Some conversations can change the way you lead, connect, and see the world around you.
Conversations That Matter (CTM) is a six-session, small-cohort experience for Wharton MBA students who want to become more thoughtful and effective in the conversations that shape their leadership, relationships, and communities.
Through facilitated dialogue, reflection, and interactive experiences, participants explore how they listen, communicate, navigate differences, respond to disagreement, examine their own assumptions, and stay engaged when conversations become challenging.
CTM creates space for the kinds of conversations that can be easy to miss in the pace of MBA life. Participants will hear perspectives they may not normally encounter, learn more about how they show up with others, and strengthen skills they can carry into their teams, organizations, relationships, and future leadership.
You can expect meaningful conversation, honest reflection, new perspectives, and practical opportunities to strengthen how you connect and communicate with others.
Ready to join the conversation?
Participants
CTM is open to Wharton MBA students interested in learning more about themselves, connecting more meaningfully with others, and strengthening their ability to navigate the conversations that matter in leadership and in life.
Whether you want to become a better listener, communicate more effectively across differences, better understand your own perspective, or create space for deeper conversations with your peers, CTM offers an opportunity to practice those skills alongside a small cohort of fellow students.
Curiosity, openness, and a willingness to participate are where the experience begins.
Program Format
CTM is offered once during the Fall semester and once during the Spring semester.
Each cohort meets for six weekly, 90-minute sessions from 6:00–7:30 PM. Sessions combine facilitated conversation, individual reflection, small-group dialogue, and interactive exercises.
Heavy hors d’oeuvres will be served at each session, giving participants the opportunity to share a meal while connecting with fellow cohort members and engaging in the evening’s conversation.
Because each CTM session builds on the last, participants are expected to attend at least five of six sessions. If your schedule does not allow for that commitment, we encourage you to apply for a future cohort.
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September 30
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October 7
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October 14
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October 21
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October 28
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November 4
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January 27
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February 3
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February 10
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February 17
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February 24
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March 3
Facilitators
CTM is intentionally facilitated to create an environment where participants can engage openly, challenge themselves, learn from one another, and build trust over the course of the program.
Sessions balance structured activities with conversation and reflection, allowing the group to explore meaningful topics while developing practical communication and relationship-building skills.
Application Timeline
Fall 2026
Wednesdays | 6:00–7:30 PM | September 30–November 4
Application Deadline: September 23, 2026
Spring 2027
Wednesdays | 6:00–7:30 PM | January 27–March 3
Application Deadline: January 20, 2027
Applications typically open about 5 weeks before each cohort begins
Click here to apply to Conversations that Matter.
Process & Selection
The application will be sent out via email before each round. Interested students must apply by the deadline.
Applications are reviewed for thoughtfulness and availability, with the goal of creating a diverse, supportive group. We’re looking for a mix of voices and readiness to engage.
Application Content
Students interested in joining CTM complete a brief application before each cohort.
Each cohort is limited to 20 students, making the application process competitive. We aim to bring together a thoughtful mix of students with different professional experiences, perspectives, interests, and ways of thinking so participants can learn both from the program and from one another.
Click here to apply to Conversations that Matter.