FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Prestigious Award Recognizes an MBA Student Advancing Leadership for Women
(Austin, TX, May 22, 2024) – Forté Foundation, a nonprofit founded to increase opportunities for women in business leadership through access to business education and professional development, today announced the 2024 winner of the annual Edie Hunt Inspiration Award.
This year’s winner is Toyosi Oni, a full-time MBA student from Judge Business School at the University of Cambridge.
Named in honor of Forté’s Board Chair Emeritus, Edie Hunt, the award recognizes a student attending one of Forté’s 62-member business schools, which represent the leading MBA programs in the U.S., Europe, and Canada. MBA students earn this annual recognition by actively contributing to the advancement of women into business leadership positions at their school or within their community.
The winner, Toyosi Oni, is a student at Judge Business School at the University of Cambridge and will be finishing her MBA this upcoming September. Toyosi was elected Co-Chair of the Gender Equality Group at Judge Business School where she facilitated networking sessions on effective strategies to promote gender equality in business. In addition to this leadership role on campus, she was also Co-Chair of the Cambridge Africa Business Network and actively supported women pursuing business careers in Africa through mentorship. She also collaborates with The Investment Society of the University of Lagos, where she mentors two young undergraduate women, guiding them toward careers in business and investment fields.
“I am filled with immense gratitude to the Forté Foundation as it has been with me throughout my MBA journey. From being an MBA launcher to a Forté Fellow and now winning the Edie Hunt Inspiration Award, it truly feels like a full circle moment,” said Toyosi Oni. “I am particularly inspired by Edie Hunt’s tenacity and determination. Her vision has created opportunities for countless women in the world, ensuring that there are more women in leadership positions. Winning this prize has empowered me to be the best I can be. It has shown me that there is a reward for hard work and I am now more driven than ever to ensure that in any capacity I find myself, I will be dedicated to seeing more women lead.”
Forté received nearly 200 nominations this year and recognizes five finalists that impacted the broader community of women in business.
● Oluwatosin Fasoranti, Olin Business School at Washington University in St. Louis, served as a student ambassador, peer coach, and VP of the Olin Women in Business & Olin Finance Club.
● Cinthya Garibay-Collard, Yale School of Management, served as the lead for Fempire, the flagship conference hosted by Women in Management, the affinity group created to support women personally and professionally and empower allies to be agents of change. She also served as a mentor to women pursuing an MBA and is working with a local high school business club to inspire young women at a critical stage in their educational journey, demonstrating the value of early engagement.
● Priyanka Kingrani, McCombs School of Business, University of Texas at Austin, served as President of Graduate Women in Business. During her leadership, she launched professional development and speed networking events with leading firms hiring women MBAs and spearheaded an allyship training program with male classmates that achieved 20% participation.
● Madeline Mulkey Ledford, Goizueta Business School at Emory University, served as President of Goizueta Women in Business and pioneered a woman’s “peer-to-peer” mentorship program for new students while leading her team in hosting 15 events.
● Juhie Rathor, Anderson School of Management at University of California – Los Angeles, served as Student Body President and Executive VP of Women’s Business Connection, a professional club that cultivates influential and inclusive business leaders. She also collaborated in a fireside chat focused on women’s leadership, including discussing the cultural impact of the “Barbie” movie.
“We are thrilled to honor Toyosi with this award as she has demonstrated a true commitment to leading women at Judge Business School and beyond,” said Elissa Sangster, CEO of Forté Foundation. “We also want to recognize the stellar contributions of our finalists, Oluwatosin, Cinthya, Priyanka, Madeline, and Juhie. This year, we received nominations from many who are continuously working to advance equity for future professional women. I am so impressed by them and grateful for their investment and passion.”
Edie Hunt Inspiration Award nominees must be enrolled in a full-time program as a second-year MBA student at a Forté partner school or enrolled full-time in a one-year program. The winner receives a $2,500 cash award, free Forté MBA Women’s Leadership Conference registration, valued at over $300, and other additional benefits. Finalists receive free conference registration and a $100 gift card.
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 Forté is a nonprofit organization with the goal of achieving gender parity at all levels of business. Forté works closely with business schools, corporations, and universities to ensure women have access to opportunities at every stage in their careers. Forté offers a wide variety of resources, including MBA prep, professional development, leadership education, and a diverse community of successful women. For more information, visit fortefoundation.org.
Media contacts: Michele Vana, BCW Global, michele.vana@bcw-global.com; Katie Stanfield, Forté Foundation, katies@fortefoundation.org
