#41: The Road Less Traveled

Welcome to OnGrowth&, a monthly newsletter on career and personal growth 🌱🚀

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Life often takes us on twists and turns, leading us down paths we never imagined we would tread. For me, the road less traveled has become a familiar route, marked by pivotal moments that have shaped my career and personal growth in profound ways.

In 2017, eager to pursue a business school degree, I applied to Stanford (US), IE Business School (Spain), Bowling Green University (US) and Alba Graduate Business School (Greece).

While I got acceptance letters from Alba, Bowling Green, and IE Business School, I was really waiting on Stanford. I got partial scholarships from Bowling Green & IE Business School and had gotten a full scholarship from Alba which I almost declined.

Well, Stanford didn’t come through.

So I accepted the Leventis Foundation scholarship from Alba - went to business school in Greece and had the time of my life.

My tuition was free, living expenses provided, and accommodation fully paid for.

Now when I reflect on who I was before my MBA versus who I am now, I'm filled with gratitude each day for taking that leap. It wasn't solely about the classes or business cases; it was the opportunity to learn and unlearn, to take a break from seeing things through my regular lenses and see from a whole different perspective, to expand my horizon, to travel (oh boy, touring Europe was fun!).

It opened me up to a whole new career path - I transitioned from being a management consultant to becoming a startup operator because of a connection I made in Athens. It helped me to see myself differently, to be kinder and I have discovered the beauty of forging my own path and charting my course in life. It was while in Greece I started my nonprofit, an initiative still thriving 6 years later.

While I'll never know what my life would have been like had I attended Stanford, I do love the life that I have now. I’m glad for that fresh unconventional start. 

Looking for a fresh start? Take a risk today. It doesn’t have to be an MBA or related to education, in short it’s a continuous journey on mindset change.

But if you’re looking to explore going to business school, I encourage you to explore the Leventis Foundation Masters & MBA Scholarships 2024/2025 for Nigerian Students — the same scholarship that opened doors for me.

May we all find the courage to embrace the road less traveled and forge a life of more.

As Robert Frost famously wrote:

"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference."

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p.s: I'm contemplating launching an opportunities roundup channel. What types of opportunities would you like to see featured?