I vividly remember screaming and crying tears of joy at the Addis Ababa Bole International Airport heading home to Uganda when I got the email saying I had been awarded a scholarship at Warwick Business School..

Passengers gathered and gave me a round of applause as they eagerly questioned what the good news was? Still basking in emotion and disbelief, I exclaimed “an MBA scholarship at Warwick Business School!” One gentleman came up to me and remarked “That’s an incredible achievement, Warwick is prestigious, you should be proud of yourself”. I most certainly was!

A reminder that I was on the right track

The WBS Inspiring Females Scholarship came at a time when I needed a reminder that, despite the numerous challenges I was facing at work, I was on the right track. I am an avid believer of the adage “we only grow through challenges” thus growth and comfort do not coexist! But truthfully, in the moment sometimes it’s hard to remember. The hardships were taking a toll on me, striving to excel in a male-dominated industry, but here was this highly esteemed institution acknowledging my efforts and hard work. Needless to say, the financial relief was the greatest of all!

So far, throughout my MBA journey at WBS, I’ve actively sought to live out the Change Maker values, not only through my academic pursuits but also through professional engagements. Two outstanding values for me have been curiosity and restlessness. I have actively sought new knowledge and ideas, learning, un-learning, re-learning and pursuing innovation with some of the networks I’ve met here!

My advice to anyone applying for scholarships

Believe in yourself and the power of your story. Share your journey, struggles, achievements and aspirations. Showcase your uniqueness and how your experiences, both professional and personal such as hobbies, community work or mentoring others have shaped you! The selection committees are looking for genuine and passionate individuals able to be Change Makers in the world.

Secondly, focus on results, and when describing your accomplishments, showcase the outcome and impact. Likewise, where applicable, quantify your achievements; numbers don’t lie! Provide links. I think this  was a bonus in my application; I was able to back up my claims with evidence on awards, certifications, newspaper articles and YouTube videos.

Equally important is understanding the scholarship criteria and tailoring your application to directly address the scholarship's focus. I also can’t emphasise enough how research on the University as a whole and what you want to achieve is important. For me, Warwick is everything I wanted it to be and more. I honestly can’t keep up with all the opportunities presented to us, the international community, academic rigour, clubs and world-class holistic education are all a perfect match to reaching my career goals!

Last but not least, start early. Scholarship applications can be daunting so give yourself enough time to reflect on your strengths and weaknesses, write powerful essays and gather any necessary documentation. Good luck!