prodigy finance case studies august 2017.1...education loan to finance it, since she completely...

WHY HE DECIDED TO DO HIS MASTERS

When Prodigy Finance met Patricio, his loan

was already approved and he was in the final

stages of packing up his life to move to France.

After attending university in Monterrey, Patricio

used his business acumen to set up two local

businesses, whilst also providing sustainability

consult ing services to the government.

His two business span the hospitality value

chain – a fish supply business and a high-end

seafood restaurant.

According to Patricio, both businesses have

a strong social element. The fish supply

business not only provides work for members

of the fishing community in Mexico, but also

employs sustainable fishing methods. His

restaurant also employs a number of people

from Monterrey and the surrounding areas

and was the catalyst for him wanting to pursue

beginning to think his luck had run out in the search

to secure funding. When he was 17, Patricio travelled

from Monterrey to Mexico City in pursuit of personal

development opportunities. He was determined to

sit for a national exam to determine the winners of

the highly coveted scholarships, of which there were

only three.

“I turned up to this test in my ‘Monterrey’ clothes:

flip flops. Not smartly dressed at all. Everybody

else seemed to be an economist or a consultant.

They were all in suits, had been studying for this

process for a long time, and were convinced of

how it would further their career development.”

Feeling like a country boy in the big city, Patricio

was intimidated. To his surprise (and his family’s),

he was announced as the highest scorer and

won the scholarship to study. This, he says, was

formative in shaping his character and ambitions.

Several years later, and desperate to go to

France, Patricio knew that he wouldn’t be able

to pursue his dream without being funded.

He first tried a government loan, and when he

was refused based on funding limitations (the

funding was available exclusively for scientists),

his frustration led him to phone the organization

every day until he spoke to the the director.

Despite his perseverance to plead his case at

the highest levels, the answer was still no.

PRODIGY FINANCE APPLICATION PROCESS

Then, a friend of Patricio’s told him about

Prodigy Finance. Fresh from the disappointment

of his rejection from the Mexican government, he

was skeptical. However, this didn’t last. He says

the loan application process was so easy that

he’d recommend it to anybody. He also stressed

that people in Monterrey really need a company

like Prodigy Finance:

“Monterrey is the starting point of industrial

Mexico. We work really hard. There is good

[undergraduate] education here, and a lot of

talent, but limited accessible funding. Most

people really want to go abroad and bring

the knowledge back but we aren’t able to.

Prodigy is great.”

a postgraduate degree in sustainability and

innovation.

In fact, he was so convinced of the social

element to his work that it even dictated where

he wanted to study. For him, France was the

obvious choice because of their socially-minded

approach to public policy. Once he’d decided

on this, he looked at the best institutions for

his subject. HEC was the clear winner due

to their great reputation in sustainability and

entrepreneurship. He has only just arrived on

campus but was already contributing to the school

community when back in Monterrey by helping

plan HEC’s autumn impact investing conference.

FINANCING YOUR MBA: OTHER OPTIONS VS PRODIGY FINANCE

Despite being so determined to pursue

a postgraduate course abroad Patricio was

CASE STUDY PATRICIO CUELLAR

TO PATRICO SURPRISE

HE WAS ANNOUNCED

AS THE HIGHEST

SCORER AND WON

THE SCHOLARSHIP TO

STUDY. THIS, HE SAYS,

WAS FORMATIVE IN

SHAPING HIS CHARACTER

AND AMBITIONS

Patricio Cuellar leads a fairly unusual life. He first showed his entrepreneurial flair

as a child, when he sold CDs at his father’s nightclub in downtown Monterray.

Aged 27, he has worked his way up to owning two businesses, both of which are

in the food industry and focus on social and environmental sustainability.

Through his businesses, he’s become increasingly aware of the need for the

workplace to be accessible for the disadvantaged members of society. Instead of

pursuing an MBA and working for a large corporate, Patricio wants to give back to

his local community through entrepreneurialism. This is why he chose to study

for an MS in Sustainability & Innovation at HEC in Paris, France.

