Kaplan and Forté Deepen Alliance to Boost Women in Business

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – March 05, 2026 – The Forté Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing women in business, and global education company Kaplan have expanded their collaboration in a significant move to strengthen the pipeline of female business leaders. The initiative aims to dismantle key barriers for women aspiring to earn an MBA by making crucial test preparation more accessible and affordable.

Through the broadened partnership, members of the Forté community will gain exclusive savings on GMAT® and GRE® preparation programs from Manhattan Prep, powered by Kaplan. The collaboration is designed to provide rigorous academic support and reduce the financial burden at a critical juncture in the graduate school application process, a time when many potential candidates face significant hurdles.

Addressing a Persistent Gap

The partnership arrives at a pivotal moment. While progress has been made, the gender gap in business education and leadership persists. Globally, women have constituted just over 40% of graduate business school applicants for more than a decade, a figure that has shown little movement. However, beneath this static top-line number, initiatives like those from Forté have been quietly driving change.

In 2023, Forté's 58 member schools reported a record 42% women enrolled in full-time MBA programs, a significant jump from 34% in 2014. This progress is further highlighted by the growing number of institutions achieving gender parity. In the fall of 2024, a record eight Forté member schools reported that at least half of their enrolled students were women, up from only one school in 2020. Despite these encouraging milestones, the disparity in the initial applicant pool underscores the need for targeted interventions that encourage and equip more women to apply.

Lowering Financial and Academic Barriers

For many women, the path to an MBA is fraught with financial and systemic obstacles. Research consistently identifies the cost of test preparation and financing the degree as two of the most significant barriers. This financial calculus is often compounded by a persistent gender wage gap and higher levels of undergraduate debt among women, making the investment in an MBA feel riskier.

The Kaplan-Forté alliance directly confronts these challenges. By offering discounts on high-quality test prep, the program aims to level the playing field. Beyond discounts, the partnership includes in-person courses at select Forté forum events and dedicated webinars designed to demystify the admissions testing process, providing structured study plans and confidence-building strategies.

“We want our community of prospective MBA students to be as competitive as possible in the application cycle, and we know that a great GMAT or GRE score only strengthens a candidate’s profile,” said Elissa Sangster, CEO of the Forté Foundation, in a statement. “Our goal is to remove barriers and open doors for women in business, and this collaboration ensures our members have the tools, confidence, and support they need to pursue their MBA goals with power and possibility.”

A Strategic Alliance for Corporate Diversity

The push to get more women into MBA programs is not merely an academic exercise; it is a strategic imperative for the future of business. While some of the most competitive MBA programs now report gender parity in their classrooms, the C-suite remains starkly imbalanced. Women currently hold only 8.2% of CEO positions at Fortune 500 companies.

An MBA is a proven accelerator for leadership careers. Research indicates that nearly half of the women who reach the CEO level at top companies hold an MBA or an equivalent advanced degree. This makes the MBA pipeline a critical pathway for cultivating the next generation of female executives. By investing at the source, the partnership aims to create a ripple effect that will eventually be felt in boardrooms and executive offices.

“Forté has built one of the strongest communities of aspiring women leaders in business,” noted Amit Schlesinger, an executive director at Kaplan. “Through this partnership, we are making high-quality GMAT and GRE preparation more accessible, while offering effective strategies and structured study plans that help candidates move forward with confidence.”

The Ripple Effect of Investing in Women

This collaboration is part of a larger ecosystem of support that recognizes the multifaceted benefits of gender diversity. Experts widely agree that diverse leadership teams lead to better financial performance, greater innovation, and more robust strategic decision-making. As businesses face increasingly complex global challenges, the inclusion of varied perspectives is no longer just a social good but a competitive advantage.

The growing number of women serving as deans at top business schools—now 30% at AACSB accredited institutions—further signals a cultural shift. These leaders serve as powerful role models and are often champions for creating more inclusive and supportive environments within their institutions. The combined efforts of nonprofits like Forté, corporate partners like Kaplan, and forward-thinking academic institutions are creating a powerful flywheel for change. By systematically dismantling barriers and providing targeted support, these strategic investments are essential to building a more equitable and effective future for business leadership.