Professional Development Opportunities

Four women standing together smiling at the camera.

While Johnson students will have plenty of opportunities for professional development within the MBA program, there are a lot of opportunities with nationally recognized organizations and non-profits that are closing the equity gap by offering varying levels of support, from professional coaching and special off-campus events to merit-based scholarships and career forums. We’re proud to work with and highlight some of these groups to facilitate and strengthen connections among women, veterans, Black, Indigenous, Latinx/Hispanic, and the LGBTQ+ community.

Partnerships

Johnson partners with several organizations and foundations to expand opportunities for our MBA students.

Johnson joined The Consortium for Graduate Study in Management nearly 10 years ago and continues to support its mission of enhancing diversity and inclusion in global business education and leadership. Consortium member schools, like Johnson, aim to reduce the significant underrepresentation of African Americans, Hispanic Americans, and Native Americans among their enrollment and, therefore, among the global business landscape.

Candidates who apply for admission and are accepted through The Consortium will join an extensive network of diverse students and alumni from the Consortium’s 19 member schools. Some candidates may be selected to receive the Consortium Fellowship. These students will receive a full-tuition, merit-based fellowship.

Any U.S. citizen or permanent resident who can demonstrate a commitment to The Consortium’s mission may apply for admission using The Consortium’s common application.

Consortium members benefit from:

a pre-MBA orientation program and career forum
access to a network of 75 corporate partners and more than 9,000 Consortium alumni
your Consortium family at Johnson—special events, study groups, career support, and more

Any student enrolled at the Johnson School, regardless of sex, can receive an annual Forté membership, giving them access to a network of leading companies and colleagues who work together to launch women into fulfilling, significant careers.

As a Forté member, Johnson School students can participate in its MBA Financial Services FAST Track, the annual MBA Women’s Leadership Conference, webinars, and networking and community events. Cornell University also participates in Forté’s pre-MBA and undergraduate programming including Forté MBALaunch and Forté Rising Stars—in fact, we have a highly engaged undergraduate chapter called Forté Campus at Cornell.

Johnson’s partnership with Forté allows a number of MBAs to become Forté Fellows. The Forté Fellowship* offers financial support to MBA candidates who exhibit leadership in academics, community, and creativity and demonstrate a commitment to women and girls through personal mentorship or community involvement. These fellows comprise a strong network of support and mentorship that extends from current fellows to alumnae. Our Forté Fellows are dedicated leaders who are working to advance businesswomen and who actively participate in women’s programming, such as that from the Women’s Management Council and the annual Johnson Women in Business (JWiB) event.

The MBA admissions committee decides who will receive Forté Fellowships—no separate application is needed.

Forté Fellows benefit from:

participation in the Forté MBA Women’s Leadership Conference
inclusion in the Forté resume book distributed to sponsor companies
special invitations for job openings and leadership opportunities

*Consideration for a Forté fellowship is open to candidates of all nationalities and sexes who support Forte’s mission.

The Johnson School partners with Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT) to offer coaching and connections for African American, Latino/a, and Native American MBA candidates, and their allies, before they begin their MBA journeys. MLT’s 10-month MBA Prep program connects prospects with an MLT coach to help prepare a stronger MBA application. You’ll have access to MBA admissions officers, attend seminars, and receive GMAT guidance and support.

If you’ve been accepted to Johnson’s Two-Year MBA program, you’re eligible for MLT’s MBA Professional Development program. This 12-month, pre-MBA program will help you hit the ground running with coaching, access to top employers, and the chance to interview for internships three months before beginning your MBA curriculum.

Before you start your MBA, apply for MLT’s MBA Prep or MBA Professional Development program directly with Management Leadership for Tomorrow.

MLT opportunities include:

MBA Prep and Professional Development programs
one-on-one application or career coaching with MLT mentors
access to a community of peers and 7,000+ MLT alumni, corporate partners, and executives

Reaching Out MBA, though its programming and annual conference, aims to educate, inspire, and enable LGBTQ MBAs and the graduate community as they become leaders in their careers and society. ROMBA’s resources—available to all LGBTQ MBAs and their allies—include career preparation and guidance, conferences, and treks to help students find environments that are right for them.

Each year Johnson partners with ROMBA to award up to two Reaching Out MBA Fellowships of, at minimum, $10,000. Fellows serve as ambassadors to the LGBTQ community on campus, help admissions teams identify future fellowship candidates, and take leadership roles for on- and off-campus ROMBA events.

The MBA admissions committee decides who will receive ROMBA Fellowships—no separate application is needed.

ROMBA LGBTQ Fellowship benefits include:

mentorship from ROMBA community and alumni
Lifetime Reaching Out membership with access to job boards and networking opportunities
an expenses paid leadership development retreat with your fellowship cohort

Robert Toigo Foundation aims to advance the careers and leadership potential of underrepresented talent by creating opportunities for inclusion from the classroom to the boardroom. As education is a central part of Tiogo’s mission, the foundation awards fellowships to incoming MBAs who meet the criteria outlined above.

Since 1994, Johnson has welcomed Toigo Fellows who attend training sessions and receive leadership development resources, access to more than 1,300 minority MBA graduates working in finance, and a partial merit award. Combined with Johnson’s close community, Toigo Fellow alumni, and powerhouse finance faculty, fellows will graduate with the tools and support system needed to excel in the finance industry.

Accepted MBA students can apply for the Toigo MBA program here.

Students eligible for a Toigo Fellowship must:

identify as an underrepresented minority
be accepted into a Two-Year MBA program
plan to pursue a career in finance

Cornell University and Johnson continue to participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program, which covers costs that are unmet by the Post-9/11 GI Bill. In partnership with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Johnson awards a select number of veterans each year with financial support that is then matched by the VA, doubling the benefit. To be eligible for the Yellow Ribbon Program benefits, you must be eligible for the maximum benefit rate under the Post-9/11 GI Bill and you must not be on active duty or a spouse using transferred entitlement.

Military MBA named Johnson among its “Group 1, High MBA School Ranking” for being committed to reducing costs for veterans as well as having high academic ratings. In addition to supporting our veterans financially, we also provide resources for social and intellectual growth. Johnson’s Association of Veterans is a great student-led initiative.

Conferences and Early Recruiting

Johnson MBA students who identify as women, Black, Indigenous, Latinx/Hispanic, veterans, or LGBTQ+ have the opportunity to attend conferences for professional development and where companies are looking to diversify their leadership. These conferences target those with minoritized identities in order to close the equity gap that has always existed in business.

Case Competitions

While many of the early recruiting conferences listed above offer team case competitions, below are additional opportunities:

John R. Lewis Racial Justice Case Competition

Leadership Summits and Fora

Johnson students also have the opportunity to attend various Leadership Summits and Fora to meet with leaders from around the world who share their identities. Some of the summits and fora that Johnson MBA students have attended in the past are:

Professional Development Opportunities

Partnerships

The Consortium for Graduate Study in Management

Forté Foundation

Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT)

Reaching Out MBA (ROMBA)

Toigo Foundation

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Yellow Ribbon Program

Conferences and Early Recruiting

Consortium Orientation Program

Forté MBA Women's Leadership Conference

National Black MBA Association Annual Conference and Career Expo

Reaching Out MBA

MBA Veterans Career Conference & Expo

Prospanica

Empwr: Disability in Business Recruiting Conference

Out Women in Business

Case Competitions

Leadership Summits and Fora

Wharton African Business Forum

Latinx MBA Leadership Summit

Tuck Black Ski