IRIS Conference – Reaching Out LGBT+ MBA

September 25, 2025 // New Orleans

WHAT IS IRIS?

The IRIS Conference—formerly known as OWIB—is a dedicated daylong event held just before the ROMBA Conference. Named after Iris, the Greek mythological figure who embodies the rainbow and moves fluidly between worlds, the conference is designed to uplift and connect women, transgender, gender non-conforming individuals, and allies within the business community. IRIS creates a welcoming space that encourages authentic connection, support, and visibility, offering attendees the chance to build a strong network that extends beyond shared identities. This year’s conference includes powerful keynote speakers, educational panels, and networking opportunities with fellow attendees and corporate partners committed to building inclusive workplace communities. By bringing together MBA students and professionals, IRIS fosters relationships that not only enhance the ROMBA experience but also continue to grow long after the conference concludes.

Corporate Partners

Thanks to our IRIS partners for their loyal support. To learn more about IRIS partnerships, click the link below and go to pages 32-34

LEARN MORE

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

When and where is this year's IRIS Conference?

The 2025 IRIS Conference will take place on Thursday, September 25th, as a lead-in to the ROMBA Conference. It will be held at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside, located at Two Poydras St, New Orleans, LA 70130.

What is the agenda for IRIS?

Programming for the IRIS Conference will take place on Thursday, September 25th, from 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM. More details on the agenda coming soon!

Can I attend both the IRIS Conference and the ROMBA Conference?

For anyone who identifies as a woman, trans, NB/GNC, or ally, and plans to attend ROMBA, we encourage you to consider attending IRIS as a prelude to ROMBA.

Registrants will get a 20% discount when they register for both conferences.

What is the cost to attend the conference?

We have three ticket categories set at various price points, with price increases following the August 21st and September 14th deadlines. You can find more information about our ticket prices in the table below. Registrants will get a 20% discount when they register for both IRIS and ROMBA conferences. Details in the second table below.

	Early Bird Pricing (Until August 21)	Regular Pricing (Until September 14)	Last Minute Pricing
Current Students	$75	$100	$125
Professionals	$150	$200	$250
Corporate Partners	$200	$250	$300

IRIS + ROMBA BUNDLE PRICING:

	Early Bird Pricing (Until August 21)	Regular Pricing (Until September 14)	Last Minute Pricing
Current Students	$360	$430	$550
Professionals	$470	$620	$750
Corporate Partners	$1160	$1450	$1740

What meals will be provided to attendees during the conference?

Breakfast and Lunch will be provided.

What are ROMBA's current health and safety protocols?

For information on our current health & safety policies, please visit this page.

How can my company learn more about partnership opportunities?

You can learn more about corporate partnership opportunities on our Become a Partner page.

Can allies attend the IRIS Conference?

At Reaching Out MBA, we’ve always embraced the power of allyship—and that commitment remains strong. Allies are always welcome at our events and programs and your presence can help strengthen the impact of our mission. In fact, ROMBA intentionally includes allies in our definition of LGBTQ+. Reaching Out MBA uses the “+” as part of LGBTQ to intentionally embrace all individuals who are working towards building communities of inclusion, respect, and belonging, including allies of the LGBTQ community and those who are not fully represented by the letters LGBTQ.

What is the conference attire?

The recommended ROMBA Conference attire is “business casual authentic” – you are welcome to wear whatever business casual clothing is the most authentic to your identity. Jeans are fine, and suits/blazers certainly aren’t required.

Is there financial assistance to help with travel for current students?

We will open applications to the James Robertson LGBTQ+ Student Access Fund in mid-June. Thanks to the generous support of individual and corporate donors, the LGBTQ+ James Robertson Student Access Fund enables LGBTQ+ MBA students to attend Reaching Out events, helping them grow as leaders. We invite students to apply for funds when covering the cost of travel would provide a financial burden. We have also created this support letter to help those seeking financial support from their school or employer to attend the Conference.

We ask that students capable of personally covering travel costs and those who receive funding from their school or LGBTQ+ Club reconsider applying. This allows us to provide funding to more students who otherwise would not be able to participate.

I can no longer attend the conference, and I need to cancel my registration. What should I do?

If you’ve only registered for IRIS, ticket refunds, minus the $10 processing fee, will be available by request (at info@reachingoutmba.org) until Friday August 29th, 2025. Please include REFUND REQUEST as the email title.

After that, any canceled/forfeited fees will be considered a donation to the ongoing work of Reaching Out MBA.

If you’ve registered for both IRIS and ROMBA, ticket refunds, minus the $50 processing fee, will be available by request (at info@reachingoutmba.org) until Friday August 29th, 2025. Please include REFUND REQUEST as the email title.