Forté Foundations: The experience of a Broad Forté Fellow

As soon as I received my letter of admission to the Broad Full-Time MBA, I knew I wanted to take full advantage of every opportunity to grow, connect, and explore. Attending the Forté MBA Leadership Conference in Denver this summer was one of those opportunities. As a Forté Fellow, I joined a powerful network of students and employers, got early exposure to career paths, and came away with a fresh perspective heading into business school. Here’s what the experience looked like for me.

Day 1: Arrival & Preconference

The 2 a.m. Michigan Flyer bus, traveling from East Lansing to the Detroit Airport, marked the start of my Forté Conference journey. I landed in Denver after an uneventful flight and was treated to a view of the mountains while traveling from the airport to downtown on the light rail system. For just $10, it was a steal compared to the rideshare, which cost almost seven times more. Despite a frantic jog to the correct bus stop, I arrived at the Sheraton Downtown Denver for a welcomed surprise: an upgraded room was ready for me by 9 a.m.

After getting a single hour of sleep the night prior, I took advantage of the early arrival to sneak in a nap. I have learned to test hotel irons long before needing them, and on this trip, I am glad I did. Wrinkle-free and a bit more rested, I set off for my preconference activities. This started with a trek at DaVita’s headquarters, then a reception with McKinsey & Company, and lastly a mixer with Gartner Consulting. Along the way I met members of our Broad MBA cohort, acquaintances from the Forté Fast Track Conference that I had previously attended, and new connections who became fast friends.

After the last event, feeling energized by the day’s excitement, I learned that my fellow Broad MBA attendees were still at dinner arranged by the Broad MBA Admissions team. I headed out, joined them, and then walked back with the group. This was a fantastic opportunity to finally put faces to names and connect with everyone who traveled to Denver.

Day 2: Programming Begins

I always aim to be one of the first to arrive at events like these. There’s a sweet spot between being early and being a nuisance to the organizers, but by finding that balance, my cohort attendees and I managed to snag a prime table at the front of the main room. The day started with breakfast, catching up with some familiar faces, and making new friends. The opening speakers were an excellent group, and it was a great way to kick off the official start to the conference programming. Memorable quotes from the opening include: “work it till it works,” and “cultivate optionality.”

Mid-morning, I had the opportunity to take part in a small group coffee chat with McKinsey. I thought they did a great job matching us all up, and it was nice to continue conversations in a smaller, more intimate setting.

The afternoon was anchored by sessions with PwC and AlixPartners, Forté programming on investment banking, and leadership development programs. PwC provided a postcard station, which I thought was a unique and much appreciated idea. The AlixPartners session was energizing; the staff and speakers really brought energy to the room.

After the conference programming wrapped up, there was a career expo where I had the chance to speak to the organizations and sponsors that made the conference possible. Interactions with McKinsey & Company, JPMorgan Chase, ExxonMobil, Gallo, EY, Gartner Consulting, Harris Williams, and AlixPartners all stood out as particularly positive interactions. Reflecting, I do not think I fully accounted for the impact the altitude and time change would have on my energy levels, as towards the end of day 2, my tank was starting to feel empty.

Day 3: Closing and Goodbyes

The last day arrived before I was feeling ready to be done. The morning started out trying to wrangle all the Broad MBA attendees for a picture (this partially succeeded). I was fortunate to be invited to a brunch hosted by EY where I learned more about their organization and options for MBA internships, and another session hosted by PwC.

A standout panel of day two was “Exploring Global Careers,” which featured panelists from McKinsey and Gallo talking about the opportunities to both travel and work on global problems domestically.  After that the day was just about done, and it was a rush to find everyone, grab some last-minute pictures, and say our goodbyes.

Reflections & Takeaways
The Forté MBA Leadership Conference was an incredible experience. A few takeaways that stuck with me:

• Community: The MBA cohort from across the country is filled with impressive people. These early connections are ones I know I’ll lean on throughout the MBA journey and beyond.
• Exposure: The mix of global organizations and boutique firms gave me a wide lens on what’s possible for internships and after graduation.
• Preparation: Small details matter. Checking the hotel iron or planning for downtime can make a big difference in how the day plays out. Next time I will print out the agenda.
• Perspective: Every conversation added something new. Whether the topic was global work or leadership tracks, I walked away with more insight than I came in with.

Attending the Forté Conference and Fast Track was the ideal way to kick off my MBA journey. I’m grateful for the experience and excited to stay connected with everyone I met. Thank you to the Forté staff, Broad MBA Admissions, and all who made it possible.