She started her academic higher academic journey at the University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Science, Accounting and Finance. She also attended The African Leadership University to study Business Management and Entrepreneurship.

She thereafter won the prestigious China Schwarzman Scholarship – a scholarship award open to International students to study there Master’s degree in China. This scholarship offers a one-year, fully-funded master’s program at Tsinghua University in Beijing and is designed to build a global community of future leaders who will serve as global leaders.

Melissa Kariuki having secured the scholarship headed to Tsinghua University in Beijing, China for a Master’s degree in Management Science.

“On the 26th of June, I graduated with a Master of Management Science from Tsinghua University – Asia’s #1. I completed it in exactly 10 months as a Patrice Motsepe Fellow on a full scholarship as part of the Schwarzman Scholars program- a program that aims to deepen the understanding between China & the rest of the world,” she wrote on Linkedin.

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Melissa expressed her excitement to have not only benefitted from the award but also to have become the first-ever woman from Kenya to win the prestigious scholarship.

“I am also the first Kenyan woman to be awarded the Schwarzman Scholarship. It feels so special to be able to represent my country and show up in spaces where black, African women are the minority,” she said.

She thanked her 101-year-old grandmother for inspiring her to further her education. “It means so much to me because my great grandmother only attended primary school & worked as a helper for most of her life. She wasn’t able to attend high school or university but she worked extremely hard, saved her money and invested in real estate,” she narrated.

She also thanked and appreciated everyone who supported her throughout her journey.