Pitching for an MBA scholarship at Nyenrode

Pitching for an MBA scholarship at Nyenrode

Last year’s winners of the International MBA Scholarship Challenge about getting an MBA
A few weeks ago the International MBA Scholarship Challenge 2014 was launched. Nyenrode Business Universiteit rewards remarkable talents with five revolving scholarships for the full-time International MBA program starting in October 2014. The International MBA Challenge is organized by Nyenrode and powered by IamExpat.

The IMBA Challenge is an online scholarship competition for talented professionals with at least three years of work experience who are eager to boost their personal authenticity in leadership, entrepreneurship and stewardship. Previous editions of the IMBA Challenge have gathered hundreds of candidates from all corners of the world.

Selected finalists will receive a Nyenrode business case which they will discuss with other finalists and an online jury during the Grand Finale that will take place on March 27th, 2014, in an online environment. The jury, comprised of faculty, staff and current students, will select the winners of the International MBA Scholarship Challenge 2014.

Zolboo Bataa from Mongolia and Alejandra Chaves Viquez from Costa Rica were two of the winners of last year’s competition. “Getting an MBA was always my ultimate goal as far as academic qualifications are concerned”, Zolboo says. “I looked at different options on the internet and came upon Nyenrode. In my internet search Nyenrode came out as a very attractive option.”

He continues: “Before I started my MBA I had eight years experience in finance and about a year and a half in sales. That was my background. I had a position just below the management role. My ambition was always to go to next level, to become a manager. To be in a management role you need to understand the important concepts of what it takes to be an effective manager or how to be a leader. Ultimately, I want to become a successful entrepreneur. Right now, I am in the process of starting a business in online advertisement and e-commerce in Mongolia.”

Alejandra says: “I had worked as a journalist and a communications specialist for the past six or seven years. First at a university channel, then in a communications office a and later in an international organization related to agriculture. When I was doing my Bachelor in Marketing & Communications I came up with a business idea. I got the idea to start my own company, a gym for obese people, and therefore I decided to do an MBA. Via an alumn from my country I heard about Nyenrode and about the challenge. I always wanted to study abroad.”

The final rounds of the challenge in 2013 included a two-minute pitch and an eight-minute interview. Alejandra: “In the final round you have to do a pitch about why you deserve the scholarship and why you want to study an MBA. My pitch was about my business idea. I think my gym for obese people could be a profitable business, but at the same time it is also about helping the community. And I have a dream that I can one time help other young entrepreneurs to build their own company.”

Both Zolboo as well as Alejandra were pretty nervous for the pitch. Alejandra: “Some of the other participants were really great. A few of them already had their Masters title, so I thought: ‘What am I doing here?’ When I was told that I was next to start, my nervousness disappeared and I felt really comfortable. At the end of the challenge I felt really good about myself. Just participating had made me gain a lot of confidence about myself. When I heard that I won, I felt even better.”

Zolboo adds: “I have never won something in my life like lotteries, so I do not believe in luck. I gave it a go to see what would happen. I tried to prepare the last parts of the challenge as much as I could. I felt very nervous too. For me it was the other way round than with Alejandra. To see the other candidates helped me to gain more confidence. I saw what I could do better.”

Are you thinking of getting your MBA and are you willing to compete for the chance to be rewarded with a scholarship? Then register for the competition before March 2nd, 2014 via www.nyenrodechallenge.com

For more information about Nyenrode International MBA click here