After starting her career working in Operations, Adi Rajapuram (Anderson, ‘19) decided to broaden her business skillset by pursuing an MBA, and in her research came across Forte. After attending the Forte Forum and joining the Fellows program, Rajapuram got access to information, connections and support that gave her the confidence to hit the ground running as she entered her first year at UCLA Anderson. In our interview, Rajapuram shared how programs like Forté are helping her, and other women unlock opportunity and accelerate their careers.
MBASchooled: When and why did you decide to go to business school, and how did you hear about Forté?
While working in operations at Oracle, I yearned to create a larger impact on the business but realized I didn’t have the functional skill set to get me in the roles that would make those types of decisions. With concentrations in biology, Spanish, political science, and economics from undergrad, I was missing the hard skills like finance and accounting, and the MBA was a ladder to simultaneously upskill and boost myself a few rungs in my career.
While researching about business schools and taking the GMAT, I learned that Forté provided forums in cities around the world for women to learn more about the programs and admission process. It was an invaluable resource that put me in touch with admissions committees early and helped me distinguish the schools where I wanted to apply.
MBASchooled: How did Forté help you navigate the Admissions process?
I knew virtually nothing about the admissions process prior to attending my first Forté forum in San Francisco. Not only did I get to hear from women on panels about their experiences, but also I created personal touchpoints with different programs across the country by meeting staff, alumni, and current students, which I later referenced in my application essays.
MBASchooled: During your MBA experience, what resources did Forté provide to you to assist in your transition and experience?
The summer before starting school, I attended the Forté Forum for incoming MBAs as a Fellow and got a huge head start compared to my peers. My network expanded even before stepping foot on campus and meeting potential employers helped me get feedback on my resume and recruiting much earlier than most students.
MBASchooled: One of the valuable aspects of Forté is the network that it gives you. How has that helped you, either in your time in school, or after graduation?
Forté connected me to recruiters and like-minded women, both in my UCLA Anderson program and outside of it. Early on at the Forté Forum, I met incoming female students from other schools and forged connections that still exist. While at school, our Forté ambassador organized events for the fellows to meet, offering opportunities to bond with second-year at events like a yoga and craft beer tasting. Furthermore, we expanded to host cross-school happy hours with nearby USC Marshall, extending the Forté network reach even further.
Equally as valuable was connecting with companies through Forté. Prior to the Forum, I used the online networking tool to reach out to several recruiters at companies and share my interest, resulting in securing invites to dinners and networking events where I created further professional touchpoints.
MBASchooled: As you’ve gained more experience in the working world after business school, what perspective have you gained about the importance of programs like Forté?
Being a woman in a male-dominated profession like business and industries like consulting and technology is not easy, and programs like Forté increase our chances of success. As we grow our numbers in these male-dominated areas, we need not only to help one another but also create formal support channels to grow professionally in an environment that can be unfriendly. Having an organized group dedicated to linking professionals who become long-term advocates for women is an essential ingredient in paving the way for equal female representation in business.
MBASchooled: What advice do you have for other women who might be considering an MBA?
Choose the right culture. Everyone at a top 30 business school is highly qualified, and ultimately, rankings won’t dictate your experience. However, selecting a program where the students, staff, and faculty possess a similar vision for the future of business and harbor the same philosophies surrounding collaboration, will highly impact your day-to-day experience and create life-long bonds with other classmates who share your values.