QS ImpACT MBA Community Scholarship: 2026 winner

Choosing Canada was never simply about studying abroad. It was about finding a place where innovation, diversity, and practical problem-solving come together in ways that encourage people to think beyond conventional boundaries.

Throughout my journey in Zimbabwe, I have learned that many of our most complex development challenges cannot be solved by one discipline, one institution, or one sector working alone. Sustainable progress depends on collaboration, evidence, and the willingness to embrace new ways of thinking. I wanted to study in an environment where those principles are not only discussed in classrooms, but reflected in everyday practice.

Vancouver made that decision even clearer. It is a city recognised for its entrepreneurial culture, technological innovation, and global outlook. For someone preparing to lead at the intersection of artificial intelligence, enterprise development, and social impact, I could not think of a more inspiring environment.

What attracted me most, however, was not the destination itself. It was the opportunity to become part of a global learning community. I wanted to study alongside people whose experiences, perspectives, and cultures are different from my own because those conversations challenge assumptions, deepen understanding, and ultimately produce better solutions. The challenges facing entrepreneurs and communities in Africa are unique, but they are not isolated. Learning within an international environment will help me bring together global knowledge and local realities in ways that are practical, responsible, and sustainable.

I had the privilege of participating in the QS ImpACT Global Day of Action 2026 as a Climate Education Ambassador. I was working alongside 40 children and young people living with disabilities through an inclusive community initiative called Climate Heroes Without Limits – Every Child Belongs.

What made the experience especially meaningful was the way QS created a platform where local actions became part of a global movement. Although our communities are separated by geography, we were connected by a shared belief that every individual has a role to play in creating a more sustainable future.

The part I found most valuable was the emphasis on turning ideas into action. That approach resonated strongly with me because it reflects how I have always tried to work.

Perhaps the greatest lesson I carried away was that impact is not defined by the scale of an event, but by the lives it touches and the conversations it continues to inspire long after the event has ended. The QS ImpACT Global Day of Action gave me the opportunity to contribute to a global community of changemakers while remaining firmly rooted in the needs and aspirations of my own community.
 

When I received the news, I was overwhelmed with gratitude. The very first thing I did was thank God. In that quiet moment, I felt that He had answered a prayer at a time when my hope had begun to fade.

Earlier in the year, I had been preparing to begin my MBA journey at University Canada West. I had worked hard to secure my admission and was determined to start my studies, but I was unable to raise the required deposit within the stipulated timeframe. Accepting that I would miss the intake was one of the most difficult moments in my academic journey. I came close to letting go of the opportunity altogether because it seemed beyond my reach. Receiving the QS ImpACT MBA Community Scholarship completely changed that outlook. It did far more than provide financial support. It rekindled a dream that I had almost abandoned. 

What made the moment even more meaningful was knowing that QS had chosen to invest not only in my education but also in the purpose behind it. My vision has always been to make changes in the business landscape across Africa by building practical, evidence-based solutions that strengthen businesses before they seek investment or attempt to scale.  The scholarship gave me renewed confidence that this vision is achievable.

For me, this scholarship is not the destination. It is the opportunity to become better equipped to serve others and to contribute to Africa's long-term economic transformation. I will always remember how this opportunity arrived at a moment when I needed hope the most. It renewed my belief that when purpose is matched with perseverance and faith, the right opportunities have a way of finding you.

The scholarship will allow me to experience my MBA with confidence, focus, and a greater sense of purpose. Instead of carrying the constant worry of how I will overcome financial barriers, I will be able to devote my energy to learning, collaborating with my peers, and making the most of every opportunity that University Canada West offers.

More importantly, it gives me the freedom to engage fully with the programme beyond the classroom. I want to contribute to discussions, participate in collaborative projects, connect with students from different countries, and learn from people whose perspectives challenge my own.

Beyond the academic experience, the scholarship gives me something equally valuable: confidence. It reassures me that I belong in this global learning environment and that my experiences from Zimbabwe have value alongside those of students from around the world. That confidence encourages me to share my ideas, learn from others with humility, and build relationships that can continue long after graduation.

