Dear ROMBA Fellow,
Congratulations on your admission to business school and for being named a ROMBA Fellow! That’s no small feat, and you should be incredibly proud of your achievement. You’re joining a vibrant, tight-knit community that will support you throughout business school and beyond.
My name is Benji Phan, and I am a ROMBA Fellow at the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University. Just last year, I was where you are now: excited, a little nervous, and full of questions about ROMBA and the MBA experience. Becoming a ROMBA Fellow introduced me to an empowering network of peers and helped me find my voice and a sense of belonging in business school. My experience with ROMBA was the spark that ignited my leadership journey, and it’s why I’m thrilled to be part of the team organizing your ROMBA experience this year.
This Fellowship is your launchpad, and it all begins now. Here’s your guide to making the most of your Fellowship experience from day one:
Fellows’ Retreat – July 25–27 in Philadelphia
The Fellows’ Retreat was my first ROMBA experience, and trust me, you don’t want to miss it! The laughter and memories we made while celebrating, networking, and exploring Philadelphia became some of my most cherished moments from business school. It’s a more intimate, interactive experience designed exclusively for first-year Fellows. More than just networking, you’ll begin building strong bonds with each other and find a genuine sense of community that will support you throughout business school and beyond. If you haven’t signed up yet, do yourself a favor and register today so you don’t miss the chance to connect with your incoming Fellows cohort.
ROMBA Conference – September 25–27 in New Orleans
Last year’s ROMBA Conference in Los Angeles was the moment things really came together for me. The immersive experience helped me make real relationships and see a clearer path for where I wanted to go with my career. I can honestly credit my success in securing my MBA internship to the conversations I had and the insights I picked up from the panels and workshops. Not only that, I left with a deeper sense of belonging in this community and the energy to tackle my first year of the MBA with zeal. I sincerely hope you will as well with this year’s conference.
This year, we’re heading to vibrant New Orleans, a city celebrated for its rich cultural heritage, resiliency, and dynamic rhythm that pulses through its jazz music and everyday life. Our theme, “Rhythm and Resilience,” reflects both the strength of the LGBTQ+ community and the spirit of New Orleans. Expect powerful conversations, dynamic panels and workshops, and a career fair packed with corporate partners eager to meet you, share opportunities, and guide you through the recruiting process. And when you need a break? You’re mere steps away from iconic cafes, shops, parks, music, and yes, beignets! Trust me, you won’t want to miss this. Keep an eye out this summer for the full agenda and speaker announcements.
Planning for ROMBA
A quick tip: start planning early and sign up for the experiences you’re interested in now so that you don’t miss out. For the Conference, be sure to book through the ROMBA hotel block as soon as it opens so that you get the best deals. The venue is ideally situated by the river, minutes from the French Quarter, and gives you incredible views of the city and the river. Staying onsite will elevate your experience, make it easy to catch those spontaneous late-night conversations and early morning coffee chats, and to fully experience what New Orleans has to offer. If cost is a concern, please don’t hesitate to apply for the James Robertson LGBTQ+ Student Access Fund, which offers partial financial support for lodging and/or travel costs to help student attend ROMBA programs like the Treks, Retreat, and Conference.
That’s it for now. I hope this gives you a good idea of what your Fellowship offers. These experiences are designed to complement the resources from your program, expand your network and access to opportunities, and facilitate your success in business school and beyond. I can’t emphasize enough how much ROMBA has enriched my MBA experience, and I hope it will do the same for you.
Feel free to reach out to via email (bkp43@case.edu), LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com/in/bqphan), or Instagram @bqphan if you have more questions about ROMBA or the MBA experience in general. I’m always happy to connect and share any tips I have to help you make the most of your experience.
Again, congratulations, and I can’t wait to meet you this summer!
Benji Phan
Case Western Reserve University
Weatherhead School of Management, MBA ’26
Incoming Fellows will be invited to a weekend retreat in Philadelphia, PA on the weekend of July 25-27, 2025.*
Our flagship event, the ROMBA Conference is the largest gathering of LGBTQ+ MBA students and professionals in the world.
Each summer, the incoming Fellowship cohort gathers for a retreat to build their LGBTQ+ network, develop leadership skills by working with our corporate partners, network with ROMBA alumni, and learn how Reaching Out can support their careers both while in school and post-MBA. 
