Diversity

Race • Ethnicity • Culture • Gender • Socioeconomic Background • Work Experience • Sexual Orientation • Religion • Nationality • Marital Status

No matter how you define diversity, diversity of thought is the result of bringing many perspectives into a community.

Diversity at Kellogg is a value that begins in the Office of the Dean and extends throughout the school's community, serving as a hallmark of the school’s inclusive culture. A typical Kellogg School class is composed of investment bankers, plant managers, Peace Corps volunteers, physicians, military officers and people who represent nearly every industry and job function.

“We value diversity of experience and perspective, because in our collaborative academic environment these qualities help drive the innovation that can solve business challenges. “But appreciating diversity does not merely make us better leaders; it also makes us better people.”
— Dean Dipak C. Jain

Students from around the world are attracted to the Kellogg School for its academic excellence, its supportive and inclusive culture and its commitment to leadership. Kellogg prepares students to manage global business challenges as corporate and community leaders. One way the school achieves this goal is by providing a culture that enhances opportunities for peer-to-peer learning in groups. Recruiters recognize Kellogg School graduates for their ability to work collaboratively in leadership roles, a fact reflected by the demand for this expertise across all industries.

Underrepresented minorities
All students contribute to the Kellogg School’s vibrant collaborative culture, and many take leadership positions in the more than 80 clubs and organizations at Kellogg, including those focused on diversity and international issues:

• Black Management Association (BMA): provides excellent support and serves as a key resource to its members throughout their Kellogg School career and beyond.
• Hispanic Business Student Association (HBSA): dedicated to helping U.S. Latinos learn about and make the most of the Kellogg School experience. The goals are to improve the visibility of Kellogg in the U.S. Latino community, increase the school’s Latino student community and focus on minority corporate recruiting issues.
• Latin American, Hispanic, Iberian Management Association (LAHIMA): provides Latin American, Hispanic and Iberian students with the assistance to take full advantage of the Kellogg experience. The club seeks to maintain and increase the contact with Latin American, Hispanic and Iberian communities to help develop Kellogg School's international perspective.
• Kellogg African Business Association (KABA): increases the professional and cultural interest in Africa within the Kellogg community. KABA strives to build and strengthen relationships within the Kellogg alumni and affiliates community and make Kellogg the No. 1 destination for Africans seeking an MBA in the U.S.
• Native American Business Association (NABA): recently formed to provide support for Native American MBA students and increase cultural awareness throughout the Kellogg community. This group is spearheading the effort to establish a national networking organization.

To learn more about our students, please review the minority student class profile.

Whatever your interests and goals, Kellogg will provide you with the skills you need to develop them in our unique academic environment. The Kellogg School also collaborates with organizations such as:

• Management Leadership for Tomorrow
• MBA Diversity
• National Black MBA Association
• National Society of Hispanic MBAs
• Riordan Fellowship Program
• Robert Toigo Foundation
• Sponsors for Educational Opportunities

Kellogg also has formed an alliance with other top business schools. This partnership, known as the Ten School Diversity Alliance (TSDA), has the following mission: "To impact and influence the diversity of MBA campuses, organizations and the global community. We strive to increase awareness of and participation in graduate management education by underrepresented populations."

The TSDA hosts informational and recruiting events throughout the year. Visit TSDA for a list of planned events.

Gay and lesbian students
The Gay and Lesbian Management Association (GLMA) has existed at Kellogg since 1992. The GLMA, which is open to all Kellogg students, both gay and straight, strives to enhance current LGBT students’ social, academic and pre-professional experience at Kellogg while increasing the professional social capital of the entire network of LGBT Kellogg MBAs, including pre-MBAs, current students and alumni.

The GLMA’s efforts include many events, such as:

• Coming Out for Your MBA recruiting events
• Reaching Out Lesbian and Gay MBA Conference
• First Friday Chicagoland networking for professionals and graduate students
• Chicago-area graduate student mixers
• Annual alumni-student mixer
• Chicagoland activities for GLMA members and supporters

GLMA also enhances the Kellogg community by sponsoring events in recognition of “National Coming Out Week” and “Pride Week,” and by sponsoring panels addressing mainstream and LGBT concerns. In fact, Aplomb Consulting has rated Kellogg one of the most gay-friendly business schools in the U.S.

