This year, we have the pleasure of introducing four new Skoll scholars to the School.
The Skoll Scholarship provides funding for social innovators who are interested in undertaking an MBA to enhance and broaden their skills for more effective social change. Beyond financial assistance, Scholars join the vibrant Skoll Scholar community which offers an opportunity for lifelong learning and connection with other social innovators.
For more than two decades, the Skoll Centre has been a leader in empowering social entrepreneurs to drive lasting systemic change. Central to this mission is the Skoll Scholarship programme, and we’re delighted to welcome our newest cohort of Scholars, each already making a meaningful impact on the world. An MBA at Oxford Saïd offers them the opportunity to enhance and broaden their skills and mindsets at a crucial stage in their development as leaders.
Aisha is the Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Farmz2u, a supply chain management company increasing visibility across agricultural value chains. Since 2019, Farmz2u has been working towards enabling a food system that is sustainable and profitable for growers (smallholder and emerging commercial farmers) and buyers in Africa, starting with Nigeria and Kenya. With over 14 years of experience in strategy, project management and operations, she facilitates strategic implementation, business development and corporate engagements at Farmz2u.
Under her leadership, the company has seen significant growth and has won numerous awards for its innovative solutions, most recently the Africa Prize Alumni medal awarded by HRH The Princess Royale. As a Harambean Fellow she is committed to building Africa’s future. She is also a member of the global entrepreneurial networks Endeavor, NASDAQ Milestone Makers and Techstars. With a deep focus on delivering impact socially and environmentally, she is a signatory of the United Nations’ Women Empowerment Principles and a member of Rothschild’s Council for Inclusive Capitalism.
My transition into entrepreneurship following eight years in finance gives me a unique understanding of complex system issues globally. Through my experiences across Global North and Global South markets, it's apparent the latter has an unfair disadvantage as operations aren't under the same conditions. For instance, the lack of corporate debt in markets like Nigeria reduces the international competitiveness of food manufacturing companies. At Oxford, I hope to develop my skills and network that can accelerate much needed systems change.
Achyut Gautam is a co-founder of Khetipati Organics, a Nepali social enterprise that empowers rural smallholder farmers and addresses post-harvest loss in the Himalayan region. Khetipati Organics specialises in the state of art of dehydration, adding value and shelf-life to the perishables. He is committed to developing sustainable, community-led solutions that promote social inclusion, economic empowerment, and climate resilience among farming communities that are sparsely populated and have poor connectivity. By connecting grassroots communities with global markets, Achyut wants to ensure that the voices of rural communities are heard, and that agriculture remains a viable option for generations to come.
Having witnessed first-hand the impact that small businesses are able to make at the grassroots, I'm drawn to Oxford's vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem. With the world facing urgent climate crisis and social inequalities, I'm particularly interested in leveraging impact investment to create inclusive and sustainable communities in areas often overlooked by traditional investors.
Amadeus Driando Ahnan-Winarno, PhD (also known as 'Dr Driando, the tempeh doctor') is a food sciencepreneur and activist with a life mission of giving more people access to nutritious, sustainable and affordable foods. He does it by innovating on and promoting tempeh and tempeh fermentation, which originated in Indonesia over 400 years ago. In 2014, Dr Driando co-founded the world's largest tempeh network, the Indonesian Tempeh Movement, which now has involved representatives from 24 countries. In 2018 he co-founded the UK's fastest-growing tempeh brand, Better Nature Tempeh.
Since pursuing his PhD in Food Science at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Dr Driando has received 33 national and international awards for his works in tempeh fermentation, food science, entrepreneurship and science communication. He first-authored The Tempeh Bible - the world's most updated manuscript on tempeh and tempeh fermentation, published in journal Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety. Dr Driando has invented four patents and launched ten products onto the European and Middle-Eastern markets. To further promote tempeh, he has run five out of the six world major marathons and published 22 songs (including two albums) on global music platforms.
I refuse to believe that social entrepreneurship is just a gimmick, marketing material, and mere narrative to sell. I am here to look for better impact business models and changes that can be applied to my journey of promoting healthier, more sustainable, and more affordable foods — currently through tempeh, an indigenous food of Indonesia. I am also excited to meet those rare social entrepreneurs to collaborate on manifesting what many would think impossible in terms of balancing social, environmental, and financial sustainability.
Sebastián Jaramillo is the Colombian founder of Tirando X (TxC), where he leverages artificial intelligence for massive and personalised behavioural change interventions. With over a decade in innovation, Sebastián focuses on the intersection of technology and social impact. He is dedicated to reducing the poverty trap caused by teenage pregnancies through AI-enabled interventions. Sebastián has a strong research background, contributing to significant health education and policy-making initiatives. He has collaborated with the United Nations Development Programme, advised the Government of Colombia on the AI for Nations initiative, and worked with various other governmental bodies to address real-world problems using technology. He holds a Master's in Management of Information Systems and Digital Innovation.
Just a few weeks into the Oxford MBA, my assumptions have been profoundly challenged and reshaped. What I thought would be a year of deep intellectual reflection has already turned into an incredible drive to take action. The collaborative energy here inspires me daily to foster the impact I want to see in the world, alongside brilliant, purpose-driven individuals. I can already feel how this transformative environment will shape not just my thinking, but my ability to lead and create meaningful change.