The impact of the Black in Business Scholarship on my academic and personal goals

Executive MBA participant and Black in Business scholarship recipient Tayo Otubusin shares what the scholarship means to him, his efforts in championing diversity, and his advice for future scholarship applicants.

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

My name is Tayo Otubusin. I’m currently working as a Lead Engineer at AddQual Ltd, where I’ve been for the past 6 years, leading and witnessing the company grow from one employee to over ten employees today. 

Before joining AddQual I earned my master’s degree (MEng) in Aerospace engineering from the University of Liverpool and worked at several more established engineering companies across the UK. My career has encompassed roles in design, manufacturing, and currently, the quality domain, primarily within the aerospace industry

Working in a start-up environment however has given me broad business exposure, as I not only carry out Engineering functions, but also get involved in other functions such as strategy, marketing, financial analysis, pricing, project management and technology product management.

This variety of experiences I’ve had so far has sparked in me the desire to grow my career outside the boundary of engineering and cross over into more leadership and management functions. I have an ambition to become a well-rounded self-aware business leader and this led me to consider studying an MBA as a way to increase and broaden my business knowledge.

What motivated you to apply for the Black in Business Scholarship?

The price point for an MBA degree at any top business school can be very high, and this can often be a barrier to submitting an application for somepeople who would normally be interested in such pursuit.

I have pondered the idea of pursuing an MBA from a top business school for many years, frequently conducting a cost-reward analysis of this endeavour. While I recognise that the potential rewards far outweigh the costs, the financial burden has consistently been a significant reason for my hesitation in moving forward with the application. When I learned about the scholarship opportunities at Warwick Business School (WBS), the possibility of receiving a full scholarship and significantly reducing the overall program cost eliminated my financial hesitation. This realisation gave me the confidence to submit my application and remain hopeful.

Among the available scholarship options, the Black in Business Scholarship stood out to me as more than just financial aid. It represents a commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion in business leadership, a mission I am passionate about. This is why I chose to apply specifically for this scholarship.

What does the scholarship mean to you?

The Black in Business scholarship to me is an affirmation that there is a need for black people and ethnic minorities to take their place and lead in the business world. It affirms my dreams and aspirations to not only succeed as a future business leader, but to also become an inspirational role model to other people in the black community.

What impact has the scholarship had on your academic and personal goals?

Thanks to the Black in Business scholarship, I have been able to fully immerse in the MBA experience at WBS, learning and growing at pace without the extreme financial burden that I would otherwise have been under, especially with a global cost of living crisis that we’re all currently experiencing.

The award has also been a confidence booster, affirming my knowledge and potential and allowing me to take back my learnings to work and implement them, resulting in immediate impact on active programmes and projects. I have also greatly increased my network as a result, connecting with fellow students and industry professionals and leaders who I’ve had shared learning and experiences with.

Being a recipient of this scholarship has equally strengthened my resolve to give back to my community.

Do you have any advice to other considering applying for the Black in Business Scholarship?

The application process might seem daunting at first, but I found it to be a rewarding exercise. In as much as the university might be using the application as a tool to get to know the applicants and gauge how well they will fit within the course, it also helps the applicant to become self-aware, and evaluate their achievements, hopes, dreams and aspirations.

The scholarship application itself requires you to write a reflective personal statement or essay as part of the main application. As you self-reflect and put your best foot forward, it is important to demonstrate your strengths within the application essay. You need to answer the question of why MBA?, why WBS?, why now?, highlight your unique qualities, how it aligns with the university’s ethos, recount the activities that you have been involved with in the past that shows your potential to be a future business leader and the impact of such activities. Needless to say that this can only be communicated effectively by polishing your writing skills. This is equally a much-needed skill that you will utilise throughout your programme with every assignment.

Starting the application early also gives you the best chance of securing the scholarship, with the added advantage of time for conducting  thorough research, carefully answering the application questions, proofreading for errors and making any needed amendments.

All in all, I believe applying for the Black in Business Scholarship requires careful preparation and a thoughtful approach. By following a simple ABC guide in the application process, that is being; “Authentic, Bold and Clear” in both your application and subsequent interview, you can have a strong application which can stand out and be captivating to the selection committee.

A final advice especially for the religious applicant is from the bible which says; “Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.”