Do Thi Trang, 23, is a former student of Foreign Economics at the Foreign Trade University. Last September, when she graduated, she received a 100% tuition scholarship, equivalent to 16,600 USD (about 400 million VND) for a one-year MBA program at the Swiss School of Management in Rome, Italy.

The female student said she was a rare case to receive a full scholarship directly from the school's leadership. Trang had previously written an email to apply for the scholarship, sharing her passion for agricultural business with a resume of her previous jobs to the principal. Trang's profile had no scientific research experience, a GMAT score (a standardized test used for graduate admission in Europe and the US), and an average academic score of only 3.2/4, just above the excellent level.

Trang's chance came through a meeting with the principal of the Swiss school at the Global Entrepreneurship Bootcamp in Thailand at the end of 2022. This is a four-day training program on leadership and business skills, in which learners have the opportunity to exchange with a number of business consultants and successful entrepreneurs.

At that time, Trang was in her third year and was a business manager at Musa Pacta, a startup company using banana fiber for handicraft production and export. From the end of 2022, Europe will start imposing a carbon tax on businesses, requiring detailed information on the carbon emissions of products, their origins and production methods. Trang saw banana fiber products as a potential startup direction, so she joined this program to receive advice from experts.

During the program, Trang had the opportunity to directly ask questions to the Swiss principal, a member of the advisory board, about social entrepreneurship and carbon taxes. After the final presentation, he met with her privately, asked about her entrepreneurial journey, post-graduation plans, and suggested scholarships for the school's practical MBA course.

"I said I just wanted to focus on the current project, and would study and work at the same time to supplement my knowledge and gain practical experience in the agricultural field," Trang recalled.

But near the end of the fourth year, Trang quit the project, realizing that she needed to learn more about the agricultural business sector, especially carbon trading. Through many programs she participated in, she realized that the field of sustainable environment was not well-trained in Vietnam, while this direction would be a key branch in agricultural production.

Remembering the recommendation from the principal in Italy, Trang immediately searched for information about the MBA course at the Swiss School of Management, the curriculum design, and student life. The school required a minimum of two years of work experience. Since she had been working since her second year, Trang met this requirement. She took a risk and emailed the principal directly. Normally, the school's process involves filling out an online application, attaching transcripts, CVs, and letters of recommendation.

"This was a decision to try my luck because after such a long time, I'm not sure he still remembers me," Trang said, deciding that if she didn't get a response, she would still register for similar courses.

In the letter, the female student explained her poor grades and lack of experience, but her passion for learning more to develop herself. In less than a day, the principal responded.

"The teacher said this was the first time there was a case of a 100% scholarship request from the principal, so he had to meet with the board of directors," Trang said. After that, the school arranged two interviews for Trang, online, within a month.

Trang did not practice interviews like many other candidates, but only talked about her experiences and future orientation in the field of sustainable business startups. The female student told the story of her journey to agriculture as a rural girl, who spent her days planting rice and herding buffalo in Vinh Phuc.

Trang also said that her choice to pursue agriculture was "unconventional" compared to her friends amid the technology trend because she was inspired by sustainable production since her sophomore year. She worked on a project to produce cereal straws, made cups from banana fibers, and recognized that Vietnamese farmers have created a lot of value, but have not been paid properly for their efforts.

"The interview is like a conversation and sharing about life experiences, so I don't feel too pressured, just say what I have and think," Trang said, assessing that the employer will want to exploit the candidate's own stories, not too concerned about answering techniques, so no interview tips are needed. In addition, extracurricular activities throughout a field are also a big plus for Trang's profile.

After 4 months of enrolling, Trang believes that studying for an MBA at the age of 23 is quite disadvantageous. The average age of the students in the class is 35, many have decades of experience, so at first she was overwhelmed and often left behind. However, this is also what makes Trang learn more.

"I am young, easy to integrate and flexible in absorbing knowledge. Of course, I have to study two or three times more than others," Trang said.

Doan Hung