MasterCard & SMU establish the MasterCard MBA Scholarships for Women

MasterCard Worldwide has collaborated with the Singapore Management University (SMU) to establish the MasterCard MBA Scholarships for Women. The inaugural scholarship will open doors for outstanding women and boost their potential to excel in positions of leadership. A three-year collaboration with SMU, MasterCard will make a donation of up to S$120,000 in total from 2011 to 2013 to support two scholarships per year. The MasterCard MBA Scholarships for Women will be awarded to full-time female MBA candidates from Asia/Pacific, Middle East and Africa, who possess an excellent academic record, demonstrate strong leadership potential and entrepreneurship skills, participate actively in the community, as well as exhibit a drive to excel. The award provides an opportunity for both female recipients to gain an MBA education in one of Asia’s most cosmopolitan cities. Furthermore the award empowers them to better manage their scholastic and community commitments, and develops them into academically outstanding, business savvy and socially responsible women. [caption id="attachment_5196" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Winners of the inaugural MasterCard MBA Scholarships for Women, Saatvika Nagalia and Tanvi Sharma"][/caption] Professor Howard Thomas, Dean of the Lee Kong Chian School of Business at the Singapore Management University said: We are grateful for this generous gift from MasterCard Worldwide which supports outstanding female students from our MBA programme. Even though gender parity in the world is improving, there are still differences in the access to resources and opportunities. As an educational institution, we pride ourselves on providing opportunities to the deserving and ensuring that those who are accepted goes beyond only those who do well academically, to also include those who excel in non-academic fields. This is the essence of SMU’s holistic admissions system which applies to our undergraduates as well as postgraduates. It is indeed heartening too that MasterCard wants to support students who have participated actively in the community as this is in line with the SMU ethos of always seeking to give back to society. Georgette Tan, vice president, Communications, Asia/Pacific, Middle East & Africa, MasterCard Worldwide, said: We hope this meaningful collaboration between MasterCard and SMU will help women reach their potential in the business world as tomorrow’s dynamic and innovative leaders. One of our recent surveys on women’s advancement has shown that although women’s socio-economic advancement shows steady increase across Asia/Pacific in general, there is still room for improvement. We are committed to empowering women in business and, in turn, help each of the scholarship winners make a difference in the their communities. Saatvika Nagalia and Tanvi Sharma are the first two recipients of the scholarships and they have been chosen for their exceptional academic performance, CSR track records as well as passion for community. Tanvi Sharma, MBA student, SMU, said: Winning this scholarship has enhanced my confidence and it will not only empower me to make the career choices I cherish, but also have its essence in all the community work that I take up. I highly acknowledge this effort of MasterCard towards women empowerment and believe that this can help many women like me in accomplishing their goals. Saatvika Nagalia, MBA student, SMU, said: The MBA scholarship will motivate me to work harder and allow me to realize my potential. It is a great stepping stone towards achieving my goals and doing more for the community. I believe in the empowerment of women and at the same time, hope to inspire more women to give back to the community like myself.

MasterCard Worldwide has collaborated with the Singapore Management University (SMU) to establish the MasterCard MBA Scholarships for Women. The inaugural scholarship will open doors for outstanding women and boost their potential to excel in positions of leadership. A three-year collaboration with SMU, MasterCard will make a donation of up to S$120,000 in total from 2011 to 2013 to support two scholarships per year.

The MasterCard MBA Scholarships for Women will be awarded to full-time female MBA candidates from Asia/Pacific, Middle East and Africa, who possess an excellent academic record, demonstrate strong leadership potential and entrepreneurship skills, participate actively in the community, as well as exhibit a drive to excel.

The award provides an opportunity for both female recipients to gain an MBA education in one of Asia’s most cosmopolitan cities. Furthermore the award empowers them to better manage their scholastic and community commitments, and develops them into academically outstanding, business savvy and socially responsible women.

Winners of the inaugural MasterCard MBA Scholarships for Women, Saatvika Nagalia and Tanvi Sharma

Professor Howard Thomas, Dean of the Lee Kong Chian School of Business at the Singapore Management University said:

We are grateful for this generous gift from MasterCard Worldwide which supports outstanding female students from our MBA programme. Even though gender parity in the world is improving, there are still differences in the access to resources and opportunities. As an educational institution, we pride ourselves on providing opportunities to the deserving and ensuring that those who are accepted goes beyond only those who do well academically, to also include those who excel in non-academic fields. This is the essence of SMU’s holistic admissions system which applies to our undergraduates as well as postgraduates. It is indeed heartening too that MasterCard wants to support students who have participated actively in the community as this is in line with the SMU ethos of always seeking to give back to society.

Georgette Tan, vice president, Communications, Asia/Pacific, Middle East & Africa, MasterCard Worldwide, said:

We hope this meaningful collaboration between MasterCard and SMU will help women reach their potential in the business world as tomorrow’s dynamic and innovative leaders. One of our recent surveys on women’s advancement has shown that although women’s socio-economic advancement shows steady increase across Asia/Pacific in general, there is still room for improvement. We are committed to empowering women in business and, in turn, help each of the scholarship winners make a difference in the their communities.

Saatvika Nagalia and Tanvi Sharma are the first two recipients of the scholarships and they have been chosen for their exceptional academic performance, CSR track records as well as passion for community. Tanvi Sharma, MBA student, SMU, said:

Winning this scholarship has enhanced my confidence and it will not only empower me to make the career choices I cherish, but also have its essence in all the community work that I take up. I highly acknowledge this effort of MasterCard towards women empowerment and believe that this can help many women like me in accomplishing their goals.

Saatvika Nagalia, MBA student, SMU, said:

The MBA scholarship will motivate me to work harder and allow me to realize my potential. It is a great stepping stone towards achieving my goals and doing more for the community. I believe in the empowerment of women and at the same time, hope to inspire more women to give back to the community like myself.