The ROMBA Conference began in 1999 and has grown into our flagship event and one of the largest gatherings of MBA students, professionals, and corporate partners in the world. This three-day event blends professional development, networking, and celebration, creating a dynamic environment for recruitment, connection, and growth.

The 2026 ROMBA Conference will take place in Dallas, TX from October 1-3, 2026.

The 2026 ROMBA Conference will take place October 1-3 at the Hilton Anatole, located at 2201 N Stemmons Freeway, Dallas, TX 75207.

We have three ticket categories set at various price points, with price increases following the August 31st and September 21st deadlines. You can find more information about our ticket prices in this table.

To help you plan your travel, conference programming will begin at 3:00 PM CT on Thursday, October 1, and conclude by 11:00 PM CT on Saturday, October 3. We recommend arriving in Dallas no later than Thursday morning or early afternoon and planning your departure for Sunday, October 4, to take full advantage of the conference experience.

We’ve secured discounted room rates for conference attendees at the Hilton Anatole, our official conference hotel. We encourage you to book early, as rooms are available on a first-come, first-served basis and our block may sell out before the deadline.

Corporate / Professional Attendees: $289/night + taxes & fees
Book here: https://book.passkey.com/go/1CORP

Student Attendees: $209/night + taxes & fees (only for current students, this list will be audited)
Book here: https://book.passkey.com/go/stud3nt

Hotel booking deadline: September 10 at 3:00 PM CT

Staying at the conference hotel is the best way to stay connected to conference programming, networking opportunities, and the ROMBA community throughout the weekend.

Attendees who book with the student link we be asked to show their student id at check-in.

At Reaching Out MBA, allyship has always been central to our community. Allies are not only welcome at our events and programs - they are an important part of our mission and impact. ROMBA intentionally includes allies in our definition of LGBTQ+, using the “+” to embrace all individuals committed to building communities of inclusion, respect, and belonging, including allies and those not fully represented by the letters LGBTQ.

Ticket refunds, minus the $50 processing fee, will be available by request (at info@reachingoutmba.org) until Friday, September 4, 2026. 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.

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

This year, the Career Expo will take place on Friday, October 2nd, on-site at the ROMBA Conference from 2:15-6:15 PM CT. Companies must be active partners to participate in the Expo. Packages start at $10,000.

Those with a full conference registration will enjoy complimentary sit-down, multi-course meals during all three plenary sessions and additional food and snacks provided throughout the conference.

The PRIZM Experience is a curated pathway through the ROMBA Conference focused on connection, professional development, and career exploration. Through leadership and career-focused programming, attendees can engage with peers and industry leaders while exploring what’s next in their professional journey. The experience also includes access to the Career Expo – Professional & Full-Time Opportunities Exchange, offering opportunities to connect with employers hiring for full-time roles and expand your network.

IRIS is a community within ROMBA designed to support and connect women, trans, gender non-conforming (GNC), and allied students and professionals in business through leadership development, networking, recruiting engagement, and community-building opportunities.

During registration, attendees may opt in to receive IRIS communications and information about opportunities leading up to and during the ROMBA Conference. Attendees who opt in may also choose to share their resume with participating partners. Participation is open to all attendees interested in engaging with and supporting the IRIS community. Learn more about IRIS here.

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. Most people tend to dress a bit more formally for the major events, which will be announced soon.

Thanks to the generous support of individual and corporate donors, the James Robertson Student Access Fund enables 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 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.

Yes. While ROMBA is designed for MBA students, professionals, and allies, graduate students from other programs are welcome to attend. Many aspects of the conference – including leadership development, networking, recruiting engagement, and community-building – are relevant across a range of academic and professional backgrounds. All of our programming is open to students and professionals of all backgrounds.

Corporate Partners will post job opportunities and pre-screen resumes for interviews on the Reaching Out Career Portal (GradLeaders) this summer. Your best chance for interviews is to make sure your information is up to date when companies begin searching.

Visit the Reaching Out Career Portal as soon as you register by following the link in your registration confirmation email. The Reaching Out Career Portal is where you can access our job board, upload your current resume, and apply for current jobs. This is also how employers will learn more about you.

No, but we highly recommend you post it as soon as possible if you are seeking a job or internship. Recruiters will be looking at candidates all summer. The later you post a resume, the less likely it is that you’ll be able to pre-schedule interviews or coffee chats.

Without posting your resume, employers will not be able to find you to offer pre-scheduled interviews. We highly recommend posting your resume or curriculum vitae as soon as possible.

Yes, and entries for this year’s competitions will open in June. These competitions provide MBA students and alumni the opportunity to showcase their business skills, connect with industry leaders, and compete for cash prizes.

The Consulting Case Competition, sponsored by Bain & Company | powered by think-cell, challenges teams of current students to solve a real-world business problem and present strategic recommendations to a panel of consulting professionals. Participants gain valuable experience in analysis, teamwork, and executive-level presentations while competing for cash awards.

The Startup Pitch Competition gives MBA students and alumni the opportunity to pitch their ventures to a panel of entrepreneurs and investors. Participants receive feedback on their business model and presentation, with the winning startup receiving funding to help advance their venture.

We have created a table that shows what functions our corporate partners are recruiting for, their preferred experience levels, and whether or not they can sponsor candidates for a U.S. work visa. As new corporate partners join, their information will be added here in real-time, so we encourage you to regularly check this table, especially in the weeks leading up to the ROMBA Conference.