Meet our 12 Inspirational Women Leading Business Education 2024

Forté is a global network of more than 100,000 women, working together to change the balance of power in the workplace – giving other women a stronger voice and greater opportunity – and, ultimately, transform leadership, globally.

Spanning a wide variety of backgrounds, cultures industries and career stages, it’s overarching mission is to launch women into “fulfilling, significant careers through access to business education, professional development and a community of successful women“. The foundation does this through partnerships with business schools and employers around the world, skills development programmes, networking conferences and forums, career-development certifications, awards for inspirational women and providing fellowships to female MBA applicants – supporting them financially as well as practically through their studies. To date, more than $400M has been awarded to female MBA students.

Forte’s efforts are having a significant impact on the path to gender parity at business school – since 2001 there has been a 48% rise in women’s enrollment at Forté partner MBA schools and programmes.

Elissa Sangster is Forté’s CEO, and brings to the role extensive knowledge of issues affecting women’s abilities to seek, prepare for and attain business leadership positions, drawn from her prior experience as Assistant Dean and Director of the MBA Program at the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin, and as Assistant Director of the MBA Program at Texas A&M University’s Mays School of Business.

What do you love about your work?

I love how my everyday work changes and evolves. In twenty years I haven’t had a day where I thought we were done. The opportunities to make a difference and have an impact show up every single day which makes for a very exciting and dynamic organisation and workplace. I love inspiring and motivating women to pursue business careers. Our partnerships make this work possible and without them we would struggle to achieve our impact and reach.

Beyond your qualifications, what qualities do you believe have helped you in your career journey to the role you hold now?

Determination along with strong and enduring relationships. At Forté this idea of enduring relationships is one of our pillars. We want connections with our partner companies and schools along with the many women in our community. These strong relationships keep us moving forward.

Gender parity in business education – and in business – is more of a reality than it once was, with progress still to make. What would you like to see to make such aims achievable?

We’re so close to reaching parity in business education, but building and maintaining a strong pipeline remains critical. We can’t ease up just yet. And while women are almost at parity in enrollments, we’ve yet to see them hit parity in business leadership, the c-suite, and on corporate boards.

As the pipeline stabilises, we still need to push for gains at the top levels of business leadership.

What do you read or view for ideas and inspiration?

I read The Broadsheet and Human Times each morning to learn about what’s changing with women and in the workforce. I also scan lots of other news outlets for interesting stories that impact our work.

For other reading, I choose business books like Atomic Habits and Predictable Revenue, helping Forté apply the business rigour of the for-profit world to our non-profit. I also love fiction and last year one of my favourite books was Trust by Hernan Diaz. 

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