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When we launched the research project that led to the
publication of Women and the MBA: Gateway to Opportunity, we embarked on a
long-term effort to increase the participation of women in MBA programs and
business. We knew there were many factors affecting women’s business
careers, and that this study was just the beginning of our understanding
about these issues. The study’s results clearly indicated that we would
achieve our greatest impact by working collaboratively with other business
schools, companies, and nonprofits to act upon the study’s
recommendations.
Forté’s mission is to substantially increase the number
of women business owners and leaders by increasing the flow of women into
key educational gateways and business networks. Recent scholars of the Forté
Foundation include:
Class of 2006
Erin Chapman
Erin graduated from Colgate University with a BA in economics. Prior to coming to the Ross School of Business, Erin worked in NYC at Fitch Ratings where she provided bond ratings for the airline industry. At Ross Erin is focusing on corporate strategy and will join A.T. Kearney in Santa Clara after graduation. Erin’s most memorable experience at Ross so far has been the Section 1 MLP community service trip to Benton Harbor, Michigan where her section enjoyed a night of karaoke followed by a day of working on a home for Habitat for Humanity.
Sue Heter
Sue is a second year MBA student at the Ross School of Business, where she is focusing her studies on Finance and Corporate Strategy. She is currently Vice President- Finance & Membership for Michigan Business Women. Sue is also a graduate of Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, having earned a B.S. in Industrial Labor Relations.
Before beginning her studies at Michigan, Sue worked as a Marketing Associate with Harris Alternatives L.L.C. in Chicago. Following her first year of study at the Ross School of Business, she interned in the Strategy and Business Development Group at Cargill in Minneapolis. Further, Sue is a member of Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Washtenaw County and enjoys cooking, running and reading.
Alexandra Infeld
Alexandra is currently a second year MBA student at the Ross School of Business studying Marketing and Strategy. In addition, she is co-president of the Marketing Club and a member of Michigan Business Women, the Admissions Student Committee and the Wolverine Wine Club. Alexandra is also a graduate of Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, having earned a B.B.A.
in Marketing.
Before Alexandra began her studies at
Michigan, she worked as a Sales Development Manager, Sales and Marketing at
Channel M in New York City. Further, after interning with Kraft Foods in
Chicago this summer she has accepted a full-time offer as an Assistant Brand
Manager. She enjoys traveling, yoga and trying new restaurants. Her fondest
memory thus far at Michigan is a cross-country RV trip with friends to cheer
on the Wolverines at the Rose Bowl in Los Angeles in 2005.
Class of 2007
Nidhi Chandra
Nidhi Chandra is currently a first year MBA student at the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan, where she is pursuing a concentration on Marketing. Nidhi is a member of the Marketing Club and Michigan Business Women. Nidhi received her undergraduate education at Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts, where she double majored in Economics and Government.
Before entering the MBA program at the Ross School of Business, Nidhi worked as an internal consultant for JPMorganChase in New York City for five years. She managed large scale projects in several businesses and within Human Resources. Nidhi enjoys reading and cooking in her spare time.
Neda Jafarnia
Neda Jafarnia is a graduate of the University of California, Irvine where she earned a B.A. in Economics and a minor in Management. She is currently a first year MBA student at the Ross School of Business, where she is a representative for the University of Michigan Business Students’ Association and a member of the Consulting Club, Michigan Business Women, and the Luxury Goods and Retail Club. Her focus of study is Corporate Strategy and Finance.
Prior to beginning her studies at Michigan, Neda worked as an Associate in the Economic and Valuation Services practice at KPMG in Los Angeles. She is a member of Discovery Arts, a non-profit in-hospital outreach program that brings the arts to children with life-threatening illnesses. In her spare time, Neda enjoys planning social events, running, cooking and board games.
Nicole Thomas
Before coming to Ross, Nicole Thomas worked as a senior network engineer for Computer Sciences Corporation and Motorola Inc. in Austin, Texas. Nicole earned B.S. degrees in both architecture and computer science from Florida A&M University and the University of Michigan-Flint respectively. Aside from her career, she has started several women's organizations and created a children's book business with her husband and fellow Ross MBA student, Scott.
Nicole is focusing on marketing and social entrepreneurship and has been an active member in a number of student clubs. Consistent with Nicole's passion of furthering women and children's causes, she was named the Forté Foundation Liaison for the class of 2007. She was also selected as a 2006 Nonprofit and Public Management Center Board Fellow and is now working on a marketing plan for Spaulding for Children, an organization that places children in suitable foster care or adoption homes.
The energy and momentum surrounding the organization is phenomenal. Executives and academics around the world take
the need for more women in business very seriously, and this new
organization is tapping into and bringing together an impressive network to
effect change. It’s another example of the power and impact of
our Women in Business Initiative.
For more information on the Forté
Foundation, please visit
www.fortefoundation.org.
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