Four students from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln College of Business participated in the Forté Foundation’s Fast Track to Finance Conference in New York City on Feb. 20-21. The conference, designed to support women pursuing finance careers, provided students with access to top industry professionals, networking events and an exclusive career expo.

The College of Business joined the Forté Foundation as a partner this fall, joining more than 200 employers and business schools in the alliance. The partnership expands opportunities for students to engage in Forté’s programming, which aims to advance women in business. Through collaboration between the Business Career Center and Business Advising and Student Engagement, the college selected four students to attend the event, accompanied by Chris Timm, director of the Business Career Center.

“Nebraska’s participation in the Forté Foundation’s Fast Track to Finance Conference is an important step in helping women pursue careers in finance,” Timm said. “Employers consistently express a strong interest in attracting more women to finance roles, and this event allowed our students to connect with industry leaders, explore career paths and gain insight into how they can stand out in a competitive field.”

Students who applied and were selected by the college to attend included: Brandy Bode, sophomore finance and computer science major from Hershey, Nebraska; Ella Bowman, junior marketing major from Phoenix, Arizona; Ava Heyne, junior finance major from Omaha, Nebraska; and Khanh Nguyen, junior finance major from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

For many students, the conference provided career-changing insights. Bode, who aspires to work in wealth management, gained firsthand experience speaking with women leaders at top financial institutions.

“I connected with professionals and recruiters from Vanguard, BlackRock, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Deutsche Bank and Macquarie,” Bode said. “After attending this conference, I feel that opportunities in investing and wealth management are more accessible to me. I intend to apply for internship roles with the companies I met and leverage the knowledge I gained.”

Nguyen echoed the value of networking at the event, sharing how it helped her refine her career goals.

“This conference helped me better understand what employers look for in candidates, which will help me prepare for my future career,” Nguyen said. “I connected with professionals from Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, Deutsche Bank, BlackRock and Macquarie, and now I know where I want to focus my job search.”

The conference featured a networking reception, a motivational keynote speaker, career panels led by women in the finance industry and a career expo with representatives from major financial firms. Timm also participated as a panel facilitator for “Find Your Fit in Finance,” where she helped guide discussions on career paths within the industry.

“We saw students grow in confidence, form meaningful connections and gain clarity on their professional goals,” Timm said. “Opportunities like this give Nebraska students an edge in the job market while helping to build a stronger pipeline of women in finance.”

The college’s partnership with Forté provides students with access to virtual and in-person professional development opportunities. Additional programs, including future Forté conferences and networking events, will be available to students exploring careers in business.

“This experience reinforced the importance of networking, and I know the students who attended will be advocates for other women to take advantage of these opportunities,” Timm said. “By attending Forté events and connecting with top employers, our students are positioning themselves for success.”