Leading Through uncertainty

MBA Virtual Leadership Conference

Leadership isn’t about titles — it’s about the experiences that shape you. At the Forté MBA Virtual Leadership Conference, you’ll discover how your unique journey — every win, pivot, and lesson learned — can fuel your next professional leap.

Hear from trailblazing leaders in business and connect with MBA peers from leading business schools for bold conversations, practical strategies, and inspiring voices. This dynamic event will empower you to own your story, build lasting confidence, and explore new paths to leadership that reflect who you are and where you're headed.

Plus, meet company representatives from Forté corporate members looking to connect with high-potential MBA students (like you) during the Virtual Career Expo.

View the full agenda for the line-up of our inspiring speakers and event sessions.

Who

Students who are currently enrolled in an full-time MBA Program. Students enrolled in other MBA programs are encouraged to attend the fall Virtual Career Fair.

When

Oct. 9, 2026

9:30 am Preview the Career Expo booths
11am - 3pm Sessions
3 - 4:30 pm Virtual Career Expo
Feel free to come and go as needed.

registration details

Cost: $50 for all students
Contact your business school for potential discount codes.
Deadline: Oct. 9, 2026

Resume Upload Deadline:
To be included in pre-conference communication with participating companies, upload your resume by Sept. 20, 2026 at 11:59pm ET.

Where

Online

Conference Details

HIGHLIGHTS

1

Discover your leadership edge. Dive into sessions that help you own your story and use your experiences to move your career forward.
2

Learn from standout leaders. Hear from women at the top of their game across industries and roles. You'll walk away with practical insights and fresh inspiration.
3

Build your MBA network. Meet and connect with students from other leading business schools who share your ambition and curiosity.
4

Network with in-demand companies. Recruiters from Forté member companies are showing up to meet MBAs like you at the Virtual Career Expo. Get your resume in early and make those connections count.

Friday, OCt. 9, 2026

All sessions are in Eastern Time Zone

9:30 - 10:30 am

Career Expo Preview
Explore the virtual company booths and develop a game plan for the Virtual Career Expo. Note: Representatives from Forté corporate partners will not be staffing the virtual company booths during the Virtual Career Expo Preview.

11:00 - 11:15 am

Opening Session: Welcome Remarks from Forté

11:15 - Noon:

CEO Dialogue: Emily Thomas, CEO & President, Cereal Partners Worldwide
Sit down with Emily Thomas, CEO and President of Cereal Partners Worldwide, for a candid look at what it actually takes to lead through uncertainty. Emily has steered a global joint venture across more than 130 countries, and she brings that vantage point directly to you: the pivots that reshaped her path, the setbacks that redirected it, and the decisions that defined it.

You'll walk away with ways to name your own transferable skills and put your story into words that land. Emily will work through how to build a career strategy flexible enough to bend with change instead of breaking under it, and what she's learned about spotting growth in the exact moments that felt the most unpredictable.

This is a chance to ask the questions you can't answer by researching a bio online: how she reads a career path when the map runs out, and what she'd tell herself if she were starting over today.

Noon - 1:00 pm

MBA Alumni Mentor Roundtables
Join discussions led by Forté MBA alumni for an opportunity to connect in smaller groups, ask candid questions about the multifaceted careers of MBA alumni, and gain practical advice for forging your own unique path.

1:00 - 2:00 pm

Navigating What's Next: Inside MBA Recruiting Today
The MBA job market is changing, and understanding what employers are looking for has never been more important. Hear directly from recruiters making MBA hiring decisions as they share what they are seeing in the market, how recruiting is evolving, and what separates strong candidates from the rest. This panel will provide practical advice on building connections, approaching interviews, and navigating the recruiting process in today’s environment.

2:00 - 2:45 pm

Speed Peer Networking
Connect with your peers from other business schools during one-on-one speed networking.

2:45 - 3:00 pm

Closing Remarks and Intro to Virtual Career Expo

3 - 4:30 pm

Virtual Career Expo
This will be a highly interactive portion of the conference with corporate sponsors.

The Virtual Career Expo brings together the event’s sponsors and exceptional talent (that’s you!). Connect with company representatives to learn more about internship and full-time employment opportunities.

Meet the 2026 Conference Speakers

Emily Thomas

President & CEO, Cereal Partners Worldwide

Emily Thomas is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Cereal Partners Worldwide (CPW), a joint venture between Nestlé S.A. and General Mills Inc., operating in more than 130 countries worldwide. She assumed this role in June 2023.

Prior to joining CPW, Emily served as President, U.S. Snacks at General Mills, where she led one of the company’s largest and most iconic businesses, strengthening its position in the U.S. market and managing a portfolio of well-known brands. She previously held the role of Vice President and Managing Director for General Mills’ Natural and Organic business, where she played a key role in advancing brands such as Annie’s and Cascadian Farm and expanding the company’s presence in fast-growing natural and organic categories.

Emily joined General Mills in 2002 and has since held roles of increasing responsibility across marketing, brand management, and general management. She has worked on several of the company’s most recognised brands, including Big G Cereals, Pillsbury, Betty Crocker, and Annie’s, and served as Business Unit Director between 2016 and 2020. Earlier in her career, she was based in Seoul, South Korea, as Trade Marketing Manager, gaining international operating experience that shaped her global perspective on brands, consumers, and markets.

Emily holds a bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. She is originally from Minnesota.

She resides in Switzerland with her spouse and four children, having relocated in 2023 to lead CPW from its headquarters in La Tour-de-Peilz. Outside of work, Emily has been actively involved in community and social service initiatives and previously served for six years as a board member of Fraser, a non-profit organisation supporting children and families with special needs.

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WHEN IS THE RESUME UPLOAD DEADLINE?

To ensure that your resume is included in pre-conference communications with member companies, please upload your resume by Sept 20, 2026, at 11:59pm ET. Resumes can still be uploaded to the Forté Job Center after this date and will be searchable by company representatives up to the start of the conference.

WHAT IS THE CANCELLATION POLICY?

Students can cancel their registration with full refund through Sept. 25, 2026, at 11:59pm ET. No refunds will be given after this time.

WHO CAN I CONTACT WITH ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS?

Please contact the MBA Programs Team if you have any additional questions.