2024 Forté MBA Women of Color Symposium

This pre-conference symposium is a space dedicated to empowering MBA women of color through candid conversations, relevant panel discussions, and exclusive networking opportunities.

The Women of Color Symposium highlights the lived experiences of MBA women business leaders who hold aspects of their identities that have historically been underrepresented in business. Specifically, speakers and facilitators who identify as African American/Black, Latinx, and Native American will be featured in the programming.

MBA women and allies who are registered to attend the 2024 Forté MBA Women’s Leadership Conference are invited to engage in leadership development programming and training at this event.

Denise is the Founder and CEO of Partake Foods, a natural food company that was inspired by her daughter’s experience with food allergies. Launched in 2017, Partake’s first product — delicious, better for you, allergy-friendly cookies — can now be found in more than 9,000 retailers including Target, Kroger, and Whole Foods Market. In 2021, Partake released a line of Baking Mixes — Brownie Mix, Blondie Mix, and a Pizza Crust Baking Mix — all available on partakefoods.com. In January 2022, Partake introduced Pancake & Waffle Mixes in Classic & Confetti flavors available at select Target stores nationwide.

Denise is the first Black woman to raise more than $1M publicly for a CPG food startup. To date, the company has raised over $19M from investors including HER, Rihanna, Cleveland Ave, FF2032 and Marcy Venture Partners. Most recently, Partake was named #45 on the 2022 Inc. 5000 list and Denise was included in their "100 Female Founders" list.

Prior to launching Partake, Denise spent a decade in consumer packaged goods at various Fortune 100 companies. She currently serves on the board of Naturally New York, the advisory board for the UNC Shuford Center for Entrepreneurship and on the WP Carey School of Business Dean’s Council. She has participated as a mentoring founder-in-residence for three cohorts of Target’s Forward Founder’s program supporting 30 founders in that time. She is the founder of Black Futures in Food & Beverage, a fellowship program that offers mentorship, internships and job opportunities within food & beverage for active HBCU students.

Denise lives in New York City with her husband, Jeremy, and daughter, Vivienne. She graduated with her BA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and an MBA from Arizona State University.

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
business school.

Connect with Women of Color Leaders

Begin building your career support system with the help of Forté, our partner corporations and business 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.