More Women Earning MBAs

Claim your seat at the table.

Forté Fellowships are prestigious, competitive awards that are recognized within the business school community and beyond. Forté Fellows exhibit exemplary leadership, represent diverse backgrounds, and demonstrate a commitment to advancing women in business — all of which aligns with Forté's mission. To date, our partner business schools have awarded $400 million to more than 17,000 Forté Fellows.

If you would like to be considered for a fellowship, you must first submit an MBA application to a participating school. All schools grant awards for full-time students. Part-time and executive awards are available at select schools. If you are interested in learning more about the Forté Fellowship program at any of our partner schools, please contact an admissions representative.

Selection

It is up to each individual school to decide who will represent them as Forté Fellows. The process is:

  • Student applies to Forté partner business school
  • Student receives an offer of admission into Forté partner school's MBA program
  • Student receives consideration for all scholarship opportunities through that institution
  • Partner school selects its Forté Fellows
  • Partner school notifies Forté of its selections

 Note: Students of all nationalities and gender identities are eligible for consideration.

Benefits

What can you hope to gain with a Forté Fellowship? Besides the financial benefits, there is automatic access to our resources, immediate exposure to leading companies in the Forté network, and connection to a network of Fellows that extends beyond your business school.

There are additional ways you will benefit from being a part of the Forté community:

  • Participation in Forté's' MBA Women's Leadership and MBA Financial Services FAST Track Conferences
    • Network with lead executives and MBA students from Forté partner schools
    • Hear panel discussions from corporate partners and MBA alumni
    • Attend workshops that foster professional and personal development
  • Access to an online networking community for Forté Fellows and Fellows alumni
  • Inclusion in the Forté Fellows resume book, which is distributed each fall to Forté partner companies
  • Special invitations for job openings and leadership programs at Forté partner companies
  • Lifetime access to Forté's online event series — including career, professional, and leadership development topics — and access to our library of on-demand recordings
  • Mentoring and special opportunities to connect with other Fellows and Forté representatives
    at your school
  • Leadership development opportunities through your role in planning your school's Forté outreach program to undergraduate women
  • Access to Forté Fellows LinkedIn and Facebook groups

Expectations

Forté Fellows are expected to further Forté's mission on campus and engage in Forté's pipeline initiatives. Below are examples of campus opportunities.

Further the Forté Mission at Your School

  • Membership and/or leadership in school clubs and societies dedicated to advancing women in business, including representation in the Women in Business and/or Men as Allies clubs
  • Serve as a Forté MBA Ambassador and be a voice for Forté on your campus
  • Work with the Admissions Office to recruit more women MBA students

Engage in Forté Programs

  • Participate in Forté’s undergraduate and MBA prep initiatives
    • Outreach to undergraduate women on your campus (i.e. mentor program)
    • Attend undergraduate career events and host a Forté table on campus
    • Serve as a Forté MBALaunch expert or advisor
  • Promote the Forté MBA Forums to your network, represent your school at Forums in your area, and/or volunteer with Forté to help with onsite event logistics
  • Serve as an ambassador to your summer internship employer

School Criteria

While Forté partner schools are responsible for selecting and awarding Forté Fellowships, Forté asks that the following qualifications be considered as part of each school's criteria:

  • Exhibit exemplary leadership in one or more of the following: academic leadership, team leadership, community leadership, and creative leadership
  • Represent a diversity of educational and work backgrounds, career goals, ethnicities, citizenship/nationality, sexual orientation, and gender identities/expression
  • MBA degree candidate at Forté partner school (full-time, part-time, executive programs, dual degree, or online programs)
  • Demonstrate a commitment to Forté’s mission of launching women into fulfilling, significant careers through access to business education, opportunities, and a community of successful women
  • Additional requirements may be set by individual schools (for example, alignment with school’s mission or core values)

Forté Fellows Profile

 Class of 2025Class of 2024Class of 2023
  1,496 reporting 1,757 reporting 1,395 reporting
Citizenship U.S. Citizens & Permanent Residents (55%)
Other Countries (45%)
U.S. Citizens & Permanent Residents (54%)
Other Countries (46%)
U.S. Citizens & Permanent Residents (63%)
Other Countries (37%)
Average GMAT 712 703 701
Average GPA 3.61 3.61 3.62
Average Years
Work Experience
6.46 5.99 5.92
Ethnicity

White, not of Hispanic origin (47%)
Asian/Pacific Islander (21%)
Black, African American (9%)
Hispanic/Latinx (9%)
Multiracial or Multiethnic (6%)
American Indian/Alaskan Native (0.49%)
Other (1%)

White, not of Hispanic origin (42%)
Asian/Pacific Islander (19%)
Black, African American (11%)
Hispanic/Latinx (11%)
Multiracial or Multiethnic (5%)
American Indian/Alaskan Native (0.42%)
Other (1%)

White, not of Hispanic origin (48%)
Asian/Pacific Islander (18%)
Black, African American (12%)
Hispanic/Latinx (8%)
Multiracial or Multiethnic (5%)
Other (1%)

Undergraduate
Major

Business (29%)
Economics (11%)
Engineering (17%)
Humanities/Social Science (9%)
Information Systems/Computer Science (5%)
Mathematics/Physical Science (6%)
Other (23%) 

Business (28%)
Economics (13%)
Engineering (17%)
Humanities/Social Sciences (10%)
Information Systems/Computer Science (3%)
Mathematics/Physical Science (8%)
Other (20%) 

Business (28%)
Economics (11%)
Engineering (16%)
Humanities/Social Science (14%)
Information Systems/Computer Science (3%)
Mathematics/Physical Science (10%)
Other (18%)