CASE STUDY NARGIZ SADIGZADENargiz was born & raised in Baku, Azerbaijan. She completed her undergrad degree at Schiller International University, an American university in Germany. There, she was exposed to an array of different cultures while studying international business. She returned to Azerbaijan with Ernst & Young to work in auditing, but knew that it wouldn’t be long until it was time for an MBA. Sure enough, Nargiz found herself at the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business a few years later.

HER INTERNATIONAL MBA STORY

Both Nargiz’s parents are mathematicians, and

she grew up with a love of maths. She excelled

in this subject, and her appreciation bloomed

into an analytical approach that she values

deeply to this day. It’s hardly surprising she

pursued work as an auditor. But, Nargiz wanted

to take her career further; and that she wanted

to pursue a post-graduate degree in finance.

“Investment banking is an area where you first

need a very solid finance understanding, as

well as management skills because it’s all about

the client, about your team.That combination

of financial knowledge and management skills

made me think that maybe Master’s in Finance

wouldn’t be the best idea, maybe I should get

an MBA.”

She applied to Booth as her top choice because

of the programme’s reputation for incredible

finance courses. But the real attraction was the

school’s data-driven, analytical approach.

Nargiz and Booth are a perfect fit, though she still

considers herself lucky to have been accepted.

The combination of technical and analytical

skills aren’t the only experiences Nargiz will

take from her studies. “It also gives you an

opportunity to develop your soft skills, such

as how to manage people, how to understand

people in your team. Down the road these

soft skills really matter, and that’s what MBA

gives you.”


After acceptance to Booth, Nargiz approached

a local, American loan provider to assist

with her finances. It wasn’t a great experience.

“I had, to be honest, a very bad experience.

It took more than a month. Even in the 21st

century I had to send all the documents by

post, and it would take a while to get there,

and then take a while to get back. I had only

communication through call centres, which

was really time-consuming.”Nargiz didn’t

pursue that loan but found herself stressing

about financing. With less than two months

until her departure, she still had to apply for her

visa and needed her funding in place to do so.

When she encountered Prodigy Finance,

she worried it would take just as much time

and present just as many hurdles. When she

received her provisional offer within a week,

she was ecstatic. “That was amazing; five

working days!” Because Prodigy Finance only

requires soft copies of the documentation,

she was able to relax and focus on preparing

for her international MBA.

PRODIGY FINANCE IS PERSONAL

Prodigy Finance isn’t just another financial

company to Nargiz; she’s impressed by the

personal approach. “I never had to contact

call centres. I have one specific person

assigned to me, and I know that whatever

question I have, I can approach her.”

The direct and personal touch resonated

from day one, from the start of the application

process until today. As she deals with

reimbursements, Nargiz raves about her

Prodigy Finance contact. “She is amazing,

and whenever she writes me, she writes in a

very positive manner. I can feel that she’s writ-

ing exactly to me, Nargiz, and not just a general

letter sent out to everybody, like, “Dear

Applicant”... She will try to find the easiest

way for me, and not just the right way.”

POST GRAD ASPIRATIONS

After graduation, Nargiz plans on becoming

an investment banker. More than just doing

a job, she wants to bring value to the

companies she works for, and she hopes

to make a positive difference in Azerbaijan.

“My ultimate goal is to contribute and put

my part into the development of the financial

sector in the country.”

And, she sees herself supporting Prodigy

Finance. “I feel a little bit loyal, so I really

hope that I will be successful after graduation

so that I will be able to come back and help

other people through Prodigy Finance.”

BECAUSE PRODIGY

FINANCE ONLY REQUIRES

SOFT COPIES OF THE

DOCUMENTATION,

SHE WAS ABLE TO

RELAX AND FOCUS ON

PREPARING FOR HER

INTERNATIONAL MBA

WHY SHE DECIDED TO PURSUE HER MBA

Vinni has always been career focused, and began

working as soon as she finished her undergraduate

degree. She managed delinquent debts at a

start-up before moving to risk analytics at McKinsey.

