The University of Westminster launched a new bursary thanks to Westminster Business School Strategic Advisory Board member and school alumna Ritika Wadhwa. The funding will support female undergraduate students to help ease financial pressures, giving them more space and time to focus on their studies, professional development and future career aspirations.
The Kiran Wadhwa Bursary was established through a personal donation of £5,000 from Ritika and will provide support to five female undergraduate students across Westminster's Accounting & Finance, Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Business and Management, Law and Psychology courses in their final year of study. Announced during the launch of Ritika's new book, Not Optional: Applying Cultural Intelligence to Lead Through Complexity and Change, the bursary reflects her commitment to expanding access opportunities and supporting the next generation of female leaders.
Master of Business Administration (MBA) graduate of the University of Westminster, Ritika Wadhwa is the CEO and Founder of Prabhaav Global, a London-based consultancy helping organisations strengthen leadership, improve cross-cultural communication and create more inclusive workplaces. With over 30 years of experience working with senior leaders across public and private sectors internationally, she is a recognised expert in cultural intelligence, executive coaching and inclusive leadership; and serves on several strategic boards, including the Westminster Business School Strategic Advisory Board.
The bursary is named in honour of Ritika's mother, Kiran Wadhwa, and the funding has been created to help ease financial pressures that students may face during a critical stage of their academic journey, enabling recipients to focus on their studies, professional development and future career aspirations.
The announcement was made during the book launch which, brought together colleagues, collaborators and supporters from across academia, business and the public sector to celebrate the release of Not Optional. The book explores the importance of Cultural Intelligence (CQ) in helping leaders navigate complexity and change in the workplace.
Throughout her career, Ritika has championed for inclusion, social mobility and the empowerment of women and underrepresented groups. The creation of the Kiran Wadhwa Bursary demonstrates her belief that talent should never be limited by financial circumstances and reflects her desire to give back to the institution that helped shape her own career.
Ritika Wadhwa said: “Education can open doors, but we also need to recognise that not everyone has the same support or opportunities to make the most of them. I wanted to create something practical that could help women overcome some of those barriers at a crucial point in their education, while honouring my mother, Kiran, whose memory makes this initiative particularly meaningful to me. The University of Westminster played an important role in my own journey, and I hope this bursary helps the recipients move forward with greater confidence and the freedom to focus on what they want to achieve.”
Launching the Kiran Wadhwa Bursary directly contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 5: Gender Equality and 10: Reduced Inequalities. Since 2019, the University of Westminster has used the SDGs holistically to frame strategic decisions to help students and colleagues fulfil their potential and contribute to a more sustainable, equitable and healthier society.
Find out more about the University of Westminster’s commitment and work towards Equality, diversity and inclusion.
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