Kelley Direct is proud to partner with the Forté Foundation, an organization whose mission is to launch women into fulfilling, significant careers through access to business education, professional development, and a community of successful women. Our partnership offers Kelley Direct students a free Professional Access Membership which gives unique access to scholarships, networking opportunities, and actionable resources that enhance business education and careers. The shared goal at both Kelley and Forté is to increase the number of women business leaders, thus making this partnership a powerful and competitive package offered to our graduate women in business school. Additionally, we have started offering Forté Fellowships as of our Spring 2023 cohort.
Forté Ambassador Ana-Maria Visoiu-Knapp recently shared more with us about this partnership.
Why were you drawn to the Forté ambassador program?
With a passion for leadership – for myself – and for others, I am drawn to the Forté community of powerful and capable women on a mission to multiply. The Forté Ambassador Program provides a unique platform to engage and share useful knowledge and resources that strengthen the way we lead.
What have been your goals as a Forté ambassador and how has the program helped you grow?
My single most important goal as a Forté Ambassador is to build meaningful, lasting, and mutually beneficial connections across our Forté network. Whether you are a woman business leader at Kelley, Fuqua, or Stern, I am on a mission to bridge ways to work and to play as a community supporting and connecting with one another.
What are you most excited about KD and Forté?
Most of all, I am excited about the future potential of this partnership. The synergistic growth and visibility of this powerful partnership can only yield more women leading, and therefore a more equitable society with major upside for the local and global economy.
How has the Forté ambassador program enhanced your Kelley Direct experience?
The Forté Ambassador Program part of my Kelley Direct experience has been complimentary to my affinity for building relationships while working collaboratively with Kelley Direct staff and students to advance our common goal of vigorously pursuing opportunities to elevate women at all stages in their careers. It is simply energizing to embrace and to connect on our shared interests and experiences.
What advice would you give to those considering KD and Forté’s ambassador program?
Get involved early, and on purpose – for you, for us, and importantly for our future generation of women leaders.
Interested in learning more as a prospective student? Visit the Forté website to learn about partner schools, professional development webinars, career fairs, conferences, and events open to prospective students and incoming students. If you are interested in applying to the Kelley Direct Online MBA program, start your application today for free. To hear from Kelley Direct women students and alumni, check out our Women in Business Webinar.