In her role, she faced challenges but overcame

them through hard work and the commitment to

excel. Within 4.5 years at McKinsey, Vinni secured

two promotions ahead of her peers, and built trust

among a wide network of colleagues. Her mentors

at the firm recommended a top international

B-School MBA to further her aspirations to be a

leader and fast track her career.

To Vinni’s surprise, having a top firm on her CV,

strong recommendations, a great GMAT score,

and recognisable work accomplishments were

not enough to pursue an MBA. She realised

that funding for an international postgraduate

degree can be more difficult than the competitive

admissions process.

PRODIGY FINANCE BUSINESS MODEL AND COMMUNITY

Vinni was amazed to see a company like Prodigy

Finance exists – a business that specialises

in recognizing the potential in people. Her

international education. Recognising that her

Prodigy Finance loan changed her life, Vinni

is determined to pay back and would love

to become an investor – paying forward the

opportunity others afforded her.

FINANCING YOUR MBA: OTHER OPTIONS VS. PRODIGY FINANCE

Vinni was aware that a top international MBA would

cost a fortune and she was prepared to take an

education loan to finance it, since she completely

believed in herself that she would have the ability

to repay it. She reached out to all banks in India

that offered education loans in India to finance her

MBA from London Business School (LBS). She

thought it would be very easy due to the excellent

university brand recognition for LBS in India.

The various banks that she reached out to,

demanded collateral plus an interest rate of 11+%

and insisted that both her parents leave retirement

and go back to work. Despite these conditions,

in the end the majority of the banks refused to give

her any funding even though the collateral that she

was offering was 3 times more valuable than the

loan value. She spent over GBP 8,000 on this

process, which is a small fortune in India. In the

end, she felt she had wasted three months of her

life and a considerable sum of money only to be

left without financing options. This whole process

exasperated Vinni and reduced her hard-earned

savings for her deposit at LBS. “I did not

understand why I could not get a fair loan despite

my good income, excellent credit score, great

job prospects, no history of defaults and even

reluctantly offering high collateral.”

This whole experience led to Vinni forcing to

believe that “talent” is not recognized by Indian

financial institutions. At that point, Vinni had

heard about Prodigy Finance through a friend

and decided to attend an event in New Delhi. She

was surprised that Prodigy Finance agreed to

finance her MBA within a week, asking for basic

personal information, a few standard supporting

documents, and no hidden fees. “I could not

believe there were no hidden terms & conditions,

just a straightforward and transparent way to get

an education loan.” Prodigy Finance took less

than a week to approve her loan application.

Prodigy Finance was so helpful that Vinni was fi-

nally able to focus on securing her study visa and

her big move to London. “I still do not have words

enough to thank Prodigy for making my dream

come true. Had it not been for Prodigy Finance, I

could never have done my MBA.”

experience with financial institutions in

Indiamade her believe that the lending system

isbroken and closed to high potential people in

her circumstances.

Vinni believes that Prodigy Finance’s innovative

model is adding incredible value – particularly

to driven women from emerging markets. Vinni

attended an event in New Delhi that brought

together Indian Prodigy Finance borrowers

(who have repaid their loans) with interested

students and she instantly felt part of a local

community that understood her dreams of

CASE STUDY VINNI GOSAINVinni envisioned doing an MBA from a top five Business School given her career experience and knowledge. Originally from New Delhi in India, she worked two years at a start-up and five years with McKinsey in New Delhi.

