Cultivating a Diverse Cohort of Future Leaders through the Consortium

As the director of admissions for inclusion and diversity at Yale SOM, I take immense pride in our longstanding partnership with The Consortium for Graduate Study in Management. In 2008, SOM began working with The Consortium to create a pipeline of diverse students in business education and leadership. Since that time, we’ve actively recruited, supported, and graduated exceptional Consortium MBA students, with our very first Yale Consortium Chapter graduating in 2011. Over the years, our commitment to this vibrant partnership has deepened, and it is clear that Consortium students have become integral members of the Yale SOM community.

This year, I am proud to announce that we welcomed a Yale Consortium Chapter of 35 students within the Class of 2026, a diverse and driven group of future leaders. We’ve been eagerly anticipating their arrival over many months. In April, our Consortium Chapter began working with SOM’s Career Development Office, Office of Inclusion and Diversity, and admissions team to prepare for the Consortium’s Orientation Program in June. This program, allows members of Yale’s Consortium Chapter to connect with students from many other business schools and create a sense of community before they officially arrive in New Haven.

As the summer months flew by, this cohort continued to forge relationships, ultimately making their way from hometowns across the United States to New Haven. Their arrival marks not just the start of an academic journey, but a two-year transformational experience that will define their careers, their personal growth, and their lasting connections.

Many prospective students ask me, “What makes the Yale Consortium Chapter special?” The answer, in my view, lies in the chapter’s unparalleled sense of community. While SOM students naturally form friendships and relationships through various avenues, such as industry interests, affinity groups, and learning teams, the bond that exists among Consortium students is truly distinctive. It is a connection that transcends the typical markers of shared experience and is deeply rooted in the Consortium’s mission of enhancing diversity and increasing representation among our business leaders.

Each year, our Consortium students come to embody this mission, creating a supportive environment that fosters both personal and professional growth. Besides navigating the rigors of an MBA program together, they also build a network that extends beyond their time at Yale, creating lifelong friendships and professional partnerships. This is something I also witnessed while working with our Yale Consortium Chapter in the Class of 2025: these students take on a shared identity tied to their Consortium affiliation, one that provides a strong foundation for meaningful and lasting connections.

In many ways, the Yale Consortium Chapter represents the best of what our school aims to achieve. The students in our chapter excel academically and professionally, and are leaders in creating a sense of belonging and inclusion for themselves and their peers. They set a powerful example of how we can all build community through shared values, mutual support, and commitment.

As I reflect on the continued growth of our Yale Consortium Chapter and the deep connections these students form, I am filled with optimism for the future. Each class strengthens the Consortium’s legacy at SOM and demonstrates the profound impact of fostering diversity within business leadership. I am excited to see the journey that this new cohort will embark on together, and I am confident that their collective experience will continue to further enrich our community.