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Let's Get Real

2023 Forté MBA Women of Color Symposium

An exclusive event for incoming African American/Black, Hispanic/Latinx, and Native American MBA women.

This pre-conference symposium in Dallas,TX on June 15 will empower historically underrepresented MBA women of color through vulnerable, real-talk conversations, and panels and networking opportunities. Incoming African American/Black, Hispanic/Latinx, and Native American MBA women who are registered to attend the 2023 Forté MBA Women’s Leadership Conference are invited to attend this very special pre-conference session.

Space is limited and registration is required. Qualified candidates will receive an invite from Forté to register for this free event separately. To qualify, you must be registered for the 2023 Forté MBA Women’s Leadership Conference.

SYMPOSIUM AGENDA — THURSDAY, JUNE 15, 2023

1:30–2:45 PM CT

Welcome & Keynote

KJ MIller

Keynote Speaker: KJ Miller
Co-founder and CEO, Mented Cosmetics
(MBA '14, Harvard School of Business)

KJ Miller is the Co-founder and CEO of Mented Cosmetics, a multi-million dollar beauty brand celebrating women of all hues. Since its 2017 launch Mented has achieved rapid growth by helping women feel seen and empowered with its inclusive shade range. KJ led the company in securing over $9M in venture funding, and has been featured in several publications including Forbes, Fast Company and The New York Times for her authentic, relatable approach to entrepreneurship.

Prior to founding Mented KJ spent most of her career working in retail, with a two-year hiatus to attend Harvard Business School graduating in 2014. Her immense retail and product experience spans across functions including merchandising, assortment planning, and supply chain management.

Outside of Mented, KJ has mentored and advised dozens of entrepreneurs, guest lectured at top-ranked business schools across the country including Harvard Business School, Yale School of Management, and Columbia Business School, and created a ground-breaking course, Startup Starter Kit, that levels the entrepreneurial playing field and makes the business world accessible to all.

Sponsored by:
PepsiCo

2:45–3 PM CT

Break

3–4 PM CT

Braving the Corporate Landscape

Executive women from Forté partner companies will discuss their career experiences and offer developmental insights through the lens of historically underrepresented women. Listen in as they have a candid conversation about the strategic paths they took to achieve their current roles and what they’ve learned along the way. Over the course of this engaging hour, our diverse panelists will share their stories, their wisdom, and their advice — all to lift and support women of color to better navigate systemic challenges within the workplace.

This session will cover various topics, including:

  • Intersectionality and the “concrete ceiling”
  • Confronting microaggressions and challenging bias
  • Expressing emotion and prioritizing mental health
  • Bringing your authentic self to work
  • Building informal networks

Sponsored by:
Liberty Mutual      Gartner      DaVita      American Airlines

4–4:15 PM CT

Closing Remarks

Sponsored by:
Accenture

4:15–5:15 PM CT

Afternoon Social & Networking

Start building your MBA network by meeting with corporate representatives and like-minded MBA peers during this exclusive opportunity.

Sponsored by:
Deloitte      Bain & Co      PWc

GET SET FOR SUCCESS

Join the New Cohort of Forté MBA Women

Following the conference, network with symposium attendees through our exclusive networking platform and find resources to support and drive your success during and after
b-school.

Connect with Women of
Color Leaders

Begin building your career support system with the help of Forté, our partner corporations and b-schools, and other women of color MBAs from around the country.

Find Your Place in the
Business World

Discover how to bring your authentic self to the workplace and gain the confidence you need to position your diverse candidacy while appealing to potential employers.