RECOGNISING THAT

HER PRODIGY LOAN

CHANGED HER LIFE,

VINNI IS DETERMINED

TO PAY BACK AND

WOULD LOVE TO

BECOME AN INVESTOR

VINNI HAD HEARD ABOUT

PRODIGY FINANCE

THROUGH A FRIEND AND

DECIDED TO ATTEND AN

EVENT IN NEW DELHI

CASE STUDY SANDEEP

Sandeep began his working life as a research and development engineer, with

little thought of pursuing an MBA. As his career moved towards business he

began to consider a return to school. Learning business from the best

professors in the world was the one thing Sandeep believed would differentiate

his career in the future. To make it in the business community, an MBA became

critical.

WHY MBA? WHY INSEAD?

“The best thing you can hope for in life is to have

that chance to fulfil your dream.” Sandeep may

not have followed a traditional path to his MBA,

but as he attained clarity over his future career

goals, business school was unquestionably his

dream. Working with Suzuki in his home country

of India, as well as in Japan, he moved through

the ranks and gained exposure to new projects.

These drove a desire to mature in the strategic

and operational aspects of business. For Sandeep,

an MBA was the natural step, the only way to

secure the academic background and solid base

for career success.

Admission to a top business school was a priority

for this go-getter. His initial search focused on

programmes in the United States, but taking two

years off from work was a worry. Looking at

European MBAs made more sense; INSEAD was

an instant fit for Sandeep both personally and

professionally. The diversity offered was, perhaps,

the biggest attraction of the school as the

perspective gained from classmates is tremendous.

When the acceptance call came in, he knew

he was on the right path. Looking back, he

believes his dream has come true. “Everybody

has dreams, and a few get chances to fulfil

their dreams.” Sandeep considers himself one

of the lucky ones.

FINANCING THE MBA: OTHER OPTIONS VS PRODIGY FINANCE

Acceptance to INSEAD was a high point for

Sandeep. He instantly celebrated the success

of his application. But, the elation he felt wore

off when he realised he would battle to find the

finances necessary for his education.

In India, it’s difficult to find the financing

needed to attend international business schools.

In addition to the limited options and loan

limits, you also need to provide collateral and

guarantees (cosigners).

Despite the challenges of working with Indian

banks, Sandeep considered these options as he

wasn’t aware of other choices. He worked out

a budget using his personal savings and all the

possible funds he could secure from his family.

No matter how much he could source, there

was a shortfall between the loan amount

available from Indian banks and the total cost

of his education.

“I almost explored every option of finance, and

I could not get to the last figure. I am not

exaggerating when I say that if Prodigy Finance

had not helped me in arranging the finance,

I would not have been at INSEAD today.”


“When I decided to go to Prodigy for financing,

I went to the site, and it was a pretty easy

process. You just need to fill the form online.”

Sandeep’s pre-approval came through within the

week. Then it was just a matter of uploading the

documents. He had some reservations about the

required documentation and whether his Indian

materials would be accepted.

He need not have worried, and his mind was put

at ease as soon as he began the process.

For him, it was a pleasure not to leave his office

to complete his application. “It was not an

experience you will have with a bank... it’s easy

and open.”

THE PRODIGY FINANCE COMMUNITY MAKES IT POSSIBLE

“Prodigy Finance is the reason why I’m here

today. You can apply to the schools, but at the

end of the day, you have to pay for your MBA

too. Prodigy, for me, is an investor in my future.”

Sandeep feels a part of the community investing

in his future and has positive thoughts about

his role in Prodigy Finance going forward. “You

should invest because somebody invested

in you. That creates a bond, a very strong bond,

to the community. I think it’s a fantastic thing,

alums coming together and fund the MBA of

the future students.”

PRODIGY FINANCE IS

THE REASON WHY I’M

HERE TODAY. YOU CAN

APPLY TO THE SCHOOLS,

BUT AT THE END OF THE

DAY, YOU HAVE TO PAY

FOR YOUR MBA TOO

SANDEEP AS POSITIVE

THOUGHTS ABOUT HIS ROLE

IN PRODIGY FINANCE

WHY HE DECIDED TO PURSUE HIS MBA

While working in Zimbabwe in private equity

and Investment Banking in corporate finance,

Moreblessings decided to take charge of his

career and advance as far as possible.

