A key strategic priority for the Broad College of Business has been to foster a diverse, equitable and inclusive culture where we can achieve collaborative excellence. One way to approach this is through partnerships.
The Broad Full-Time MBA recently renewed its partnership with nonprofit organization Management Leadership for Tomorrow to bolster its DEI efforts. With this, the Broad MBA will improve its recruiting and expand professional development programs for students of color.
Andrea McHale (B.A. Marketing ’03, MBA ’07), director of graduate admissions and enrollment for the Full-Time MBA
The decision to become an MLT Core Business Partner — alongside top business schools at Carnegie Mellon, Georgetown, Northwestern and Stanford — came from Andrea McHale, director of graduate admissions and enrollment for Broad’s MBA program. McHale, a two-time Spartan alumna, became director of the program in February 2021 and immediately seized the opportunity to revive the college’s work with MLT.
“The Broad Full-Time MBA program has previously been a partner school with MLT, but in 2015, a decision was made not to continue the partnership. I felt it was important to reengage with MLT,” she said. “I am committed to fostering a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment for prospective students, current students and our alumni. MLT provides equitable resources, development and opportunity for students of color; MLT aligns with the mission of the Broad College of Business’s efforts in DEI.”
McHale explained that “MLT offers an MBA prep program that provides African American, Latinx and Native American professionals with personalized guidance and skill development to successfully navigate the business school application process and optimize their MBA experience.”
Beyond that, students of color attending MLT partner schools can apply for the nonprofit’s MBA Professional Development program. This opportunity includes one-on-one coaching, early exposure to top employers and a powerful network of peers, coaches and recruiters to help students of color realize their full potential and become senior leaders in business upon graduation.
Marques Moore, second-year MBA student and president of the Black MBA Association, assisted McHale in the process of making Broad an MLT partner again. He is hoping the restored partnership will attract more diverse students to become Spartans.
“I know from experience: you cannot participate in [the programs] MLT offers if the business school you are attending is not a partner. Now that MSU is a partner, the hope is that the MSU Full-Time MBA is now a consideration for domestic minority students who may not have considered this great program,” he said. “MSU’s renewed partnership with the MLT program is a great example that demonstrates that the Broad MBA leadership is willing and ready to make a stronger effort for diversity recruitment.”
Ishaan Anand, second-year MBA student and president of the Multicultural MBA Association, added, “The access to this rich pool of resources would help Broad MBA students gain career-accelerating skills which are not taught in classrooms, cultivate personal clarity and help connect students with top employers for potential internships and full-time roles. This initiative might be a small step to transform high-potential underrepresented talent, but it’s definitely a giant leap to create a Broad alum base of high-impact leaders across top organizations.”
With this restored partnership, the Broad College continues to strengthen our commitment to DEI and embrace these values in all our work.
