For Bose, every career fair is an opportunity to listen first. When the company joined their first Forté Virtual Career Fair, the goal was simple: meet women who reflect Bose’s values of innovation, collaboration, and curiosity.

That’s where Bose first connected with Jessica Stark, a Forté Fellow and Executive MBA graduate from Duke’s Fuqua School of Business. Jessica stood out for her initiative and genuine engagement. She asked about Bose’s Women@Bose network during the event and later followed up with a message that built on that same conversation.

“There wasn’t an immediate role that matched Jessica’s background at the time,” recalls Shannon Seder, Senior Recruiter for Global Consumer Marketing at Bose. “But she took the time to reach out and stay in touch, and that persistence made an impression.”

Months later, when a new marketing role opened, Shannon reconnected. Jessica joined Bose that September as a GTM Marketing Strategy Manager, relocating from Texas to Massachusetts. Within a year, she advanced into Regional Trade Marketing, Global Travel & Aviation — a position that better aligned with her strengths and Bose’s evolving business needs.

“Forté candidates consistently demonstrate a strong commitment to advancing in business,” Seder says. “Their combination of academic excellence and leadership experience aligns closely with the kind of talent we value at Bose.”

Jessica agrees. “At Bose, if you see a missed opportunity, no one holds you back from going after it,” she says.

For Bose, her story is a powerful example of what can happen when genuine conversations lead to opportunity — and when a company listens first.