Is an MBA Even worth it?
Find out at a Forté Forum
That question doesn't have a Google answer. No ranking list, no AI search, no Reddit thread knows your background, your goals, or your risk tolerance. A free Forté Forum puts you in a room with people who do the work every day: admissions representatives from leading business schools and women who've already made the decision you're weighing right now.
Ask the questions you'd never type into a search bar. Get a straight answer about whether an MBA moves your career forward or just adds debt. Leave with a next step instead of another open tab.
2026 Fall MBA FORUM DATES
IN-PERSON FORUMS
Our Forums are drop-in style. Join us whenever you can.
Atlanta
Monday, Aug. 10
5 – 8:30 pm
Washington, DC
Tuesday, Aug. 11
5 – 8:30 pm
Boston
Thursday, Aug. 13
5 – 8:30 pm
Los Angeles
Monday, Aug. 17
5 – 8:30 pm
San Francisco
Tuesday, Aug. 18
5 – 8:30 pm
Chicago
Thursday, Aug. 20
5 – 8:30 pm
New York City #1
Tuesday, Aug. 25
5 – 8:30 pm
Get the details »
New York City #2
Wednesday, Aug. 26
5 – 8:30 pm
Get the details »
VIRTUAL FORUMS
Our Forums are drop-in style. Join us from anywhere, whenever you can.
Full-time MBA
Thursday, Sept. 3
Get the details »
Full-time MBA
Wednesday, Sept. 16
Get the details »
All MBA Formats
Wednesday, Oct.28
Get the details »
ARE YOU IN TORONTO?
Meet us in September at the Forté Women Business Leaders Symposium.
Connect with ambitious women, hear from inspiring leaders, and invest in your career at the Forté Women Business Leaders Symposium.
WHO
WHAT
WHEN
Join us in August at one of eight in-person Forté Forums across the U.S. Find the city closest to you and register below or join us online later this fall.
COST
GET MORE INFORMATION
Start Building the Case Before You Need One
Every application starts asking questions long before you write the essay: what you've done, why it matters, and whether you can prove it. A Forté Forum puts you in front of business school admissions reps and MBA alumnae who can tell you exactly what strengthens an application and what doesn't, years before you need to submit one.
Ask what schools actually look for. Ask what these women wish they'd started sooner. Ask whether an MBA fits where you're headed at all.
Participants Say...
"What’s really special is being able to connect with the schools that you might not know about, and learn all about what they have to offer."
Alison Shottek
Learn more about Alison's Forté Forum experience.
Why attend Forté Forums?
-
1
Get a head start on what schools actually want
Meet admissions representatives directly and ask what makes an application stand out, instead of guessing from a website. -
2
Build proof, not just a plan
Learn what experiences, leadership roles, and skills carry weight with admissions committees so you can start building your record now. -
3
Talk to women who've already done it
MBA alumnae and business leaders share what the program changed for them and what they'd do differently. -
4
Leave with a next step, not just information
Walk out knowing what to do in the next six months, not just what an MBA is.
Figure Out If an MBA Is Worth the Bet
You're weighing real trade-offs: leaving a paycheck, taking on cost, betting time on something you haven't done yet. A Forté Forum doesn't ask you to take that leap on faith. Sit down with admissions representatives and alumnae who made this exact calculation and get their honest read on whether it paid off.
Ask about ROI in plain terms. Ask what the first year actually costs, financially and otherwise. Ask if a pivot into a new industry is realistic, or if that's a myth people sell you..
Participants Say...
“I was completely reenergized to continue on my MBA journey.”
Natalie Friel
Learn more about Natalie's MBA Forum experience.
Why attend Forté Forums?
-
1
Get an honest read on ROI
Talk directly to women who left a job to get their MBA and hear, unfiltered, whether it was worth it for someone in your position. -
2
Understand what actually opens doors
Learn what skills and experience make an MBA pay off in a pivot, a promotion, or a new industry, straight from admissions reps and alumnae. -
3
Compare schools without the sales pitch
Meet representatives from multiple leading programs in one place and ask the questions that matter to your specific situation. -
4
Build a network before you need one
Connect with peers making the same decision, plus alumnae and leaders who can back you up when you apply. -
5
Walk out with a decision, not more homework
Leave knowing whether to apply this cycle, wait, or take a different path altogether.
Decide What Leading Looks Like Next
At this stage, the risk isn't hypothetical. Leaving the workforce, choosing between a full-time program and an Executive MBA, betting on a pivot into a new function: these are real costs with real stakes. A Forté Forum puts you across the table from admissions representatives and women who've already made that trade-off, so you're deciding with real information instead of a brochure.
Ask what format actually fits your life. Ask whether the degree changes the ceiling you're hitting, or just the title on your desk. Ask the people who'd know.
Participants Say...
“This event completely changed my mentality, and I feel more motivated and empowered than ever.”
Emily Yang
Learn more about Emily's MBA Forum experience.
Why attend Forté Forums?
-
1
Weigh format against real life
Get a direct comparison of full-time, part-time, and Executive MBA paths from people who've lived each one. -
2
Test whether an MBA solves your actual problem
Talk to leaders who used an MBA to pivot, move up, or start something new, and find out if your goal matches that path. -
3
Meet the schools that fit your stage
Admissions representatives can tell you which programs actually work for experienced professionals, not just which ones rank highest. -
4
Stand with people making the same call
Connect with other women weighing this decision now, plus alumnae who've already made it and stuck the landing. -
5
Move forward with an actual answer
Leave with a clear read on whether an MBA gets you where you're trying to go, and what to do next either way.
Forté MBA Forums are open to anyone, regardless of race, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, mental or physical disability, veteran status, political orientation, ancestry, marital status, or any other status protected by applicable law.
SPONSORS & MEMBERS
Meet with Forté MEMBER Business Schools
Forté Forums are your launchpad for what’s next. Learn the real value of an MBA, build meaningful connections, and meet admissions reps from top business schools.
THANK YOU 2026 SPONSORS
HOSTS
SPONSORS
MBA Member Schools
Executive & Professional MBA Member Schools
Undergraduate Pipeline Member Schools
Note: Please check each Forum's Registration page for the list of schools and exhibitors by event. We also host guest schools at our Forums that may not be listed above.
Support Gender Equality
When you help someone take a step in their business career, you’re not just opening doors – you’re investing in access, opportunity, and a more equitable future for the workplace.
