The Management Diary

If It Costs You Your Peace, It’s Not Worth It Whether it’s an opportunity, a job, or a relationship—sacrificing your peace for temporary gains is never worth it. Life will always have its challenges—that’s a given. But your peace? That’s priceless. Here are 5 signs that it may be time to move on: 1. You Question Your Worth If you start doubting your value, it's already costing you too much. Your worth should never be in question. 2. You Have to Dim Your Light If you feel the need to hide parts of yourself or play small just to fit in, it’s not the right place for you. 3. You Feel More Dread Than Hope If facing another day fills you with anxiety and dread, it’s time to reassess what you’re holding on to. 4. You’re Losing Yourself If you no longer recognize who you’ve become, it’s time to reclaim who you truly are. 5. It Keeps You Up at Night If stress keeps you awake, or if you wake up with a racing heart, don’t ignore those signs. You deserve better. Walking away isn’t failure. Sometimes, it’s the bravest choice you can make. You deserve to be valued. And you deserve to live a life you love.

In October, I made it into Oxford at 24 on a fully funded PhD program. I always told my younger self that someday I will study at The University of Oxford; years later, I have officially been awarded a fully funded DPhil (PhD) position at my dream university! I learnt about Oxford during my childhood. My passion for English studies motivated me to spend more time buried between the pages of The Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary than any other book; something that always stretched my imagination to wonder how precious it would feel learning at the institution where the book came from. I enrolled for a Bachelor’s degree in English Language and Literature at Khallikote Unitary University, Brahmapur after high school where I graduated with grade ‘A’ in 2020. To expand my knowledge on the subject I further enrolled for a Master of Arts (MA in English Literature) at The English and Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad, which I completed in 2022. My undergraduate gave me an opportunity to explore new things that would eventually contribute to my admission at Oxford. I founded The Biblioraptor, initially a humble blog for book reviews and literary essays. Over time, it grew into a media house offering innovative marketing services for authors and partnering with leading publishers like Penguin Random House and HarperCollins. As its Founder and Editor-in-Chief, I have found a new purpose and a platform to share my love for literature. My Oxford dream is eventually becoming true at 24! In October, I started my DPhil study in Theology and Religion funded by the prestigious Felix Scholarship. This opportunity offers me a platform to engage with diverse academic and cultural communities, to foster cross-cultural dialogue in India’s education sector. I aspire to inspire future generations of scholars and thinkers, bridging cultural gaps and deepening the understanding of literature and performance. Alongside my academic pursuits, I am an active writer, translator, and literary critic, with works featured in Muse India, The Asian Age, and Deccan Chronicle. My translations and scholarly articles contribute to the discourse on Odisha’s cultural heritage. Oxford is becoming a reality! See you soon with my full story on The Management Diary podcast! Credits: Ankit Rath #OurTopStories2024 If you are currently applying for scholarships, I have a podcast specifically dedicated for these opportunities - at least 10 are currently open. Link: https://lnkd.in/grTER9-z

His academic journey began with a Diploma in Law; six years later, Alfred Nyaga has been awarded the fully funded Commonwealth Scholarship (2024/2025) to pursue a Master of Laws (LLM) in the UK shortly after completing his Bachelor's degree. He always wanted to pursue law but to get where he is, Alfred had to take a unconventional path! In January 2018, Alfred enrolled for a Diploma in Law at Mount Kenya University - MKU. Two years later, he graduated as the top student and with Distinction! Having already made up his mind, he enrolled for a part time Bachelors degree at the same university immediately but there was an obstacle; funding his studies. Self-sponsorship can be quite expensive in Kenya and this meant he had to find a full-time job and attend evening classes throughout his four years of study! A dedicated mind knows no obstacles… Even before graduation, Alfred made his first and only attempt on commonwealth scholarships to pursue his LLM at Brunel University of London. In December 2023, he graduated with a First-Class honours degree emerging top in his class and six months later, he is now the proud awardee of this year’s commonwealth scholarships. He started his studies in September. Alfred has a keen interest in Regulation of emerging technologies, AI, Data Protection & Privacy, Intellectual Property & Innovation, Competition Law and Human Rights Law; a field that he aims to explore more deeply during his studies. Thoughout his journey, he believes that for one to realize their dream, they need to learn from their life experiences, define their values and set goals for themselves. You can never go wrong when you know what you want in life! Be your own cheerleader even when no one is clapping for you. A hearty congratulation to you Alfred Nyaga. Someday soon, the ambition to earn a Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil) in Law will become a reality. #OurTopStories2024 ---------------------- If you are currently applying for scholarships, I have a podcast specifically dedicated for these opportunities - at least 10 are currently open. Link: https://lnkd.in/grTER9-z

