Club Leadership Summit

Bringing together leaders of LGBTQ+ clubs at Business Schools from around the world.
April 5, 2025 // Austin, TX

A unique opportunity for student leaders to learn from each other

Join top business schools from around the world to learn best practices, connect with peers, and find out how Reaching Out can support your club and business careers.

Our network of LGBTQ+ club affiliates spans the globe See Club Affiliates
Rainbow

The Club Leadership Summit is proudly sponsored by Shorenstein.

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2025 Agenda

8:15 am Duration 45 min

Check-in & Breakfast

9:00 am Duration 60 min

Welcome & Club Networking

Welcome to the 2025 Club Leadership Summit! Club Leaders will hear from the Program team, Nick Bailey & Kari Perez, about the day’s activities.

10:05 am Duration 50 min

Navigating Uncertainty & Building Resilience

In today’s rapidly changing world, leaders face unprecedented challenges that require adaptability, authenticity, and resilience. This workshop aims to equip LGBTQ+ future leaders with practical tools and strategies to navigate uncertainty and foster resilience within themselves and their organizations.

11:00 am Duration 50 min

Sparking Queer Joy through Authentic Leadership

This interactive workshop uses experiential learning to explore how the full spectrum of emotions—joy and its counterpoints—can empower queer leadership. Drawing inspiration from the opening scene of Inside Out, which introduces the concept of joy and emotional discovery, the session draws parallels between the baby’s first encounters with a range of emotions and the experience of stepping into a new leadership role. Participants will engage in group storytelling, creative brainstorming, and movement-based exercises to identify personal sources of joy, fostering an environment where vulnerability and self-expression lead to authentic leadership.

12:00 pm Duration 70 min

Lunch

1:15 pm Duration 60 min

5th Annual Club Competition, sponsored by Shorenstein & the Rich Chicotel Foundation

The three club finalists will present their pitches in a chance to win $5,000 for their club. All student club leader attendees will vote for the club of their choosing.

2:15 pm Duration 30 min

ROMBA 2025 Presentation

Get the latest news about this year’s ROMBA 2025 conference, taking place in New Orleans from September 25-27!

3:00 pm Duration 50 min

Breakout Sessions

A: Selectively Out: Supporting the Diverse Journeys of Your Pride Members

Queer individuals navigate different levels of outness in personal, academic, and professional spaces, making visibility and inclusion complex topics within MBA programs. This interactive workshop will explore how MBA Pride leaders can foster an environment where all students feel supported, whether they are fully out, selectively out, or exploring their identity. Attendees will share real-world strategies for making MBA Pride organizations more inclusive, responsive, and empowering. By the end of the session, participants will leave with a deeper understanding of how to support their members at every stage of their journey.

B: Engaging Admitted & Prospective Students

As some schools discontinue sharing applicant lists with LGBTQ+ clubs, reaching prospective and admitted students requires fresh, strategic approaches. This workshop will dive into innovative ways to connect with LGBTQ+ applicants—leveraging student ambassadors, social media, virtual engagement, and alumni networks—to foster a sense of community and support before they even set foot on campus.

3:55 pm Duration 50 min

Beyond the Rainbow: Building Inclusive LGBTQ+ Club Leadership

LGBTQ+ clubs are vital spaces for advocacy, networking, and support. Despite this, leadership and membership structures can sometimes unintentionally exclude those with multiple marginalized identities, such as trans/GNC members, BIPOC members, neurodivergent members, and disabled members. This session challenges LGBTQ+ club leaders to actively foster diverse, accessible, and intersectional leadership. Participants will explore tangible strategies for making a more welcoming club culture for all members and discuss how leaders can use their privilege to uplift underrepresented voices while avoiding performative allyship.

4:50 pm Duration 10 min

Final Takeaways & Wrap Up

Reaching Out staff will share ways for club leaders to stay connected post-summit.

7:30 pm Duration 120 min

Dinner

Join us for a final dinner for all Summit attendees to close out the 2025 Leadership Summit.