Ultimately, the greatest impact of this scholarship will not be measured by the financial support it provides, but by the opportunities it unlocks. It allows me to fully invest in my education today so that I can return that investment through stronger enterprises, more resilient communities, and better opportunities for entrepreneurs across Africa. That is the outcome I hope will define my university experience and everything that follows.

The part of my programme that excites me most is learning how artificial intelligence and machine learning can be applied to solve real challenges faced by entrepreneurs and institutions.

Over the past few years, I have worked with entrepreneurs, conducted development research, and developed the Enterprise Readiness System™, an evidence-based framework that helps identify the strengths, risks, and capabilities of MSMEs before they seek investment or attempt to scale. That journey has shown me that good decisions are rarely limited by ambition; they are limited by the quality of evidence available to those making them.

I am also excited about learning alongside classmates and professors from different parts of the world. Every country approaches entrepreneurship, innovation, and leadership differently. Exposure to those diverse perspectives will challenge my assumptions, strengthen my thinking, and help me adapt global best practices to African realities. I believe that the most valuable innovations emerge when local experience is enriched by international collaboration rather than replaced by it.

My long-term ambition is to build a career that combines artificial intelligence, enterprise development, and evidence-based decision-making to strengthen Africa's MSMEs.

I have already established Clasmael Radical Innovators (CRI) and developed the Enterprise Readiness System™, an evidence-based approach that helps assess business capability, identify gaps, strengthen resilience, and improve investment readiness. Since its commercial validation, Clasmael Radical Innovators has supported clients across agriculture, manufacturing, education, and service sectors while generating practical evidence that enterprise readiness can improve decision-making before investment.

My career goal is to take that work to the next level through artificial intelligence. I want to build AI-enabled enterprise intelligence that allows entrepreneurs, investors, governments, financial institutions, and development partners to make faster, more accurate, and more evidence-based decisions.

This is why pursuing an MBA in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Leadership is so important to me. It will provide the technical leadership and strategic capability needed to transform the Enterprise Readiness System™ from a proven framework into an intelligent decision-support platform with the potential to serve businesses across Africa.

I also hope to contribute beyond entrepreneurship. My background in disaster risk reduction, humanitarian work, development research, and community engagement has taught me that resilient economies are built through resilient institutions. I want my career to bridge research, policy, technology, and enterprise so that innovation produces measurable public value rather than remaining confined to reports or pilot projects.

In the years ahead, I hope to work closely with governments, universities, development partners, investors, and the private sector to establish enterprise readiness as a recognised component of enterprise development across Africa.

My vision is an ecosystem where entrepreneurs receive practical guidance before they fail, investors have stronger evidence before they invest, institutions make more informed decisions, and public resources generate greater economic and social returns. If, years from now, more African entrepreneurs are building resilient businesses, creating sustainable jobs, attracting investment with confidence, and contributing to stronger local economies because of systems I helped develop, then I will consider my career successful.

My advice is simple: do not write the application you think the selection panel wants to read. Write the story that only you can tell.

When I was preparing my application, I realised that my greatest strength was not the number of roles I had held or the certificates I had earned. It was the consistency of my purpose. Every experience in my journey was connected by one question: How can I help people and institutions make better decisions that create lasting opportunities? Once I understood that, my application stopped being a collection of achievements and became a story about purpose.

I would also encourage students not to underestimate the value of perseverance. Setbacks do not always mean that a dream has ended. Sometimes they prepare you for an opportunity that arrives at exactly the right moment. Receiving the QS ImpACT MBA Community Scholarship reminded me that persistence has value, even when progress feels slow.

At the same time, remember that scholarships are not awarded simply because someone has financial need or academic ability. They are investments in people who have a clear vision for how education will create value beyond themselves. Before you submit an application, ask yourself a simple question: If someone invests in my education today, who else will benefit tomorrow? If you can answer that honestly with evidence from your own life, your application will be far more compelling than one built around impressive words alone.

Finally, never allow your circumstances to define the size of your ambition. I come from Zimbabwe, where many talented young people face significant barriers to accessing opportunities. Yet I have learned that purpose, integrity, service, and perseverance can open doors that once seemed impossible. This scholarship has strengthened my belief that where you begin does not determine where you can contribute.