Surrounded by some of the country’s highest peaks, Denver was a fitting host for the 555 guests of Forté’s 2025 MBA Leadership Conference, as they reached new heights before beginning the world’s leading MBA programs.
The lively and inspirational, two-day event featured engaging plenary sessions, engrossing workshops and panels, a Career Expo offering 1:1 conversations with representatives from leading firms in tech, consulting, finance, investment banking, marketing, consumer packaged goods, and more – and a whole lot of networking.
A hand-selected group of successful, savvy businesswomen across industries, geographies, and roles served as distinguished panelists and speakers, including:
- Chakilla Robinson-White, Chief Learning and Fulfillment Officer at DaVita
- Betsy Frost, Chief Executive Officer of Q Mixers
- Hailey Sullivan, Chief Marketing Officer of Denver Broncos
- Caitlin McLaughlin, Chief People Officer at Lafayette Square
- Noemie Tilghman, Partner at Deloitte
In addition, nearly 200 students joined the pre-conference Breaking Barriers Symposium with Denise Woodard, Founder and CEO of Partake Foods, delivering the keynote and Orion Brown, Founder and CEO of BlackTravelBox®, serving as moderator.
Conference attendees were effusive about their gains from the conference, and their feedback coalesced around three themes that will serve them well on their business school and career paths:
Community: Your Vibe Attracts Your Tribe
Walking into a room full of 555 strangers can be intimidating, but many conference-goers cited the conference’s unparalleled networking opportunities as a chief benefit. Chakilla Robinson-White set the tone during the opening plenary by encouraging sincere relationships. “She highlighted the importance of viewing interactions through a lens of reciprocity and support, not transactions,” said Emily Mam, USC (Marshall School of Business) MBA. Following Chakila’s advice during the conference was not difficult for Emily because her fellow attendees amazed her. “How is everyone so cool? Every conversation I had, every new person I met, I felt inspired…everyone radiated such positive energy and excitement.”
Whether listening to panelists discuss negotiation tactics or global career opportunities, sitting with like-minded colleagues during meals, or learning what it takes to be an entrepreneur during the closing plenary, women of wide-ranging backgrounds and experiences allied with each other as they prepared for one of the most intense and rewarding experiences of their lives. Kirsi Zhou, Rice University (Jones Graduate School of Business) MBA, gushed about making sincere connections. “I finally understand what people mean when they talk about ‘your vibe attracts your tribe,” she said.
I finally understand what people mean when they talk about your vibe attracts your tribe
Kaitlyn Tamara Hyppolite, Duke University (The Fuqua School of Business) MBA, also valued the sense of belonging she felt during the conference. The Dialogue with Leadership session featuring Betsy Frost and Hailey Sullivan especially resonated with her and confirmed that she was in the right place. “Everything that I was nervous and tense about, they somehow touched on. I felt seen,” she explained.
Sewa Atanda, Johns Hopkins University (Carey Business School) MBA, recognized that developing and maintaining reciprocal bonds with her fellow MBAs was essential when she heard a speaker say, “Seeing your classmates as competition will make your MBA journey lonely.”
Emily applauded the conference for creating a supportive environment with a “strong sense of care and determination to make sure we all succeed together.”
Authenticity: Every Voice Matters
With three-quarters of female executives experiencing Impostor Syndrome and Black employees three times more likely to code-switch than white employees, messages that encouraged authenticity were top-of-mind for many attendees.
Eileen San Pedro, USC (Marshall School of Business), said that attending the conference was “a transformational experience” because it “created a space where every voice mattered, regardless of background, skin color, or story.” This is especially important to Eileen because she has a non-traditional background. “As a female immigrant in a military construction battalion, I was one of only a handful of women among 600 men. I wasn’t used to seeing people who looked like me in leadership roles. Being in a room full of strong, driven women reminded me that we do belong in positions of power, influence, and impact.”
