Forté Fellowship female scholars celebrate starting MBA year

For the past few years, Cambridge Judge Business School has partnered with the Forté Foundation – a non-profit organisation established to support women in business through education – awarding scholarships to MBA candidates demonstrating standout leadership skills and an exceptional commitment to female leadership. 

Uniquely this year and in further support of our female MBA cohort, we have awarded 27 Forté Fellows awards – 4 full Forté Foundation Fellowship scholarship awards, and 23 Forté Fellow, alongside bursaries and other funding awards for this cohort. These awards give our 27 Forté Fellows lifetime access to a wide range of benefits through the Forté Foundation – from events, and resources, to access to an extensive Forté global network.

We caught up with this year’s scholars to find out more about why they chose Cambridge, how they’re promoting gender equality at the Business School, their personal and career goals for the year ahead and what coming to Cambridge really means to them. 

Proud to be awarded the Forté Fellowship scholarship

Allara Uota, from the US, was a Senior Product Manager in the health sector in the US, before choosing to study for an MBA. She is incredibly grateful to be awarded this scholarship, she says, “Having experienced both sides of the spectrum – sometimes participating in meetings exclusively with women, and other times being the only woman in the room – I am acutely aware of the benefit of diverse perspectives and seek to contribute to the development of more female leaders throughout my career.” 

For Meghana Prakash, a technology product strategist from India, the Forté scholarship is equally gratefully received, “I am honoured to receive this scholarship, which has supported me to pursue my dreams at Cambridge. Being in the tech industry, I have faced, seen and fought against inequality for women. Forté Foundation has been working on transforming leadership by bringing in diversity and collaboration to the boardroom. By creating this space to make it accessible, women like us can work towards an equitable and impactful future.” 

Meghana also explains how, “Being part of the Forté Fellows with my cohort and the women leaders from the different programmes across the Forté community to re-imagine community, excellence, and collaboration. I would like to thank the Cambridge MBA for supporting my scholarship, and for helping me leverage this opportunity to instigate a change. This scholarship award has given me a heightened sense of responsibility.”

Building business fundamentals with an MBA

Rachel Cottam, from the US, was working in content marketing for a tech startup before choosing to do an MBA. She comes to the UK with her husband and 3 children.

Sharing her personal stories online while at the startup took her into creating more allyship content that resonated with both men and women. Many of her audience wish to see gender equity in the workplace and communities, but not everyone knew where to start.

She continues, “I wanted to hear broader experiences of allyship around the world and to gain the knowledge to grow my business. I’ve learnt so much from the last 6 years in tech, but I knew an MBA at Cambridge would allow me to learn more from a truly global cohort. I am expecting the MBA curriculum to round out my knowledge with quantitative skills, as well as giving me a wider business vocabulary.” 

She concludes, “More than the practical applications, I am here to learn from the personal insights of brilliant faculty and peers. I am here to expand the discussion of gender allyship to a global sphere and most of all I am here to be uncomfortable, do hard things and to make unforgettable memories with my family.” 

Aqsa Sajjad, from Pakistan, has spent 4 years building and scaling a beauty business across Dubai and Pakistan, she explains, “I reached a point where I needed a fresh perspective, a deeper understanding of global business dynamics, and a strong network of like-minded professionals. 

“I was drawn to Cambridge because of its strong emphasis on innovation, collaboration and social impact, all of which perfectly align with my long-term career goals in the beauty space. Combined with the classic University of Cambridge setting and proximity to Silicon Fen, this programme was the obvious choice for me.” 

Looking to the MBA year ahead

For Aqsa the MBA year ahead offers many opportunities, “I am excited about returning to structured education to strengthen the foundations of business. I’m also looking forward to building a network and community of global leaders, entrepreneurs and mentors. Engaging with peers and professors, who bring diverse perspectives and experiences from around the world, will help broaden my understanding of global business dynamics and cultural nuances.” 

She continues, “It offers a critical step in my journey to becoming a visionary leader in the beauty industry. With a strong foundation in leadership and strategic thinking, I plan to scale my multi-brand, multi-channel business on a global stage.” 

By integrating the knowledge and skills gained through the MBA, Aqsa aims to, “Create a business that not only excels in financial performance but also sets new standards for sustainability, inclusivity, and social impact in the beauty sector.”

For Meghana, the year ahead is equally exciting, “Cambridge is a space where we are going to be overwhelmed with opportunity. Over the next 12 months I intend to focus on the 3 I’s – imagine, inspire and innovate.” 

She explains that the MBA year ahead will “reflect the effort and dedication I put into it.”

She continues, “What I want to get out of the MBA most of all, in the next year, is a transformative experience, beyond academics. I look forward to immersing myself fully in the programme, making the most of every opportunity to learn, grow, and build lasting connections with peers, professors, and industry professionals. 

“Ultimately, I want the MBA to be a year of personal and professional growth. By challenging myself, engaging deeply with the material, and building a strong network, I hope to emerge from the programme not only as a more skilled entrepreneur but also as a more thoughtful and effective leader.” 

Global career change with an MBA

Stepping out of the health sector for the year ahead, Allara is looking to expand her world view and build leadership skills to take back to the health sector, perhaps beyond the US, “My goal is to be a leader at an innovative company transforming healthcare delivery.

“In pursuing an MBA, exposure to global outlooks on healthcare and business was one of my top priorities.

“As my work in product management has taught me, fresh perspectives create an environment that encourages innovation. To meaningfully improve access to care and advance health equity throughout my career, I need to expand beyond the US-centric healthcare silo and grow my professional worldview.” 

She continues, “I see my MBA journey as an investment in the fundamentals of running a business, as well as a chance to learn about what it really means to be an empathetic leader who cultivates a strong culture amongst those they work with.” 

Rachel is open to the opportunities that an MBA from Cambridge offers, “My short-term goal after the Cambridge MBA is to move from marketing into entrepreneurship, launching my own business in gender equity and consulting.

“However, I’m open to plans changing and I know that an MBA will position me to be a change-maker in whatever organisation I am in.” 

What does Cambridge mean to you?

As our Forté scholars begin to make Cambridge their home for the year ahead we asked them what Cambridge means to them. 

Allara said, “Cambridge means new experiences and broad perspectives anchored in a vast intellectual legacy. It’s awe-inspiring to casually read a book or an article that mentions a ground-breaking discovery made at Cambridge and remember that I have the opportunity to study here now!” 

Aqsa said, “To me, Cambridge is an opportunity to be part of a tradition that has shaped leaders, thinkers, and pioneers for centuries. It’s a place where some of the greatest minds in history have gathered to challenge the status quo and inspire change.” 

Meghana said, “Cambridge is a gateway to academic excellence and a source of profound insights. It’s the start to a world-class blend of tradition and innovation, a melting pot of individuals, where not just similarities but differences are celebrated. Broadening our horizons in the morning, getting inspired in the afternoon, and making lifelong friends in the evening, on repeat! That pretty much summarises an experience at Cambridge.” 

Rachel said, “To many, Cambridge means legacy and leadership. Over the last year in admissions and onboarding, Cambridge has also come to mean kindness, humanity, and intention. I chose Cambridge because every interaction I had with the faculty and my cohort came from a place of care-care for who I am as an individual, not just an applicant.”