This year’s Edie Hunt Inspiration Award winner, Hannah Tolan, learned early in life the value of strong female role models. Her single mom raised her and her sisters to be independent women, a lesson she carried into her MBA program at Cornell’s Johnson Graduate School of Management where she helped create a supportive community for women.
When Hannah Tolan steps across the stage during her graduation ceremony from Cornell University (Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management) this May, she will take home more than an MBA. She will also celebrate the impact she has made on other women in her class – who make up 43% of the School’s 2025 MBA cohort – and beyond.
As the recipient of Forté’s 2025 Edie Hunt Inspiration Award, given annually to an MBA who advances Forté’s mission to get more women leading, Hannah was selected for helping create a supportive and caring environment for her peers. “At Johnson, I wanted to create a community in which women could be themselves, be confident, and encourage other women,” she says.
Being a female advocate comes naturally to Hannah, whose single mother adopted her and her sisters, teaching them, she says, to “be strong, independent women who can do anything.”
With the goal to “motivate women to get involved, stretch themselves, lead, and be successful,” Hannah explains, she led by example by participating in an impressive range of activities while at Johnson:
- Vice president of Forté Admissions, part of the Women’s Management Council
- Organized and co-led events like Forté Fellow meetings
- Helped launch the new finance club, VC@Johnson and encouraged more female participation within the venture capital space as investors, operators, and founders
- Secured female panelists to provide exposure to women in venture capital and private equity as a leader of Johnson Private Equity and Credit Club and a Big Red Ventures Fund Manager
- Coordinated the Forté Buddies Program, which pairs incoming Forté Fellows and conference attendees with current students who can answer questions prior to the start of school and Forté conferences
- Hosted Forté Ask Me Anything (AMA) events that encouraged women interested in finance and consulting to attend the Forté MBA Financial Services Fast Track Conference
Beyond these initiatives, Hannah also served as Vice President of Communications and Community for Cornell’s investment club, Gorges Ventures; as a Johnson Admissions Group and Johnson Leadership Fellow; as a Dyson Grand Challenges Coach; and as a member of Asian Affinity Business Association, Tennis Club, Johnson Consulting Club, and Old Ezra Finance Club.
Congratulations to Hannah! Wherever you go from here, we are confident you will continue to get more women leading and build strong, supportive communities.
An amazing MBA experience starts with Forté. If you’re an incoming MBA student, these programs and events are designed to help you get ready for business school, connect with companies and peers, and build your network before classes begin.
- MBA Takeoff – April 17-May 8, 2025 – Join our three-week virtual program designed to help incoming MBA students feel confident, prepared, and connected before they step into business school. Register today.
- MBA Financial Services Fast Track – May 13-14, 2025 – Interested in a career in financial services? Join us in NYC for an opportunity to explore the finance industry and the diverse career opportunities available. Learn more and register.
- MBA Women Leadership Conference – June 13-14, 2025 – Meet hundreds of peers at this two-day conference in Denver. Explore career paths, connect with recruiters, and hear from today’s most influential businesswomen. Learn more and register.