Reaching Out MBA (ROMBA), the largest annual gathering of Lgbtq graduate school students in the world, will be arriving in Boston this week, running from October 12-14.

The 20th annual three day conference offers thousands of attendees an incredibly unique opportunity to connect and expand their careers with a close-knit and inclusive community. Included in the ever-expanding event are multiple case competitions, high-profile keynote speakers, information chats with MBA programs, the first inaugural “Professional Day” session and much, much more.

Day One

Those in attendance on Thursday, Oct. 12, will have the chance to join the first of two Boston LGBTQ MBA Treks. Twenty students can join each of the application-based treks, visiting two of the city’s more prominent biotech companies. For the latter trek, admitted students will be visiting two management and consulting companies.

Throughout the first day, which runs from 2 to 11 p.m. at the Boston Seaport World Trade Center, corporate partners are invited to meet with Reaching Out’s staff and Board on future ROMBA events, both in the U.S. and in international locations like Brazil and China. The Out Women in Business event will run from 3 to 7 p.m., which will feature “short-form talks, a panel discussion, and structured workshop, designed to bring together our LGBTQ attendees and to focus on issues that specifically apply to and interest them,” followed by a formal reception.

As well, the first day will feature multiple panel events, helping attendees navigate recruitment at ROMBA, dealing with potential first-year grad school anxiety, discussing how companies can appropriately measure and expand inclusive practices, interview assistance, and more. The first night concludes with the aforementioned Out Women In Business ceremony, a ceremony for active and previously enrolled military veterans, and the invitation-only ROMBA Fellowship Recipient Reception.

Day Two

Several informative industry panels will take place throughout Day Two, covering topics such as coming out and thriving in the workplace, handling big data, inclusive networking, diversity in the tech industry, and much more. Later that afternoon, McKinsey Global Management Partner Dominic Barton and United Therapeutics’ CEO Martine Rothblatt will speak at the Leadership Lunch, sponsored by McKinsey and Co.

The centerpiece of Day Two is the three-hour Career Expo, which will feature nearly 100 of the world’s largest companies looking to recruit the best and brights of LGBTQ graduate talent. At the same time, ROMBA will host an Entrepreneurship Expert Zone, which allows entrepreneurs to present their startup ideas to potential venture capitalist partners.

The night will conclude with the he LGBTQ MBAs of Color Reception, taking place at from 6 to 7 p.m., followed by a pre-entertainment networking reception, and an “Evening With” popular LGBTQ comedian Margaret Cho at 9 p.m.

Day Three

Day Three will perhaps mark the most important of the weekend in regards to earning admission into the country’s best MBA programs. At 10 a.m., more than 40 business schools will join the Pre-MBA Admission Expo. The event “will have a mix of admissions officers, LGBTQ MBA alumni, and current LGBTQ MBA students on-site to share information about their programs & experiences on campus with our pre-MBA attendees.”

The afternoon will be filled with pre-MBA sessions on why some students may need to look into dual degree programs, regional networking, alumni discussions, and more. At 5 p.m., many schools will host their own private sessions with active students, alumni, and administrative officials..

The final night culminates with the 7 p.m. ROMBA Gala Reception and the sold out GALA Dinner, featuring CNN journalist Anderson Cooper, the weekend’s keynote speaker.

To find out how to register for this weekend’s event, along with a more in depth look at the three day schedule, head over to the ROMBA official website.

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