Admissions contact
For more information on how Kellogg supports underrepresented minorities and gay and lesbian students, please contact Deena Williams at 847.467.5768.

Visit On-Campus Events for a list of diversity events in 2007-2008: http://www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/admissions/visit/offcampus.htm#diversity

Women at Kellogg
An increasing number of women have moved into the management levels and leadership positions within their organizations. In 2007, Kellogg women comprise 36% of the Two-Year MBA class. From their comments, women find a welcoming, supportive atmosphere here — one where their experiences and perspectives are clearly valued. As a student at Kellogg, there are many ways in which you are supported. Here are a few of the many resources available to women.

Women’s Business Association
Women’s Leadership Workshop
Center for Executive Women
Kellogg and the Forte Foundation

Women at Kellogg become better leaders and managers through sharing their talents, experience and interests with a close-knit network of peers and alumni. This network also helps our students to find career opportunities and build life-long professional and personal relationships.

We invite you to learn more about how Kellogg women lead the way!

A list of women's specific events for 2007-2008 is available here.

Women’s Business Association
In its official capacity, the WBA at the Kellogg School provides professional and personal development opportunities for women through a variety of speakers, workshops, and events. However, in actuality, the WBA is so much more. True to its Kellogg roots, the WBA strives to challenge, teach, and bond its members in way that is meaningful and lasting. One of it’s significant undertakings is to host the annual Women’s Business Association Conference, led and organized by students, which brings together students, alumni and high level corporate representatives to share and discuss business issues facing women today. The WBA also hosts “Careers Uncorked”, their flagship event to provide a networking opportunity for first year students and companies looking to recruit top MBA students. The mentorship program matches first and second year women to where 1st years can benefit from the guidance and advice of their Mentors. Topics range from how to bid for classes to surviving recruiting season.

Women’s Leadership Workshop
The Kellogg School is inspiring young professional women to see the opportunity in an MBA through the Women’s Leadership Workshop. This joint initiative between the Women’s Business Association (WBA) and the Kellogg Admissions Office was designed to increase the number of qualified women who apply to business school. Over 90 high-potential women attended the workshop and learned valuable leadership skills including identifying personal leadership values, negotiations, networking and communications.

Center for Executive Women
In 2001, Kellogg established the Center for Executive Women which is dedicated to helping senior-level women advance to top executive and board positions throughout the world. The Center with its research-based insights, practical strategies for success, and a powerful network of executive women, is another way Kellogg continues to work to ensure all its students have the opportunity to develop their full potential.

Kellogg and the Forte Foundation
Kellogg is committed to growing the number of women interested in careers in business and the MBA and has partnered with the Forte Foundation since inception in 2001. Through this relationship, Kellogg has hosted a career lab for Northwestern Undergraduate women, participated in the Forte Forums and has a strong network of Forte scholars dedicated to inspiring women. These scholars receive a $20,000 scholarship per year and are networked into a group of Forte scholars around the globe.

Here’s how you can connect to Kellogg women:

WBA Chats
At 4pm on Friday’s when classes are in session, members of the Women’s Business Association (WBA) offer prospective females an opportunity to chat with students to learn more about the WBA and Kellogg.  This chat starts in the Admissions Office.  For more information about this chat or the WBA, please feel free to contact Tina Chang at tchang2009@kellogg.northwestern.edu.

Women’s Business Association
Members of the Women’s Business Association at Kellogg are a great resource. Feel free to email Allie Cecich at acecich2008@kellogg.northwestern.edu with questions about how the WBA supports students.

Student Coffee Chats
Over winter break, Kellogg women will lead coffee chats across the US. This provides an opportunity for casual conversation and a way to learn more about the Kellogg experience. Events are typically finalized in early December.

Admissions Contacts
For more questions on how Kellogg supports women, please contact Jennifer Stoltz or Ellen Kim at 847-491-3308.

Visit the campus and you will agree that Kellogg is a great program for women, and for men.

International students

Kellogg is truly global, with international students (not including permanent residents of the United States) accounting for approximately 31% of the Class entering in 2007. More information on International students at Kellogg can be found here.