Leaders of Impact

I recently spoke at our virtual graduation for our fourth class of Schwarzman Scholars where we also had the honor of hosting former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. I could not be more proud of this year’s class – they faced immediate logistical, safety and emotional concerns, but they adapted quickly and rose to the challenge supporting each other and worked with our teams to make the best of a tough situation.

I’ve been touched by the many Scholars who have posted about their experiences on LinkedIn since the graduation. I wanted to take a moment to share their messages today in their own words. You’ll come to see that they are leaders of impact who have everything it takes to be a force for change in this world. 

I can’t wait to see what they accomplish.

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“We learned from amazing faculty and guest speakers, but we also visited local schools, performed songs in Chinese, completed a rock climbing challenge, and so much more. This interdisciplinary experience made me a stronger student and citizen diplomat.

As Secretary Madeleine Albright stated in her commencement address to us, ‘The seeds nourished in a multinational classroom have a way of blossoming. Be, in this era of bluster, a builder of bridges.’ May we keep her words in our minds and our friendships in our hearts as we work towards a more peaceful, innovative, and equitable world.”

-- Ankita Satpathy

“The highlights of my year include my group capstone with our advisor Qian Xiaojun on education innovation organization ETU co-founded by Yinuo Li Director of the China Program at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Hebei deep dive and the amazing list of influential speakers including commencement speaker Madeleine Albright, Condoleezza Rice, Angela Kane, Joseph Nye and many more. Our cohort joined the program with lots of hopes and expectations, eager to learn, unlearn and relearn; we continued our classes, capstone research, co-curricular activities online amid COVID-19 pandemic disruptions. I'm proud to say that we are graduating with a better understanding of ourselves and openness towards the world like the Class of 2020 globally.”

-- Abiha FNU

“In times of geopolitical uncertainty, developing a more global and diverse perspective is key. The Covid-19 crisis has tested the importance of building bridges between different cultures. Prejudice will only push us back as humanity. The pandemic changed plans but taught me to be patient, to go through the crisis with expectations and to learn that we must always adapt to new scenarios.”

-- Pedro Robledo

“During these uncertain times, the road ahead won’t necessarily be easy but if this year has taught me anything, it is that our lives will not move in a straight line. Now more than ever, we need to learn how to embrace change and turn crisis into opportunity. The resilience we show in the face of adversity is what will define us as people and as the leaders of tomorrow. I would like to thank my parents, family and friends for all their support over the years. This degree is for my grandmother who passed away earlier this year while I was in Beijing. Although she was illiterate, she never failed to remind us about the importance of education and always encouraged us to seek knowledge.”

-- Zainab Abiza

“I feel humbled and honoured to be the first Venezuelan to graduate from that very prestigious program. It was a transformative experience. Being taught by world-renowned faculty, having the opportunity to dialogue with political and business leaders and living with 138 incredible leaders from the four corners of the planet has been an underserved privilege that will join me for the rest of my life.

I believe that the pertinence of the mission of the Schwarzman Scholars could not be more significant in times like these. Bridging people, connecting cultures, and improving understanding among stakeholders to achieve common goals will prove crucial to navigate the challenges of the next decades.”

-- Hector Andres Fuentes Curras

“China is a truly amazing country, and having the opportunity to live and study in Asia's most prestigious university was unique. Besides the classes I was having with professors from the best universities in the world, I was also meeting the most incredible and inspiring group of friends.

It was truly an honor to be the first Brazilian woman scholar to participate in the program and represent my country. ‘China is no longer an elective course. It's core curriculum’”

-- Isabela Christo

“I am truly grateful for the phenomenal time I had in China, and for the incredible young leaders from across the world who taught me humility. I was able to explore an entirely new culture through its language and food; and see business and politics conducted with vastly different mindsets to my own. Whilst my time in China was cut short by the global pandemic, it's difficult to miss the obvious lesson that China is integrally connected to the rest of the world and will continue to be so. Now more than ever we need leadership to navigate this new geopolitical reality and build a more cooperative planet.

As I conclude my studies in China, I am very excited to embark onto the next chapter with my new role at Holmusk! An ambitious and pioneering data science and digital therapeutics company dedicated to establishing objective evidence as a core utility to the treatment of mental health and chronic diseases!”

-- Dr. Jordan Abdi

“We officially graduated from the program this past weekend, but it's not the end. From exploring China outside and inside the classroom, to meeting and interacting with influential business and political leaders, it was a year of learning and growth that will continue to influence what I do.

We still have a long way to go in making this world truly global, but it's looking positive.”

-- Hima Temmineedi