Typically coming in the form of non-repayable financial awards given to students to support their business education—often on the basis of academic achievement or financial need—scholarships enable students to focus on their studies without the pressure of financial burden.
For those who are yet to embark on their business school journeys, it can be difficult to grasp just how transformative and impactful receiving a scholarship can be. So, we spoke with six MBA students to find out how receiving a scholarship helped them pursue their business school dreams.
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6 MBA students share how scholarships changed their lives
Empowered leadership rooted in purpose and impact
“Becoming a Laidlaw Scholar has been transformative for me. It alleviated financial pressure, allowing me to fully engage in LBS’s academic and extracurricular activities. Currently, I co-lead the Africa Business Club, serve as a school ambassador, and actively participate in competitions such as the Turner MBA Impact Investing Network & Training (MIINT). More importantly, the scholarship reaffirmed my commitment to creating opportunities for others and strengthened my resolve to scale a pan-African edtech venture.
"To the Laidlaw Foundation, I extend my deepest gratitude for believing in my vision. This scholarship has enabled me to pursue my MBA, and I remain committed to paying this support forward.”
Precious Akinkuolie, MBA student at London Business School and recipient of the Laidlaw Women’s Leadership Fund Scholarship.
Built the confidence to leap into the unknown
“As I'm in the middle of my journey with the Lisbon MBA (I'm currently in Boston on an exchange program with MIT), I can say that receiving this scholarship helped me start the year with the confidence and conviction that I belonged in this cohort.
"I came from a background completely outside of business, and doing an MBA was a big leap into the unknown for me. I saw the scholarship as confirmation that the leap wasn’t as big as I’d feared.”
Léopold Van den Abeele, MBA student at Nova School of Business and Economics, and recipient of the Lisbon MBA scholarship.
Turned an impossible dream into a lived reality
“I’m deeply proud of the journey so far. From a 12-year-old girl in a small rural village with an unlikely dream of studying in England, to now sharing a classroom with brilliant minds from across the world—this journey has been nothing short of extraordinary.
"For example, my first year at LBS has just ended. It brought its share of setbacks—mistakes, failures, and rejections—but also countless unforgettable moments. I’ve built meaningful friendships. I had the honour of meeting Princess Anne during Foundation Day, and I now serve as co-president of the LBS Data & AI Association, working to bring practical learning to the student community.
"Receiving the Laidlaw Scholarship has been a profound turning point. Beyond financial support, it has given me confidence, access, and a sense of belonging. It has reminded me that my story matters—and that with resilience and the right opportunities, seemingly impossible dreams can be realised.”
Thuan An Quang, MBA student at London Business School and recipient of the Laidlaw Women’s Leadership Fund Scholarship.
Accelerated professional growth and broadened global perspective
“Receiving the Valentín Díez Morodo Scholarship for Excellence at IE has been a defining moment in both my personal and professional journey.
"Personally, it reaffirmed my belief in the power of perseverance and the importance of representing Mexican talent on global platforms. It also reinforced my sense of responsibility—to elevate others, lead with purpose, and create opportunities beyond myself.
"Professionally, it gave me access to a world-class MBA experience and to a powerful network of change-makers. Being part of the International MBA has expanded not only my business knowledge but also my perspective, exposing me to a truly global community, diverse ways of thinking, and complex challenges that require creative, collaborative solutions.
"The scholarship has not only accelerated my growth—it has reinforced my commitment to generate value beyond business metrics and to shape a leadership path rooted in excellence, inclusion, and long-term impact.”
Carolina Gasca Manzanilla, an MBA student at IE Business School and a recipient of the Valentín Díez Morodo Scholarship for Excellence.
Opened the door to global purpose-driven business
“Being selected as a Laidlaw Women in Business Scholarship recipient has allowed me to pursue business with purpose in a way I don’t think would have been possible on a different program.
"During my MBA, I’ve had the opportunity to truly work toward global impact by building partnerships and exploring business across geographies. I’ve been able to bring some of those lessons back to Saïd Business School—in the classroom, with my cohort, and to the wider university community through my roles as co-chair of our Healthcare Business Network and co-president of a new initiative, the Oxford Latin American Business Summit.
"The scholarship has allowed me to explore how I can fully realise its aims of becoming a leader in business.”
Melissa Sanchez, MBA student at the University of Oxford, Saïd Business School, and recipient of the Laidlaw Women in Business.
Enabled education, independence, and support for the entire family
“Being awarded a scholarship is both an achievement and an opportunity. It represents recognition of hard work—but more than that, it’s a blessing that enables individuals to better themselves through education.
"Personally, scholarships have been life-changing. They’ve helped me support my family financially and affirmed my belief that with enough effort, I could succeed.
"As a young Filipino girl, scholarships helped me earn a place at the Philippines’ top university and launch a career that gave me financial independence and professional growth. Now, once again, I’m building my future through education—this time in France—with the scholarship that was given to me.”
Claudine Regino, MBA student at Emlyon Business School and recipient of the Women’s and Early Bird scholarships.
For more tips and tricks on how to land a scholarship and secure your place at business school, download the BusinessBecause MBA Scholarships Guide | Tips To Boost Your Chances of Success
