Interview with Aprajita and Aspram, laureates of the 3M and Dataiku scholarships of the ESSEC "Women in Data Sciences" program
A pioneer among business schools in education in the business of data and artificial intelligence through its Metalab for data, technology and society, ESSEC offers, a joint program with CentraleSupélec School of Engineering. As part of its strategy to promote diversity and gender parity, ESSEC has also partnered with industry leaders to facilitate the integration of women in its programs, and specifically in the DSBA master, through its "Women in Data Science" initiative. Dataiku and 3M, both involved in this program, award an annual scholarship of €10,000 to a female student for the next 4 academic years (2021-2025).
In this interview, Aprajita Arora (from India), Dataiku’s Women in Data Science Scholarship laureate, and Aspram Grigoryan (from Armenia), winner of the 3M’s Women in Data Science Scholarship, discuss how this scholarship encourages and supports women interested in Data Sciences & Business Analytics, often underrepresented in these sectors.
Guillaume Chevillon, Professor and Academic Co-director of the ESSEC & Centrale Supélec Masters in Data Sciences & Business Analytics: “Fostering diversity, equity and inclusion is part of our values and our responsibility as a business school which trains future leaders and stakeholders of our society. And the implementation of these two scholarships contributed to achieving perfect gender parity in the program in the academic year 2021-22, a great satisfaction for ESSEC and CentraleSupélec. We are thrilled to have had these two bright and passionate young women in our schools. ”
Q: Why did you choose ESSEC & CentraleSupélec master in DSBA over other programs?
Aprajita: I have always been a data enthusiast, but the prospect of understanding how Data Science technologies and platforms are being used to make business decisions was intriguing for me. After thorough research on various courses offered worldwide, I felt that the DSBA master would not only offer the right skill-set to become a leader in the data industry, but would also provide me with an unparalleled international experience and the best industry connections to grow further in my career. I was positive about the academic rigor and opportunities I would get here from the collaboration of two of the most prestigious business and engineering Schools in Europe, which made it much easier for me to choose this program over others.
Aspram: After deep research of educational programs that promised to be the best in the field, my choice stopped on the DSBA master program because it combined every possible aspect for a rewarding educational experience for me. I was looking for a program where I could build up on my business background, fill in the necessary building blocks for the theoretically and technically challenging profession of a data scientist. DSBA was a fully hybrid program fusing the best resources from two prestigious schools, a place where I could create a beautiful combination of my background and my growing passion for technology. I expected to get the chance to learn from people who are at the frontier of technology research, and I did get it in the most fun way possible - with people from diverse backgrounds but a shared passion for science.
Q: How has winning this scholarship benefited you/changed your life?
Aprajita: Being the recipient of the Dataiku’s Women in Data Science Scholarship is what enabled me to come to Paris and pursue my degree in Data Sciences and Business Analytics, and it has definitely been a life-changing experience for me! I have been able to take up opportunities that I didn't know existed a year back - I have gained knowledge, I have learned so much from different experiences, and most importantly, I have gained confidence in my abilities to have an impact in the world.
Aspram: The 3M Women in Data Science Scholarship was an essential support to pursue my studies in the DSBA. It made the path to my professional development even smoother and more accessible, and now, in retrospect, I can proudly contemplate the educational hill I’ve managed to climb over the last year, alongside with other young women in my program with whom I became friends.
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