The Alumni award winners Bryn Davies, Elham Fardad, Sorina Constantinescu, and Toss Grumley with their trophies

Inspirational: (l-r) Alumni award winners Bryn Davies, Elham Fardad, Sorina Constantinescu, and Toss Grumley

Four MBA graduates are celebrating after being recognised for their achievements at Warwick Business School’s inaugural Alumni Awards.

Sorina Constantinescu, of Dubai, Toss Grumley, of Auckland, New Zealand, Elham Fardad, of London, and Welshman Bryn Davies, who now lives in London, were presented with awards at a dinner at the British Motor Museum, which followed the first day of the MBA Conference at the School on ‘Redefining Sustainability: Embracing Transformative Change for a more Sustainable Future’.

Elham won the Community Empowerment Alumni Award for her work as CEO and founder of Migrant Leaders, which helps disadvantaged young migrants across the UK to fulfil their potential and build a career, while Toss, Principal at consultancy Grumley and Company, was presented with the Business Entrepreneurship Award.

As Chief Strategy & Business Development Officer at health tech firm Proximie, Bryn earned the Community Empowerment Award and Sorina collected the Alumni Leadership Award for her hugely influential work as Executive Chair of the School’s UAE Alumni Network in Dubai.

Karen Barker, Director of Stakeholder Engagement at WBS, presented the awards and said: “Congratulations to all the award winners. They really do exemplify our Change Maker values; they have challenged the status quo, sought to develop new solutions and innovations, helped others to build new lives and careers, and infused their communities and society with a passion to make the world a better place.

“They are an inspiration to us all and I wish them all the best in their future endeavours, which I am sure will be a great success.”

Change Maker: Elham Fardad, Founder of Migrant Leaders, is presented her award by Karen Barker, Director of Stakeholder Engagement

After growing his consultancy to more than 250 clients, with his marketing business PH Digital serving more than 150 of Australia’s fastest growing businesses, Toss has become one of the youngest and most successful entrepreneurs in his homeland of New Zealand.

The 34-year-old, who is also a Director at Emma Lewisham Skincare, said: “It’s an incredible honour to win the award. I know the achievements of my alumni peers, so I feel extremely lucky to be acknowledged by WBS.

“Warwick was an incredible period for me of gaining new knowledge, building valuable experience and connecting with my fantastic cohort who I learned so much from.”

Elham, who is originally from Iran and moved to the UK at 13, set up Migrant Leaders in 2017 on the back of a career in finance spanning 25 years including senior leadership roles at GE, News Corp and EY.

Migrant Leaders’ personal development programme is free, giving 16 to 25-year-olds mentoring, workshops, work experience and connections, with more than 1,500 senior mentors from 95 FTSE100 and leading firms, including Anglo American, Kantar, BP and Meta.

She said: “The University of Warwick will always hold a special place in my heart. What many may not know is that when Warwick Business School accepted me as the youngest ever Executive MBA candidate aged 25, I was going through a confidence crisis.

“I had just started a financial controller role at GE and was acutely aware of my lack of managerial experience. The Warwick MBA not only gave me a wider education beyond my field of finance, but by accepting me on the programme it validated my ambition and belief in myself after years of hardship due to migration. I am humbled by the endless opportunities to serve Warwick.”

Impact: Karen Barker, Director of Stakeholder Engagement, presents Bryn Davies, of Proximie, his award

The nomination for Bryn revealed the 47-year-old had showed courage and leadership to position start-up Proximie – a digital platform allowing surgeons to share life-changing knowledge and skills across the world – as a force for good in attempting to bridge the “enormous disparities and inequities between the global north and global south”.

Bryn is also part of a team, which includes Olympian Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill, broadcaster Dan Walker, and comedians Jon Richardson and Lucy Beaumont, that launched Bright Young Dreams to raise £5 million to help fund a strategic mental health action plan, and new facilities and infrastructure, in aid of Sheffield Children’s and The Children’s Hospital Charity.

“This is a humbling experience and one that gives me a sense of pride that being true to your purpose and mission can be balanced with an entrepreneurial commercial enterprise like that of Proximie,” said Bryn. “Most importantly, it is recognition for an entire team at Proximie who care deeply about our global mission and purpose to democratise access to safe and affordable healthcare around the world.”

While working as Regional Director for Airline Partners at Travelport, Sorina has been instrumental in helping to drive forward the School’s global alumni engagement initiatives with her tireless work in Dubai in spearheading the UAE Alumni Network.

“This recognition reflects the vibrant and supportive WBS alumni community in the UAE,” said the 40-year-old.

“Our success in creating impactful networking events is a collective achievement. I am inspired by the amazing work many of my fellow alumni are doing, making this recognition a wonderful surprise.

“This award belongs to all of us who believe in the power of networking and mutual support. I am deeply honoured to receive the Alumni Leadership Award.”