entrepreneurship. The Kellogg School of Management has introduced several new initiatives that help students turn their inspiration into action. The session will cover some of these initiatives and highlight some of the most inspirational examples illustrating how these students leveraged their MBA to become social entrepreneurs.
Presenter: Timothy Fedderson, Wendell Hobbs Professor of Managerial Economics & Decision Sciences
Director of Social Enterprise, Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University 

Dialogue with Leadership
Despite all the gains that women have made in civil rights, education and the labor force, there is still dearth of women in the senior ranks of companies.  Yet over the past few decades women have made innumerable contributions to business. Join in this candid conversation as Colleen Goggins, Chairman of Consumer Group at Johnson & Johnson and one of Fortune's 50 Most Powerful Women and our panel will share insights and dispense advice on how to overcome the challenges of advancing to the top.  Moderated by Pattie Sellers, Editor at Large of FORTUNE. This expert panel will analyze women’s distinctive leadership abilities to step up and steer business in positive directions including ethical leadership and more connections to social enterprise. An exclusive event for conference participants and Forté sponsors, all attendees will have the opportunity to pose their own questions in addition to listening in. Click here to learn more about the Dialogue with Leadership.
Panelists: Deborah Doyle McWhinney, President, Citi Personal Wealth Management; Caitlin Pappas, President of Johnson & Johnson’s Baby businesses; Pattie Sellers, Editor-at-Large, FORTUNE

Lunch and Networking by Industry Interest
MBA women have the opportunity to network with company recruiters in their industry of interest. 

MBA Company Expo
Forté Foundation’s Company Expo brings together Fortune 100 recruiters and exceptional talent in a welcoming environment and on a personal scale. At the Company Expo current women MBAs meet employers one-on-one, explore company culture, and learn about long-range opportunities.  Gain an advantage over your MBA peers by developing personal contacts with companies early in the job search process.  It’s the only event of its kind where the most prestigious corporations in finance, consulting, consumer products, technology and healthcare come face-to-face with a select group of the most talented and ambitious women in the country.  Click here to learn more about the Company Expo.

Note: The Company Expo is open to students attending the Forté MBA Women's Conference in the classes of 2011 and 2012.  The Company Expos is not a job fair and is intended as an opportunity for current students to network with Forté corporate representatives and learn about long-range opportunities.

Company Fireside Chats
Conference participants may be invited by Forté companies to small group meetings.

Functional and Industry Introductions
Representatives from Forté sponsor companies and school alumnae will present an overview of industries and functions of business including:

• Financial Services – Investment Banking, Asset Management, Private Equity, Private Wealth
• New Ventures – Entrepreneurship, Venture Capital
• Marketing, Sales & Brand Management
• Consulting
• Technology
• “Socially Responsible” Industries – Non-profit, CSR, “Green” Careers
• General Management/Leadership Development Programs
• Corporate Finance
• Healthcare/Pharma/Biotech

This is a great opportunity to learn about possible options to pursue through your MBA program and start building your network.  Click here learn more about the Functional and Industry Introductions. 

Workshop for Second Years & Alumnae – Concurrent with Company Expo

Strategic Networking – Taking it to the Next Level
As professional women we know networking is valuable in concept, but how do you know if you are doing it effectively?  Networking expert Diane Darling, author of the Networking Survival Guide, will show you how to build and sustain mutually beneficial relationships.  This interactive workshop will focus on how to benefit from the natural strengths women bring to networking and how to avoid embarrassing moments and regain your equilibrium.  Diane will also discuss how to maximize technology in your networking by blending offline people skills with Facebook, LinkedIn and email to your advantage. You will leave with concepts and tools enabling you to transform your social and business networks into engines that support your objectives and expand your influence in life and at work.  

MBA Women's Breakfast & Fellow Breakfast
Facilitated networking with your peers.  

Lunch & Keynote 
In 2003, American businesswoman, Connie K. Duckworth, retired as a successful private sector financier, to embark on a new journey of global investment — an investment in hope for women.
Founded by Duckworth in 2004, ARZU is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization that helps Afghan women weavers and their families break the cycle of poverty by providing them steady income and access to education and healthcare by sourcing and selling the rugs they weave. ARZU’s impact extends to tens of thousands of Afghans providing prospects and effecting change within the communities as a whole.  In its 5th year, ARZU evolved to ARZU STUDIO HOPE - a new model of social entrepreneurship dedicated to empowering women through artisan-based employment.

