How QUT’s MBA Suite Empowers Leaders to Make a Difference

Many of our Executive MBA and MBA students are driven by the desire to make a meaningful impact. They approach their studies with a clear purpose: to use their newfound knowledge, skills, and experience to create a positive impact in their organisation or community.

To support our students in achieving their aspirations, the QUT Graduate School of Business introduced a range of scholarships. These scholarships are tailored to assist aspiring leaders and executives from diverse backgrounds and industries, including female entrepreneurs, elite athletes, Indigenous leaders, and not-for-profit pioneers, in realising their full potential.

As part of this article, we caught up with three QUT Executive MBA and MBA scholarship recipients to learn about their career aspirations and how their scholarships will support them in achieving them.

Macy Lu: Improving health outcomes for Queenslanders

Pictured: Macy Lu, Executive MBA student and Medical Director of Medical Imaging at the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital (RBWH).

Macy Lu, an inspiring Executive MBA student, serves as the Medical Director of Medical Imaging at the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital (RBWH), Queensland's largest teaching and research hospital.

As an executive member of the Medical Imaging team, which leads the largest medical department in Queensland and performs over 145,000 procedures annually, Macy is dedicated to improving health outcomes for the community alongside her colleagues.

Driven by her passion for making a positive impact and supporting her team, she enrolled in our Executive MBA program to enhance her executive leadership skills.

“As the Medical Director of the Department of Medical Imaging at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, I am part of a dynamic team responsible for radiology scans and procedures,” she shared.

“At this stage of my life and career, my motivation is to give back and serve the women, men, mentors, and mentees I have worked with so that together we can make the world a happier, better place.

“With QUT’s Executive MBA, I aim to inspire and advance the people I work with so we can optimise our unique talents to positively contribute to healthcare and society.”

“I am confident that QUT’s Executive MBA will give me the advantage to best achieve my goals.”

Reflecting on her Executive MBA cohort, Macy noted a common theme: a shared commitment to making a difference.

“While this sentiment may seem cliché, it’s a common theme among my peers in the QUT Executive MBA cohort,” she said.

Supporting Macy in her mission is the QUT Women in Leadership Excellence scholarship she recently received. Backed by UN Women Australia, this scholarship aims to foster diversity and promote gender equality by supporting women in leadership roles, offering a full tuition fee waiver for Executive MBA students.

“I am honoured to have received QUT’s Women in Leadership Excellence scholarship,” she said.

“Women have made significant strides in terms of accessing career options, thanks to the pioneers who have paved the way before us.”

Discussing the impact of this scholarship on her life, Macy shared, “As I am the sole breadwinner in both my immediate and extended family, receiving this scholarship has enabled me to pursue an Executive MBA at QUT.”

Graham White: Championing Indigenous communities

Pictured: Graham White, Executive MBA student and Director of Sector Engagement and Communications at the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service (QLD).

Another example of commitment to positive impact is Graham White, an Executive MBA student and Director of Sector Engagement and Communications at the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service (QLD). He is dedicated to making a difference in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities throughout Queensland.

With a wealth of experience serving on boards and working with organisations dedicated to supporting these communities, Graham is eager to amplify his impact further and drive positive change. To achieve this, he decided to pursue QUT's Executive MBA to enhance his leadership skills and broaden his influence.

“With my Executive MBA from QUT, I aim to give back to my community and make a difference,” he said.

“I am currently serving on the boards of a couple of organisations, such as the PCYC and Kambu Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation for Health.

“This program will enable me to give back to these organisations, which will, in turn, give back to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across Queensland.”

Graham's decision to pursue an Executive MBA was heavily influenced by his grandmother, who was a pivotal figure in his family's life. She always emphasised the importance of education and lifelong learning. Reflecting on her influence, Graham said, "She always said education was key, and this just reiterated to me to the 10th degree that it's a great stepping stone.”

To support his mission, Graham applied for and was successfully awarded the QUT Indigenous Leaders Scholarship. This scholarship, designed for Indigenous Australians in leadership roles or aspiring leaders, offers a 50% tuition fee waiver for QUT MBA or Executive MBA students.

Speaking about the impact this scholarship has had on his educational journey, Graham said, “The Indigenous Leaders Scholarship has empowered me to achieve what no one else in my family has accomplished.”

“My dad comes from a big family—ten siblings—and we have lots of cousins.

“Our generation is the first to complete year 12, and not many of us have gone on to university.

“I'll be the very first in my family to get a Master's degree, which is a huge milestone for our mob.”

With QUT’s support and on the brink of completing his Executive MBA, Graham is confident he will be able to amplify his impact on the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across Queensland.

Anshu Sisodia: Empowering voices and leading with purpose

Pictured:  Anshu Sisodia, MBA student and Co-Founder of A&K Marketing & Finance Advisory.

For MBA student Anshu Sisodia, the Co-Founder of A&K Marketing & Finance Advisory, breaking conventions and championing diversity and inclusion has always been a guiding principle in her career.

With over sixteen years of experience as an international media broadcaster, primarily in India, a predominantly male-dominated field, and more recently for the past eight years in the Australian small business fraternity, Anshu recognised early on the importance of supporting others and becoming an empowering leader for underrepresented groups.

As a leader in her field, Anshu aspires to be a role model for young women and an advocate for individuals from diverse backgrounds. Driven by this mission, she enrolled in our MBA program to amplify her impact and help her lead and manage decisively today’s complex business world.

“My decision to pursue an MBA at QUT stems from my desire to be a leader who empowers others, especially women from diverse backgrounds,” she said.

“Studies show that the majority of female executives suffer from Imposter Syndrome, impacting their career progression and compensation.

“My goal is to mitigate this impact, and I am confident that my MBA will lead me to make a meaningful and progressive impact on the business landscape.”

Supporting Anshu’s aspirations is the QUT Female Executive Leaders scholarship, which offers a 25% or 50% tuition fee waiver for Executive MBA and MBA students. This scholarship empowers women in executive leadership roles or aspiring leaders to expand their skill sets and lead with confidence.

“With QUT’s support, I'm committed to breaking down barriers, challenging the status quo, and empowering individuals to embrace their authentic voices in our dynamic world,” she said.

“Through receiving QUT’s Female Executive Leaders Scholarship, I strive to lead by example, shaping a future where every female executive communicates with unwavering confidence and leaves a lasting legacy, irrespective of age or background.”

Ready to lead meaningful change?

Our Executive MBA and MBA will empower you to drive social impact and excel in a rapidly evolving world. With a focus on long-term strategy and ethical leadership, you'll gain the expertise and confidence to make a real difference in your organisation and community. Transform your thinking, build your influence, and become a leader who creates lasting impact.

For more details on our MBA and Executive scholarships, and to explore our full MBA suite, click below.