Kirsi Zhou noted that, “As a first-generation immigrant and international student, I've often felt like I needed to work twice as hard to prove myself - navigating language barriers, cultural differences, and constantly second-guessing whether I was saying or doing the ‘right’ thing.” The conference helped Kirsi stop second-guessing herself, saying that it “completely shifted my mindset: being authentically yourself isn’t just what people put on their bumper stickers - it's what builds real relationships.” She said her conference “breakthrough moment” came when she felt she could be her true self. “When I stopped trying to be who I thought they wanted me to be and started being genuinely me, every conversation became meaningful,” she explained.
Being in a room full of strong, driven women reminded me that we do belong in positions of power, influence, and impact.
Ellen Varhol, University of Wisconsin - Madison (Wisconsin School of Business) MBA, discovered that staying true to her principles can serve as a guiding light during her career. “You have values. Hone them to find your way,” Ellen specified as one of her favorite speaker’s quotes.
Committing to authenticity can also lead to better-fitting roles, although it might require more patience. Tara Bharadwaj, Georgia Tech (Scheller College of Business) MBA, felt encouraged to be an “unedited version” of herself after hearing a speaker say, “the right opportunity is waiting” for those who remain true to themselves.
Kate heard a similar message during the Dialogue with Leadership session when Hailey Sullivan said, “It's ok to not have it all figured out yet, or ever!” Hailey’s “levity, vulnerability and honesty” put Kate at ease “and meant a lot to me as I navigate an unusual pivot and personal rebranding,” she said.
Leadership: Growth Comes from Discomfort
With just 10 percent of Fortune 500 CEO roles held by women, Forté’s mission to get “more women leading” is more relevant than ever. The conference inspired and encouraged women to forge ahead in developing their leadership skills, but also to shake up the status quo by believing in the talents they already possess. Holly Briffa, Yale University MBA, feels hopeful, saying, “There’s still so much work to do – but this conference reinforced just how strong, driven, and ready this next generation of leaders is.”
Kelsey Albertson, Indiana University (Kelley School of Business) MBA, was reminded that successful leadership is an evolution, not “a straight line, but a collection of moments where we lead with clarity, resilience, and intention.”
Eileen San Pedro’s biggest lessons from the conference centered on the growth that happens despite – and sometimes because of – moments of discomfort. “As a hard introvert…this is something I continue to work through. Coming from a military background, where a specific mindset and structure shaped much of my professional life, I sometimes felt intimidated walking into rooms that operated so differently. But I’ve learned that growth only begins when you allow yourself to be seen and heard even when it’s uncomfortable,” she reflected.
Kelsey’s hot takes on leadership mirrored Eileen’s, listing as her biggest leadership takeaways: “Imposter syndrome means you're growing” and “Confidence comes from reps and preparation. Even seasoned leaders still get nervous.”
Mariana Carvajal, Indiana University (Kelley School of Business) MBA, also sees leadership differently now after learning “that you don’t need prior experience in a specific field to succeed in it — what matters most is being open to learning, adaptable, and willing to take on new challenges,” she said.
Opportunities for transformation are rare, especially within merely 48 hours, but it’s clear that attendees of Forté’s annual conference will pave the way for “more women leading” in the years ahead.
Eileen San Pedro summed up the experiences of many: “As I move forward in my MBA journey, I carry these lessons with me. I know this is just the beginning, and there will be many opportunities ahead, but also challenges I’ll need to overcome. And while the path won’t always be easy, I’m ready to rise to the occasion, to keep pushing forward, and to bring others with me along the way.”
while the path won’t always be easy, I’m ready to rise to the occasion, to keep pushing forward, and to bring others with me along the way.
Forté is the place for MBAs! If you’re an incoming MBA student, discover our events and programs designed to help you get ready for business school, connect with companies and peers, and build your network before classes begin. For current MBA students, we offer professional development resources, campus engagement opportunities, and exclusive networking events to help you thrive.