ARZU STUDIO HOPE needs your help spreading hope: Join the Facebook Cause page “Empower Women of Afghanistan” and share with your friends and networks. The student who recruits the most new members before the conference on June 18-19 will receive their very own unique ARZU rug!
Presenter: Connie K. Duckworth, ARZU STUDIO HOPE, Founder and CEO

Concurrent Sessions I & II
Workshops for MBAs in the Class of 2012

Preparing for and Landing an Internship I
Start planning now for the first-year MBA internship recruiting process with expert advice from company executives. Get ahead using these panelists’ tips on how to properly prepare for different industries’ recruiting seasons, shine during your interviews and follow up professionally afterward to convert your connections into offers.  
Panelists: Mark Brostoff, Associate Dean and Director, Weston Career Center, Olin School of Business at Washington University in St. Louis (Moderator); Kristin Irish, Sales and Trading Campus Recruiting Manager for the Americas, UBS Investment Bank; Lindsay Lehman, Associate Business Manager, Kraft
MBA – Johnson School of Management, Cornell; Wayne Taylor, Global Diversity Recruiting, Barclays; Zainab Wasti, Associate Product Director, Johnson & Johnson, MBA – Harvard Business School; Julie Dewitt, Director HR Recruiting, Eli Lilly and Company

Preparing for and Landing an Internship II
See session description for Preparing for and Landing an Internship I
Panelists:  Jennifer Kaplan, Head of Diversity Campus Recruiting, Credit Suisse, Megan Connors, Recruiter, Morgan Stanley; Jamaica Wood, Summer Intern, Kraft Foods, MBA – Darden School of Business Administration at University of Virginia

Leadership Begins at School
Make a lasting contribution to your school and the pipeline of women business leaders through a student leadership position. Learn how to leverage your on-campus leadership roles in the classroom and during recruiting season.  MBA student leaders will discuss how to become a change agent at your school and where your efforts can make the biggest impact.  
Panelists: Rebekah Ahn, MBA Class of 2010, NYU Stern School of Business; Forté Fellow and Edie Hunt Award Winner; Mary Martin, Class of 2010, Columbia Business School; Carol Young, Class of 2010, Olin Business School at Washington University in St. Louis; Kristin Wong, Class of 2010, Kenan-Flagler School of Business at University of North Carolina; Colleen Smith, Director of Student Diversity Initiatives, Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon (Moderator)

Successfully Making a Career Change
Is it your objective to change careers after you wrap up your MBA studies? You should know the dos and don’ts for switching between industries or functions (or both) successfully. Alumnae who’ve navigated these waters will offer advice in this session. They’ll highlight how you can use your networks and your transferrable skills to make a smooth career transition.
Panelists: Jennifer Dahlgren, Senior Associate Brand Manager, Kraft Foods, MBA – Kelley School of Business at Indiana University; Constance Renae Jones, Leadership Program Project Manager, KIPP Foundation, MBA – Harvard School of Business; Allison Phillips, Associate, McKinsey & Company, Forté Fellow Alumna, MBA – Kenan-Flagler Business School at UNC; Jacqueline Purcell, Associate, Morgan Stanley, MBA – Stanford University Graduate School of Business 

Lessons from the Class of 2010
Hindsight is 20/20 when it comes to business school.  Hear from a panel of women recent MBA graduates about their b-school experiences – the highs, the lows and the unexpected - and their top advice for making the most of your 2 years.  Test your pre-conceived notions of what business school will be like and learn from women who have “been there”.  
Panelists: Class of 2010

Sessions for all Participants

Think Competitively, Work Globally
Worldwide historical and geographical divisions are blurred in today’s global marketplace. This brings both opportunities to work internationally as well as challenges from competition abroad. Women business leaders on top of these issues will discuss how you can build a successful global career. Specifics addressed will include negotiating cultural differences, handling increased travel and coping with language barriers. Learn to shift your perceptions to remain competitive. Understand the opportunities to combine social enterprise with international business.
Panelists: Deepika Batra, Manager, GE, MBA – Ross School of Business at University of Michigan; Natasha Brown, Global Marketing Director, McDonalds, MBA – Kelley School of Business at Indiana University, Myriam Le Cannellier, Co-Founder & Director, DSML Executive Search, inc.,
MBA - HEC 

