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Culture & Diversity


Add Your Unique Background, Talents, and Passions to Our Community 

Students in the Wisconsin Executive MBA Program  come from diverse backgrounds and form close bonds. They learn from each other, collaborate with one another, and share their personalities and perspectives inside and outside of the classroom.

Embracing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Our Core

The Wisconsin Executive MBA Program is committed to fostering a culture that values differences and erases inequities.

We support diversity, including but not limited to race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, gender identity, sexual orientation, and intellectual differences.

Inclusivity is a cornerstone of good business practice. Diversity, equity, and inclusion frameworks are built into our curriculum.

Student Support

Forté Sponsor School

Forté provides support for women at all stages of their careers to enhance their business acumen. Forté strives to increase the number of women applying to and enrolling in MBA programs by providing educational opportunities, networking and mentoring events, as well as professional conferences.

Incoming Wisconsin MBA women may participate in Forté events such as the MBA Women’s Leadership Conference and MBA Financial Services FAST Track. Students also gain professional development opportunities through webinars and have access to Forté’s job center.

Military Applicants

A military background brings leadership, organizational, and analytical skills that are directly applicable to an MBA program.

If you are in active or reserve duty or you are a military veteran, you will find that the Wisconsin MBA curriculum prepares you for significant leadership responsibilities in a civilian career.

The Post 9/11 GI Bill will pay tuition expenses for military veterans who qualify, although it may only cover a certain amount. The Veterans Services & Military Assistance Center at the University of Wisconsin–Madison is able to assist with questions about military benefits.

Alicia Kiser
“The experiences of my peers are so diverse. They’ve opened my eyes to new perspectives because of their wide-ranging industries, roles, and cultural backgrounds. They are always teaching me new things and reshaping the way I view my role in HR. I see the network I am building in the program as a diverse group of advisors, potential talent I may be able to recruit, and some great friends.”
Alicia Kiser (MBA ’19)
Pacticipants networks during the EEMBA 6th annual corporate connections social event on Thursday, February 20, in Grainger Hall.

Join an influential alumni network

Lifelong access to a strong alumni network is one of the most valuable benefits of a Wisconsin MBA. Business Badgers are widely recognized for their steadfast support of each other, and they will share business opportunities and professional connections without hesitation. When you graduate, you become part of this tight-knit network of more than 45,000+ Business Badgers worldwide.

Weikel Guest Speaker Rodger W. Ferguson, Jr., president and CEO of TIAA, address the audience on Wednesday evening, March 21, 2018, during the Weikel Leadership event. (Paul L. Newby, II /UW-Madison Wisconsin School of Business)

Gain insights from business leaders

In the M. Keith Weikel MBA Leadership Speaker Series, notable business executives and other thought leaders come to the Wisconsin School of Business to share their experiences and insights. The WSB community comes together for these events, which facilitate networking among MBA students from all Wisconsin programs, alumni, industry leaders, and the guest speakers themselves.

Two women at coffee

Connect with a peer advisor

As an incoming Wisconsin Executive MBA student, you may choose to participate in our peer advising program, which pairs you with a second-year student. The peer advisor relationship provides an opportunity to ask questions and learn about strategies for successful participation in the program. The one-on-one relationship with an Executive MBA peer advisor can help you get the maximum benefit from your MBA experience, and may lead to a lasting friendship.

Camaraderie Beyond the Classroom

Executive MBA students who travel some distance often stay in Madison on Friday nights to work on team projects with their classmates or prepare for the next day’s class. These students—along with their Madison-based classmates—get together on Friday nights at the Memorial Union Terrace, Smitty’s Study Pub in the Fluno Center, or other Madison attractions.

Executive MBA students have access to the same UW–Madison resources as any other student, including use of the recreation center, free bus passes, tickets to sporting events at student prices, and much more.

Roger Ervin
“The collaboration with my fellow students while I was in the program—and the network I have built since—includes not only my class, but also the classes that were before me and after me in our alumni network. Several times a year, I reach out to people who were in the program with me or who I have a relationship with through the alumni network. These are people I can contact to engage them in business, seek advice, or simply share experiences outside of work. The networking opportunities really do make a difference in how successful you are with your MBA.”
Roger Ervin (MBA ’09)

Connect With a Student Ambassador

Interested in speaking with a current Executive MBA student before you apply to the program? Reach out to one of our Executive MBA student ambassadors to learn about their MBA experience and career progression.

Hear from Students and Recent Graduates