Annual Award Recognizes an MBA Student for Advancing Women in Business 

Austin, TX (April 1, 2026) – Forté Foundation, a nonprofit focused on expanding access for high-potential individuals seeking an MBA and accelerating career pathways, today announced the 2026 winner of the annual Edie Hunt Inspiration Award. 

This year’s winner is Teyonna Jarman, a student at Carnegie Mellon’s Tepper School of Business.  

The Edie Hunt Inspiration Award, named for Forté's Board Chair Emeritus, celebrates MBA students at the non-profit organization’s member schools who advance Forté’s mission to “get more women leading.” This annual award recognizes outstanding contributions to their school or community. It highlights those who lead with impact and bring others along to help create a business world where more women can thrive. 

Facilitating and creating inclusive spaces for all voices to feel welcome is an essential part of Teyonna’s journey. She was selected for the award for her support of women pursuing business careers with her clear focus on intersectional advocacy. “As a queer, mixed-race woman with experience supporting other-abled individuals, I bring a personal stake to this work,” she says. 

Being this advocate for other women comes naturally to Teyonna, as she holds numerous leadership roles in both Tepper student organizations and outside groups. As a mentor for Tepper Women in Business, she coaches first-year MBA women through recruitment preparation, confidence building, and translating their strengths into compelling professional narratives. As an admissions fellow, Teyonna helps to recruit the next generation of women at Tepper and fosters a welcoming environment so they can envision themselves thriving in this next chapter. 

Her work with the Black Business Association, student government, and the Out & Allied club aims to focus on her passion for intersectional advocacy as she carves out programming and inclusive spaces to amplify underrepresented voices. 

Outside of Tepper student organizations, she also mentors for the South Pacific Islander Organization as her mentees pursue their MBAs. In addition, she also sits on the Pittsburgh chapter board of TiE Global as a Golub Capital Board Fellow as she seeks to strengthen the TiE Women program with sustainable programmatic infrastructure that expands access to funding and investor pathways for early-stage women entrepreneurs worldwide. 

Teyonna is also an active member of Forté’s Carnegie Mellon chapter, getting involved with the MBA Leadership Conferences, acting as an MBA Brand Ambassador, and participating in the MBA Mentorship Program. 

“Teyonna Jarman has demonstrated a passion for carving out spaces for underrepresented voices to truly build their confidence and strengthen their professional narrative. We are so thrilled to honor her commitment to this advocacy and recognize her with the Edie Hunt Inspiration Award this year,” said Forté Foundation CEO Elissa Sangster. “We are also incredibly proud of the nominees and applicants who are fearlessly and boldly leading the future for professional women and inspiring them in their career journeys.” 

Forté Foundation received numerous nominations and named five finalists who have also greatly impacted the community of women in business. They include: 

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  Larissa Bandeira

  Columbia Business School

  As Columbia Business School’s Forté Campus Ambassador, Larissa works to create spaces for representation in business, including speaking with prospective students year-round about how Forté empowers women throughout the MBA journey. This commitment to advancement predates her time at Columbia Business School, as she founded Women’s Up!, a gender-equity group that acts as a safe space for women at UBS Brazil to discuss challenges, build confidence, and advocate for career progression.

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Photo courtesy of Larissa Bandeira (via LinkedIn)

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  Alexis Black

  University of Michigan Ross School of Business

  Stemming from her nontraditional path in pursuing a business career, Alexis has a fierce commitment to ensure that no woman questions whether she belongs in a leadership position. Partnering with Ross Admissions, Alexis works to elevate parent-specific support early in the application process and shares guides that she’s created on being an MBA and a parent, recruiting, and application preparation to demystify a process that can feel confusing and inaccessible. As Co-President of MoMBAs, she also works to support student mothers across all MBA formats to encourage the belief that motherhood is a leadership advantage.

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Photo courtesy of University of Michigan - Ross School of Business

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  Isamar Lopez

  Rice University Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Business

  Isamar serves as the President of Rice University’s Women in Leadership Conference, leading a team of more than 70 women and allies to produce Rice Business’ most attended signature conference. Additionally, she works as a Communications Fellow and graduate and undergraduate Teaching Assistant to mentor undergraduate and MBA women each day.

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Photo courtesy of An Le, Luxe Studio Productions

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  Grace Titilawo

  Cornell University Samuel Curtis Johnson School of Management

  As VP of Admitted Student Relations at the Samuel Curtis Johnson School of Management, Grace plays a direct role in supporting the recruiting and retention of women entering the MBA program. Beyond recruitment, she acts as mentor within Cornell’s Forté chapter and also led a writing workshop to help women pursuing business careers to clearly articulate self-advocacy and confidence.

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Photo courtesy of Grace Titilawo

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  Parul Verma

  Stanford University Graduate School of Business

  Parul led and shaped several Stanford University Graduate School of Business’ Women in Management initiatives including helping to curate and lead an all-day retreat focused on belonging, confidence, and leadership identity. An active mentor and participant in several groups including Women in Management and Forté, Parul’s work is driven by a belief that representation is built not by inspiration alone, but through sustained mentorship, community, and opportunity.

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Photo courtesy of Stanford University - Graduate School of Business

About the Edie Hunt Inspiration Award 

Edie Hunt Inspiration Award nominees must be enrolled in a full-time program as a second-year MBA student at a Forté member school or enrolled full-time in a one-year program. Recipients receive a $2,500 cash award, a complimentary Forté MBA Leadership Conference registration, and other additional benefits. The award was created in 2009 to honor the Chair Emeritus of Forté Foundation’s Board of Directors, Edie Hunt. Edie was with Goldman Sachs for over 30 years, a partner from 2004 to 2011, and most recently served as Chief Diversity Officer and Advisory Director until the end of 2013 when she retired. She is a graduate of the Booth School of Business at the University of Chicago. 

 ABOUT FORTÉ 

For over twenty years, Forté has expanded access and opportunity to business education and professional development, including launching hundreds of thousands of women into fulfilling careers. Working closely with business schools, corporations, and universities, Forté helps the talented, qualified members of its community to achieve success in their careers - whether that means earning an MBA, discovering career paths in various industries, developing essential business skills, or connecting with recruiters at leading companies. Forté offers a wide variety of resources, including MBA prep, professional development, leadership education, and a diverse community of successful women. These include MBA Takeoff, MBA Financial Services Fast Track Conference, and the MBA Leadership Conference. For more information, visit fortefoundation.org. 

Media contacts: Michele Vana, Burson, michele.vana@bursonglobal.com;  Katie Stanfield, Forté Foundation, katies@fortefoundation.org