In 2018, AGSM @ UNSW Business School introduced a new scholarship that enables outstanding business leaders in the LGBTI community access to AGSM’s leading Full-Time MBA program and a world-class business education. The new AGSM LGBTI Leadership Excellence Scholarship was designed for outstanding community and business leaders who have demonstrated ongoing contributions to their communities.

For Shreshtha Jain, AGSM Full-Time MBA student, 2020, and an inaugural LGBTI Leadership Excellence Scholarship recipient, the award represented more than the ability to access a globally ranked MBA program.

“I was struggling with my identity before starting my MBA at AGSM. The LGBTI Leadership Excellence scholarship was one of the key factors that has enabled me to achieve self-acceptance and give me the courage to be authentic with myself.” Shreshtha commented: “This scholarship made a tremendous difference for me as I have become more confident with my identity as a member of the LGBTI community and I’m inspired to help others.”

Before undertaking his MBA, Shreshtha was a consultant and project manager with over eight years' experience in the US and India managing clients, vendors, in-house and outsourced projects and customer services. Shreshtha is also an artist who cares deeply about environmental sustainability, animal rights and LGBTIQ+ community issues.

“Nothing in the world invigorates me more than the idea of creating a sustainable society where everyone has equal rights. I have spent a better part of the last decade helping large corporations realise their technology aspirations. However, I wanted to pursue my passion for developing proactive social impact within the community. The AGSM MBA will help me hone my innate strengths and equip me with the business skills and acumen needed to become a successful sustainability leader,” he said.

AGSM MBA programs are taught by internationally recognised academics and Executives-in-Residence from leading corporate and government organisations who equip leaders to thrive in an accelerating world. By immersing students in active learning experiences, they are exposed to practical skills and tools they can immediately apply to real-world business problems.

“I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started my MBA, but in my first month of the program, I did not envisage climbing the Sydney Harbour bridge as part of a team building exercise, being trained on presentation skills by professional actors, or being immersed into adaptive leadership training in the Australian wilderness – these activities were just the beginning of a comprehensive learning experience.”

“The AGSM team has gone above and beyond to make our first term at the school a diverse, knowledgeable and most importantly, a memorable experience. The faculty have done everything they could do to accommodate the cohort’s needs and help us structure our goals and develop a plan to achieve these in the future,” said Shreshtha.

AGSM is based in Sydney which plays a crucial role in the Asian-Pacific economic region, providing plenty of career opportunities. This provides the backdrop to a well-rounded and diverse MBA experience. “I chose AGSM as it is the leading MBA program in Australia and the school has a distinct vision of business education that forges successful leaders with pioneering perception, integrity and grit,” Shreshtha said.

“Imagine being trained as a future leader among the best doctors, army personnel, lawyers, engineers, consultants and entrepreneurs from around the world. This global network, along with Sydney's proximity to the Asia-Pacific region, and AGSM's intimate class size made my decision to apply for the Full-Time MBA program substantially easier.”

The LGBTI Leadership Excellence scholarship is just one of the many full and part-time tuition scholarships AGSM offers. To find out more about AGSM Full-Time MBA scholarships, click here.