Recognizing that a lack of role models in corporate America was discouraging students from underserved communities from pursuing careers in business, executives at McNeil Pharmaceutical launched LEAD at The Wharton School in 1980.

Their agenda: Create an innovative and intensive summer business program that would serve as the foundation for lifelong partnerships between outstanding students and the nation's leading corporations and business schools.

Today, LEAD boasts more than 6,600 alumni. 65 percent of LEAD alumni are currently pursuing careers in business; 50 percent of these alumni have received or are pursuing an MBA from a top 25-business school.

Hailed as "a new paradigm" by the Philadelphia Daily News, LEAD's current partners include more than 30 of America's top corporations and 11 of the nation's most-respected business schools .

Each year, LEAD receives over 1,200 applications for just 330 seats in its Summer Business Institutes (SBIs). To meet the interest of qualified applicants, as well as providing a pool of talent for corporate America, LEAD is committed to doubling its annual enrollment by 2007.

How LEAD Works

Identifies potential high-school juniors through aggressive marketing and recruitment, including outreach to historically underserved and under-represented diverse communities.

Selects the most outstanding students for attendance in LEAD's Summer Business Institutes (SBIs) through a rigorous evaluation process that considers criteria such as test scores (average SAT: 1220), grade point average, and proven leadership.

Encourages students to pursue business careers by developing intensive SBI programs where students interact with leading executives and are introduced to both business principals and career opportunities in a variety of disciplines.

Cultivates long-term relationships for LEAD alumni with corporate America and business schools that open the door to admissions, internships, mentoring, and permanent employment.

Enables corporate sponsors seeking experienced hires and business schools seeking Masters program candidates to recruit from the outstanding pool of LEAD alumni currently working in the business world.