Press Release
Press Release
March 5, 2026
Not finding what you’re looking for?
Fort Lauderdale, FL (March 5, 2026) — Forté Foundation, a nonprofit founded to increase opportunities for women in business leadership through access to business education and professional development, has broadened its partnership with global education company Kaplan to boost the number of women enrolled in MBA programs and support their advancement into business leadership. Through this collaboration, Forté members will receive exclusive savings on GMAT® and GRE® preparation programs from Manhattan Prep, powered by Kaplan. The partnership is designed to lower financial barriers to admissions preparation while providing rigorous academic support at a critical moment in the graduate school application process.
Globally, women continue to make up just over 40% of graduate business school applicants, a level that has held for more than a decade. Meanwhile, many of the most competitive MBA programs in the United States report gender parity and the number of women running Fortune 500 companies recently hit a new high.
In addition, Forté will offer courses from Manhattan Prep, powered by Kaplan, at select nationwide in-person forum events. These courses will provide full access to comprehensive test preparation programs, helping high-potential candidates take the next step in their MBA journey. Kaplan will also host dedicated webinars for the Forte community designed to demystify the admissions testing process. These sessions will provide practical test-taking strategies and structured study roadmaps that attendees can immediately implement.
Elissa Sangster, CEO, Forté Foundation, said:
“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. We are pleased to provide access to top-tier instruction and resources through this partnership. 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.”
Amit Schlesinger, executive director, Kaplan, said:
“Forté has built one of the strongest communities of aspiring women leaders in business. 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. We’re proud to support Forté members as they pursue top MBA programs and long-term leadership careers.”
Forté members interested in enrolling in a Kaplan course can sign up using this portal.
Reporters interested in covering this partnership can contact Russell Schaffer at russell.schaffer@kaplan.com.
Test names and other trademarks are the property of the respective trademark holders.
Forté is a nonprofit organization with the goal of achieving gender parity at all levels of business. Forté works closely with business schools, corporations, and universities to ensure women have access to opportunities at every stage of their careers. Forté offers a wide variety of resources, including MBA prep, professional development, leadership education, and a diverse community of successful women. Upcoming opportunities for incoming MBA women include MBA Takeoff, MBA Financial Services Fast Track Conference, and MBA Women’s Leadership Conference. For more information, visit fortefoundation.org.
Kaplan, Inc. is a global education company that helps individuals and institutions advance their goals in an ever-changing world. Our broad portfolio of solutions helps students and professionals further their education and careers, universities and educational institutions attract and support students, and businesses maximize employee recruitment, retention, and development. Stanley Kaplan founded our company in 1938 with a mission to expand educational opportunities for students of all backgrounds. Today, our thousands of employees working in 27 countries/regions continue Stanley’s mission as they serve about 1.3 million students and professionals, 16,000 corporate clients, and 2,700 schools, school districts, colleges, and universities worldwide. Kaplan is a subsidiary of the Graham Holdings Company (NYSE: GHC). Learn more at kaplan.com.