Building a Supportive Sisterhood
Behind every successful businesswoman lies an extraordinary network of champions, allies and mentors. Building this supportive sisterhood isn’t as easy as you might think.  A panel of women business leaders will share their insights on how to best communicate your strengths and accomplishments to colleagues. They will also reveal the benefits of their networks and show you how to foster your own meaningful and productive relationships.
Panelists: Stacey Devore, Manager, Strategy & Operations, Deloitte
MBA – Kelley School of Business at Indiana University; Ellen Glazerman, Executive Director, E&Y Foundation, MBA – Marshall School of Business at USC; Gail Jensen Ludwig, President, TotalWorks, MBA – Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon; Kristin Rossi, Managing Director, Morgan Stanley
MBA – UCLA Anderson School of Management; Representative from Bain Consulting

Embracing Social Enterprise
Apply your business savvy to social enterprise in your day-to-day professional life to foster change and reap rewards. Work for a non-profit, sit on its board or become a conscientious, socially responsible member of the corporate world. This panel will feature women who exemplify commitment to business and social responsibility. Panelists will represent various industries and work in sustainability, corporate social responsibility (CSR) and the non-profit world. Hear how they’ve used their careers to make an impact for social and environmental causes. Learn whether the focus on sustainability and CSR is just a trend or here to stay.
Panelists: Caroline Allen, Vice President, Creation Investments, MBA - Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth; Mary Cahillane, CFO, Spencer Foundation, MBA – Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth; Karen Foley, President, Chicago Scholars, MBA - The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania; Erika Herz, Manager of Sustainability Programs at the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business, and Managing Director of the Alliance for Research on Corporate Sustainability (ARCS), MBA – Darden School of Business Administration at University of Virginia; Representative from Bain Consulting

Succeed as a New Manager
The challenges for new managers are many.  You must establish credibility with seasoned employees with little post-MBA work experience, learn to delegate to “friends”, and find a voice and leadership style that works for you and your team.  Successful managers will share practical advice on how they handled these and other common challenges in their early careers.
Panelists: Christina Schuschel, Managing Director, BMO Capital Markets (former position)
MBA – Columbia Business School; Allyson Stokes Barnard, Senior Consultant, International Business Machines, MBA – Goizueta Business School at Emory; Serena Matsunaga, Associate, Huron Consulting
MBA – Darden School of Business Administration at University of Virginia

Moving from Work/Life “Balance” to “Integration”
Many companies now discuss work/life “balance” as work/life “integration”.  What are the key differences?  What are the models out there for establishing work/life integration and how do they change as your career moves forward?  Women leaders at early, middle and senior career stages will share advice to help you identify what integration means to you and how to manage your time more wisely.
Panelists: Kara Chmielewski, John Crane, Inc., MBA – Olin School of Business at Washington University in St. Louis; Brigitte Ozzello, Associate, Anchor Advisors, MBA – Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley; Reprentative from Bain Consulting

Stand Out as an Emerging Leader
You’ve got what it takes to lead. But unless your senior managers recognize your potential, you may never be given the chance. Learn how to make your employer’s high-potential list. This panel of women executives will tell you what they look for when identifying rising talent. Find out how to create and assume leadership opportunities and accelerate your ascent with smart networking and political savvy. Understand what senior management thinks of you, and what it takes to be considered a top performer.
Panelists: Beverley Babcock, Assistant Controller, Exxon Mobil Corporation, MBA – McMaster University; Julie Dewitt, Director, Business Recruiting; Kathy St. Louis, Vice President of Finance,  General Auditor, Eli Lilly and Company; Emily McNeal, Managing Director, UBS; Representative from Bain Consulting; Holly Sheffield, Managing Director, IBD, Healthcare, UBS, MBA – Columbia Business School

Final Closing Session
Everything’s on the Table
No holds barred during this final discussion led by senior executive women. Unspoken topics and provocative issues will all be fair game.  You will have the opportunity to brainstorm and generate questions during the preceding roundtable discussion.  Be prepared for uncensored insights from these experienced leaders.  Dialogue topics may include relationships, power, money, ambition, success, and gender bias and other subjects not often discussed openly.  
Panelists: Ella Bell, Associate Professor, Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth; Susan Chapman, Global Head of Operations, Citigroup Realty Services, Citi, MBA – University of Wisconsin – Madison, Wisconsin School of Business

*Additional panelists to come.

June 24 - 25, 2010

Are you an incoming MBA student in the class of 2012 that is interested in a career in financial services?  The Financial Services FAST Track Conference provides an opportunity to explore the exciting world of Finance and the diverse careers opportunities available in this industry.  Get a jump start on planning your career and meet with senior professionals currently working in the challenging and rewarding world of Financial Services! 
Learn more>>