The Greatest Truth About Success: A Commitment to Action that Transforms Lives and Careers. Most people believe motivation is the key to success. They wait for inspiration to take action. But this mindset leads to inconsistency and missed opportunities. With the right approach, anyone can achieve their goals, no matter how they feel. Here are the principles that make discipline unbeatable: 1. Do It When You Feel Like It When motivation strikes, seize it! Use that energy to build momentum and push forward. 2. Do It When You Don’t Feel Like It This is where discipline comes in. On days when motivation is low, action keeps you on track and builds resilience. 3. Keep the Momentum Going with Discipline Motivation is fleeting, but discipline is the engine that sustains progress. By committing to consistent action, you develop lasting habits that lead to success. The power of acting consistently, regardless of how you feel, is the key to greatness.

Do It Twice. The best way to handle doubt is to prove them wrong: When they say you can't, show them you can. Twice. → Use Negativity as Fuel Turn doubt into motivation. Push harder. Drive yourself further. → Document Your Journey Take pictures of your progress. Share your achievements. Build your credibility. → Celebrate Small Wins Every step forward counts. Acknowledge your efforts. Boost your morale. → Set Clear Goals Know what you want to achieve. Break it into steps. Stay focused. → Embrace Social Media Share your success stories. Inspire others. Create a supportive community. → Learn from Successful Figures Study those who faced doubt. Adopt their strategies. Apply them to your journey. → Stay Resilient Challenges are part of the process. Keep going. Turn adversity into triumph. Prove them wrong. Do it twice.

From graduating as the overall best performing student in her university to a fully funded PhD at The University of Oxford directly from her undergraduate. Meet Dorcas Tuitoek, a Rhodes Scholar and Engineering graduate scaling the heights of intellectual pursuit against all odds. She earned a First-Class honours Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from The The Technical University of Kenya in March 2022 where she also graduated as the Valedictorian (Best Student overall). Through her academic background, Dorcas has demonstrated academic prowess in various capacities including being an Alumnus of the prestigious national school: The Kenya High School where she completed her high school diploma (KCSE). Shortly after her graduation in July 2022, Dorcas was hired to join the Risk Advisory team at Deloitte, a role that she immensely enjoyed given the diverse nature of tasks and clientele she was assigned to. In November 2022, she was awarded the highly competitive fully funded Rhodes Scholarship to pursue a PhD in Engineering Science with a focus on industrial decarbonisation (Steel industry). When asked about her experience at Oxford, she recounts "What struck me the most is how much people here value reading and academic pursuits. Whether it's on the train, in restaurants, or anywhere else, there’s this vibrant culture of intellectual engagement everywhere you look." Dorcas is on track to be among the youngest PhD holders in Kenya and Africa at large. cc: The Kenya High School Alumnae Society, Rhodes Trust #OurTopStories2024 If you are currently applying for scholarships, I have a podcast specifically dedicated for these opportunities - at least 10 are currently open. Link: https://lnkd.in/grTER9-z

I recently started my Masters degree at The University of Bristol on the prestigious fully funded Commonwealth Shared Scholarship. Before I got this far, it took three years of preparation and two more years of rejection. Here is my journey in summary: 👉🏾2022/23 applications Commonwealth Shared Scholarships; University of Bristol – Reserved Cranfield University – Shortlisted then rejected. Chevening Awards – Interview stage [Rejected] Joint Japan/World Bank Scholarship, University of Sussex – Nominated then rejected. 👉🏾2023/24 applications Commonwealth Shared Scholarships; University of Bristol - Reserved University of Durham – Reserved University of Exeter – Reserved June 2024; I got upgraded from a reserved candidate to a selected candidate by the University of Bristol. That was the Single YES I have been praying for all along. I have always had the intention to undertake postgraduate studies abroad on a scholarship, something that motivated me to excel academically during my undergraduate. Shortly after graduating from the Federal University Of Agriculture, Abeokuta, in 2019, I was posted for my National Youth Service Corps in Oyo State, Nigeria, and shifted my focus on acquiring vital documents for scholarship application. Sadly, my late dad fell ill and succumbed to the illness in 2019. I was left isolated, couldn't support him much, nor received help myself. Also, the COVID-19 pandemic brought about global recession and layoffs at work, so by the time I was rounding off my youth service, I had no job, no savings. Realizing I couldn't apply for scholarships without paying for my first-degree certificate, transcript, and travel documents, I chose to focus on finding a job instead. I also observed that scholarship recipients often share a common trait: outstanding academic performance, strong leadership experience, or both. I focused on what I didn’t have; a strong leadership and professional profile. In 2021, I was accepted into the Teach For Nigeria Fellowship, a two-year program dedicated to tackling education inequity in remote areas of Nigeria. This opportunity marked the beginning of my progress, providing not only the income to cover my scholarship documents but also valuable leadership and professional experience, especially in grassroots issues and development. By the fall of 2022, Everything I needed was ready. That is when I made my first application! My journey has taught me an important lesson: Patience is key; you can fail once or twice but always remember, there is room for improvement! Credits: Bamidele Segun #OurTopStories2024 If you are currently applying for scholarships, I have a podcast specifically dedicated for these opportunities - at least 10 are currently open. Link: https://lnkd.in/grTER9-z

