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The K-A Bonnier International Fellowship Program gave Mai Pham experiences and contacts for life

June 16, 2022

Since 2017, sixteen exceptionally talented students from Sweden and Southeast Asia have participated in the K-A Bonnier International Fellows Program (KAB-IFP). Mai Pham was one of the first students to be awarded the scholarship and three years have now passed since she completed the program. KAB-IFP both shaped her worldview and brought life-long connections.

KAB-IFP is a scholarship program with an aim to strengthen the long-term business relations between the Nordic countries and Southeast Asia and provides exceptionally talented students with knowledge and tools for success in an entrepreneurial environment. The scholars are given the opportunity to obtain two master’s degrees from two reputable business schools, Stockholm School of Economics (SSE) och National University of Singapore (NUS) – in just two years.

– During my year at SSE, I studied Business & Management with very much a focus on management and innovation, while at NUS the program focused more on entrepreneurship with opportunities to select modules from the MBA program, says Mai Pham.

Mai originally comes from Vietnam and was part of the first cohort of KAB-IFP fellows between the years 2017–2019.

– My main reason for applying to the program was the opportunity to combine studies at two highly ranked universities, but also the fact that both Stockholm and Singapore are famous for their innovations and entrepreneurial spirit. Last but not least, I selected Sweden because of its strong focus in sustainable development.

The program became an invaluable experience for Mai and has affected her in many ways. In addition to gaining new theoretical knowledge and practical experience of applying them in real consulting projects, she got a chance to reflect on the two worlds she lived in.

– KAB-IFP not only shaped my worldview but also brought life-long connections. Spending time in both Sweden and Singapore, made me reflect upon the two worlds I lived in. It has made me see the bigger world and not to limit myself in any geographic locations or dogma, says Mai.

After the scholarship program, Mai got a job in Sweden and today she works within Group Function Sustainability at Ericsson’s headquarters in Kista.

– My key focus area is the impact on society with Ericsson’s technology and how digitalization contributes to a sustainable development. I am currently finishing up a project in collaboration with other companies to decarbonize the energy and transport sectors, Mai concludes.

Time will tell what the future has to offer Mai, but her job market has no national borders. One thing she’s sure of is that she will keep in touch for life with many of those she met during her years with KAB-IFP.

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