IESE’s inaugural Laidlaw Scholars are pursuing careers in fields ranging from women’s health and financial inclusion to technology, infrastructure and sustainability. What unites them is an ambition to open doors for others. This is Part two of a two part article.
A scholarship can open a door for one person. Its wider impact begins when that person holds the door open for others.
That idea runs through the ambitions of IESE’s inaugural Laidlaw Women’s MBA Scholars. The 13 full-tuition scholarship recipients joining the MBA Class of 2028 bring varied professional and cultural perspectives, but they share a desire to turn opportunity into lasting impact.
Some hope to build new products or ventures. Others want to mobilise investment, transform organisations, support entrepreneurs or make leadership more inclusive. Together, their goals show how investing in women’s education can create ripples far beyond the individual scholar.
Building products that improve lives
Several scholars plan to use technology and innovation to address needs that are often overlooked.
Yashika Kapoor spent five years at McKinsey advising consumer-facing businesses across healthcare, retail and consumer goods. Her long-term ambition is deeply personal: to develop evidence-based and accessible solutions in women’s health.
| “I hope to combine business strategy with purpose by working in consumer health before building a venture focused on improving women’s health. My ambition is not only to create products that make a meaningful difference, but also to build an organisation where others can grow, lead and make an impact.”
— Yashika Kapoor, India |
Luiza Bastos Villela, a Brazilian production engineer and fintech product leader, is focused on another form of access: financial inclusion.
| “My goal is to help build technology products that expand financial inclusion and improve people’s financial well-being, while growing into a leadership role where I can develop high-performing teams and create lasting impact.”
— Luiza Bastos Villela, Brazil |
Elnaz Masoumi brings five years of product-management experience at one of the Middle East’s largest ride-hailing platforms. She hopes to combine technology, business and mentorship to create pathways for talented women whose potential is constrained by limited access to networks and opportunity.
Using business as a force for progress
Other scholars hope to direct capital, strategy and operational expertise towards economic and social development.
Peace Bosah plans to continue working at the intersection of finance and infrastructure, particularly across Africa and other frontier markets.
| “After IESE, I hope to mobilise investment into projects that create lasting economic development. To me, the most meaningful measure of impact is knowing that the decisions I helped make created opportunities for thousands of people I may never meet.”
— Peace Bosah, Nigeria |
Ayomipo Adeniyi began her career as a lawyer before moving into strategy, investments and consulting. In the longer term, she hopes to support small and medium-sized enterprises across Nigeria and Africa.
| “I hope to use the skills, network and perspective I gain at IESE to help more African businesses grow, create jobs and make a lasting impact in their communities.”
— Ayomipo Adeniyi, Nigeria |
Blessing Olutoye shares a complementary ambition. Drawing on experience in investment banking, investment management and securities trading, she hopes to expand access to capital and financial opportunity across Africa.
| “After the MBA, I want to use my career to expand access to investment and financial opportunities, particularly for women and underserved communities in Africa. I also hope to mentor young women navigating their careers and help make opportunities more accessible to others.”
— Blessing Olutoye, Nigeria |
For Laura Harjanto, the goal is to develop pragmatic solutions to systemic challenges affecting communities and the environment. Her work with Indonesian municipalities has shown her both the urgency of those problems and the potential for business practices to strengthen the impact sector.
Shaping inclusive organisations
The scholars’ ambitions are not only about what organisations produce, but also about who has the chance to lead them.
Natasya Lim has built her career at Procter & Gamble across engineering, manufacturing, supply chain and automation. After the MBA, she aspires to shape global innovation agendas that balance growth, operational excellence, sustainability and human impact.
| “In the long term, I hope to help organisations build more agile and inclusive systems while supporting more women from STEM and emerging-market backgrounds to pursue leadership roles.”
— Natasya Lim, Indonesia |
Aditi Soni wants to help create workplaces in which women have equitable opportunities to grow, lead and thrive. Her own experience has taught her that barriers are often cumulative—and that meaningful progress requires mentorship, inclusive cultures and thoughtful structural change, not simply individual resilience.
Layquin Chau, a Chilean operations professional with experience at Uber, plans to champion both women in business and greater technological inclusion.
| “I want to help build the next generation of Future Female Leaders and create more spaces and opportunities for other women. In the long term, I have always wanted to contribute to a scholarship fund that lowers one of the toughest points of entry for many women.”
— Layquin Chau, Chile |
Creating belonging at IESE
Impact does not have to wait until graduation. Many scholars intend to begin by shaping the community around them at IESE.
Milene Salcedo Orihuela hopes to create spaces where classmates far from their families and countries feel they belong. Kara Han wants to bring her perspective from science and healthcare into the classroom while building meaningful relationships across cultures. Norhan Fahmy plans to contribute insights from Egypt and the wider MENA region and, in time, work towards reimagining education so young people have greater freedom to discover their own paths.
Their ambitions reflect what drew many of them to IESE in the first place: the case method, a highly international classroom, a close-knit culture and the conviction that business should serve people and society.
A community that multiplies opportunity
Leadership potential is not defined by one industry, geography or career path. It can be found in a factory, a laboratory, a startup, a bank, a courtroom, an NGO or a public institution and it can grow when talent meets access, community and belief.
The Laidlaw Women’s MBA Scholarship Program offers its scholars full tuition alongside tailored career support, professional female mentorship, networking, leadership development and opportunities to work on impact projects. Yet the scholars themselves may become the program’s most powerful legacy: leaders who invest in other people’s potential because someone once invested in theirs.
Talk to our Admissions Team to learn more about the Laidlaw Women’s MBA Scholarship Program and discover how an IESE MBA could help you turn your own ambitions into impact.
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