It’s all about perspective

Talk Is Cheap. Execution Is Everything. You don’t need a grand strategy to be a leader who values action over words. Start with these simple steps: 1. Doing Over Talking → Talking about plans doesn’t produce results; ↳ it’s the follow-through that counts. 2. Clear Objectives Over Overcommunication → Too much talk can cloud the goal; ↳ clear, actionable objectives drive success. 3. Implementing Over Planning → Planning is important, but ↳ it’s implementation that brings plans to life. 4. Results Over Words → Words can inspire, but ↳ results prove effectiveness. 5. Execution Over Ideas → Ideas are the seeds, ↳ execution is the harvest. 6. Actions Over Intentions → Good intentions are a start, ↳ actions are what make a difference. 7. Deliverables Over Promises → Promises build expectations, ↳ deliverables build trust. 8. Milestones Over Meetings → Meetings can discuss progress, ↳ hitting milestones shows real progress. Talking without doing isn’t just ineffective. It’s a missed opportunity. Actions truly speak louder than words.

2019; that’s when I first heard of Chevening Awards. I was in my third year pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Economics at the Lagos State University and I promised myself that someday, I will have my own version of the Chevening story to share. God made it happen on my first attempt! I graduated in 2021 with a 4.02 CGPA (Second Class Upper Division - 2.1). Shortly afterwards, I was called to serve my country for a year through the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) program at the National Assembly of Nigeria (NASS). By this time, I was already aware that one needs a minimum of 2 years’ experience to be awarded this scholarship. The bright side was that part time work, internships, voluntary services; paid or unpaid was also counted as eligible work experience. I sought a remote Data Analyst Internship role which I juggled with my NYSC placement to build up my Cv. Anyone who has been through NYSC knows how difficult that was; my dreams kept the fire burning. While at it, I made my first ever Chevening application and 6 months later, I got awarded a scholarship to pursue MSc Financial Econometrics at the University of Essex; fully funded! I won’t lie that it was easy, or I had a secret recipe to the application; I spent years ticking all boxes in the requirements list; researching and sharpening my writing skills. As you might already be aware, Chevening looks into more than just grades. Networking, Leadership, Career experience & future career plans and how well you understand your university of choice play a crucial role! My experience has been more than that for which I signed up! Besides networking and exploring the UK, I had opportunities to enhance my leadership skills. To supplement the soft skills, my growth on technical skills has been exponential. This is just the beginning, someday in future, I am looking into exploring climate financing for loss and damage in Africa at the PhD level. I am deeply enthusiastic about Sustainable Development, and I am excited about the possibilities of working in a sector that engages my skills as a Financial Econometrician. My goal is to use those skills to foster growth in developing countries and marginalized communities across the globe. If you ever ask me what my favourite work destination is, then you’ll understand why my friends call me Miss World Bank, I am putting it out to the World. Wish me luck 🙏🏽 Credits: Elizabeth Saint-Wonder ---- PS: Elizabeth completed her MSc in Oct 2024 and siubmitted research titled: The Economics of Climate Finance: An Econometric Analysis on the Impact of the Least Developed Countries Funds (LDCF) on Climate Adaptation and Economic Growth in 47 Least Developed Countries. #OurTopStories2024 -------- If you are currently applying for scholarships, I have a podcast specifically dedicated for these opportunities - at least 10 are currently open. Link: https://lnkd.in/grTER9-z