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College Success

Meet Our Undergrad Rising Stars

Sometimes, you can just tell who is a career superstar, before they even start their job search. One of Forté’s most beloved programs is Rising Stars, designed to guide young college women through career prep and exploring post-grad possibilities. Women who complete each challenge Forté offers are entitled to put the “Rising Star” designation on their resumes.

By the time they finish the program, they’ve learned how to network with peers and employers, to start their job searches, to stand out amongst job applicants, and learn about post-grad opportunities such as earning an MBA.

From the very beginning, these ladies have shown initiative and dedication—so we want to introduce you to the women you should watch out for.

GABRIELLE ALIAS is currently at the London School of Economics, taking a year abroad from her alma mater, Babson College. She credits her single mother for teaching her the importance of female power and influence. Gabrielle is involved in numerous campus and professional organizations, from Kappa Kappa Gamma to hosting a radio show—and she hopes her post-grad career will take her into the entertainment industry.


KATE BENNETT is a senior at the University of Dayton, earning her BS in business administration with a focus on marketing. She’s highly involved in campus organizations, including a pro-bono consulting group and the Alpha Kappa Psi business fraternity. Her internships have included working for Zipcube and Williams-Sonoma, and will return to Williams-Sonoma as a marketing analyst upon graduation.


AURY MARILYN CIFUENTES is a recent graduate of the College of New Jersey, making economics and social justice her focus. She spent her time on campus divided between the Bonner program, Women in Business, and various advocacy groups. She’s currently an analyst at Bloomberg.


ANNA FATTA is a University of Kentucky biochemistry major, working in the Guzman Laboratory and the Fine Arts Library on her campus. She’ll head to her home state of West Virginia this summer to work with atmospheric and environmental chemistry, and loves to dance and participate in theatre.


TAYLOR HURLEY is a sophomore at the University of Michigan, pursuing a BBA with minors in Spanish and environmental studies. She’s the VP of Finance and Membership for Net Impact and alumni chair for her business fraternity, among other campus organizations, and will spend this summer interning at Apollo Global Management in New York.


SHATOYIA JONES is the founder and CEO of Ordinary x Influence, author of Myth of the Self Made, and Educational and Leadership Consultant for Crimson Education, Senior and English Major with a Comparative Performance Arts & Communications concentration at Amherst College and reigning Miss Black America Massachusetts 2018. Her passions include Yahweh, education and education policy, fashion, books, art, nature, entrepreneurship, social justice and service work.


SHREYA PRABHAKAR is a third-year biology and economics double major at UNC Chapel Hill. This summer, she’ll be a Corporate Analyst for J.P Morgan Chase & Co., and somehow manages to find the time to oil paint, play the piano and soccer, and travel.


MAIA RIPPE is a junior at Babson College, studying business administration with a concentration in marketing. She’s a member of Sigma Kappa, as well as a resident assistant and a Center for Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership Scholar. Maia works at Orangetheory Fitness and has interned in advertising and retail marketing.


DISHA SETHI is a junior at Babson College majoring in finance and economics. Her education has taken her as far as a work/study summer in Paris with a digital marketing internship, and she’s an active Peer Career Ambassador as well as a Finance SPARK tutor.


NANA ABA TURKSON is a robotics, business and computer science enthusiast with a passion for diversity. She is a computer science and physics student at Mount Holyoke College, Class of 2021. Her long-term goals include obtaining a Master’s degree in Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, Business and Entrepreneurship.


BREE PARKER is a Cornell University sophomore studying statistical science and business, aiming to work in the financial sector post-graduation. She’ll be interning at J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. this summer, and in the meantime, keeps herself busy as a member of the Cornell Financial Risk Club, the DanceSport team, and the Ballroom Dance team.


Please join us in congratulating our newest round of Rising Stars!

The Forté Rising Stars program is free for women college students attending undergraduate sponsor schools. Participants complete activities that earn points toward rewards and a career-ready status they can feature on their resume.

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