As Women’s History Month comes to a close, it raises an important question: what still needs to change for more women to reach leadership?
Women make up 49% of entry-level employees yet hold just 29% of C-suite roles, a figure that hasn’t budged in years, according to McKinsey’s 2025 Women in the Workplace report.
The gap starts long before the C-suite. It starts here, in decisions made during college about who to connect with, what to explore, and how to show up. Access to opportunities, networks, and confidence early in your career makes all the difference.
For UO students, that access is now free through the Forté Foundation, a nonprofit focused on helping women explore careers, build skills, and grow into leadership roles. Whether you’re a first-year still exploring or already thinking about internships, Forté is designed to meet you where you are and help you take a few real steps forward.
Build Real Skills with the Career Ready Certificate
A great place to start is the Career Ready Certificate, a self-paced program organized around four units: Fundamentals, Invest, Champion, and Explore.
The program focuses on the skills employers are actively looking for—like executive presence, personal branding, communication, and networking—and gives you a chance to practice them in real scenarios.
Completing the certificate earns you a credential and digital badge, both signals to employers and graduate programs that you are career-ready and leadership-minded.
Go Further with Conferences and Exclusive Opportunities
Beyond the certificate, Forté opens doors to experiences that are hard to find elsewhere:
- Attend online and in-person conferences, with travel funding available for some programs
- Apply for scholarships
- Access the Forté Job Center, where leading companies post internship and job opportunities
- Connect with a national network of students, alumni, corporate partners, and business schools through mentoring and one-on-one conversations
As the program grows at UO, select students will also have the opportunity to serve as Forté Campus Ambassadors, gaining speaking opportunities, professional spotlights, and enhanced leadership experience.
These are the kinds of experiences that can make a real difference when you’re applying for internships or talking with recruiters.
Getting Started
You don’t need to have everything figured out to get started.
College is one of the best times to explore career paths, build your network, and grow into the leader you want to be. Students who take small steps early, like clarifying their interests, practicing how they tell their story, and building connections, tend to feel more prepared and confident when opportunities come up.
Ready to take your next step? Join Forté for free.