Zimbabwe is a developing country, and though

there are many positives to consider, a job in

private equity and Investment Banking doesn’t

carry the same weight – or paycheck – found

elsewhere in the world. Transformative leaders

in the sector are in demand and Moreblessings

wanted to be one of them. Before he began

the business school application process,

Moreblessings took stock of his skills and

the intended direction of his career. He had

a depth of ability and experience in finance

and accounting, corporate financing and

corporate advisory, but there were areas

with gaps he wanted to fill. To become a leader,

Moreblessings knew there were skills to

develop and relationships and networks

to build. Moreblessings wanted to acquire

better understanding of marketing and strategic

management. And, he wanted to lead and

inspire people. “I wanted to be with the best

realize dreams regardless of individual spheres

of influence or area of interest. After deciding an

advanced degree was the best possible path,

the decision to study internationally followed with

even less hesitation. Moreblessings wanted an

opportunity to learn from this widest possible

scope of people. By attending business school

abroad, he could learn from classmates in a

diverse set of careers and cultures. He explains,

for example, that he made friends with classmates

who were in the military and, therefore, brought a

different perspective to a strategic leadership case,

an experience that he describes as “priceless”.

FINANCING YOUR MBA: OTHER OPTIONS VS. PRODIGY FINANCE

Zimbabwe offers possibility, but as a developing

country, salaries are lower and recent exchange

rates make it difficult to maximise savings outside

of the country. Moreblessings took a big leap

of faith when he first moved to the US; he had only

enough savings to last for the first quarter.

Although, he was fortunate to receive a scholarship,

there was still a funding gap in the required financing

that he needed to complete his MBA. He explored

various funding paths, knocking on the door of

every available option, but that door was always

shut. Prodigy Finance was the first opportunity to

get through that door. Without Prodigy Finance,

Moreblessings would have put his MBA goals

on hold. He had started his MBA, but would not

have been able to complete it at that time

without additional financing. The only option

was to return to Harare and save for several

years before returning to complete his degree.

Moreblessings understood the risk to his career

fully, noting that [without a Prodigy Finance loan],

“I wouldn’t be making the required progress that

I needed in my career so it would have set me

back a number of years”.

PRODIGY FINANCE BUSINESS MODEL & COMMUNITY

Despite his experiences in banking, Moreblessings

believes the traditional parameters of financing

are broken. With companies like Prodigy Finance

finding ways to make it work for people like him,

Moreblessings is excited to see what the future

of finance holds for everyone.“When I had found

out that Prodigy Finance had given me the loan,

I was really excited as I could now focus on the

business of being in business school and focus

on my goals again.” Moreblessings strongly

believes in the Prodigy Finance innovative

business model and supports the communi-

ty-funded platform. He explains that investing in

human capital is extremely important, especially

when fast-tracked by companies like Prodigy Fi-

nance that help fund students from developing

countries like Zimbabwe. He substantiates his

support and belief in the Prodigy community

and business model, stating that, as someone

believed in him and helped him reach his dream,

he will invest in Prodigy Finance in the future to

do the same. He wants to support and put his

money on the line to show his commitment to

these students and the potential that they have.

of the best” he adds. It had always been his

long-term goal to pursue a career in business

and finance without any limitations, without

any barriers.

Without a doubt, business school was part of

his plan. Between the skills he needed and the

career path he was on, business school was

the shortest path to becoming the well-rounded

business leader he desired to be. By making

this quantum leap, Moreblessings would do

more than achieve individual dreams and goals;

he was setting an example for young people in

Africa. Through his endeavours, Moreblessings

wanted to demonstrate that anything is possible

in Zimbabwe and in Africa; it’s possible to

CASE STUDY MOREBLESSINGS SEKENHAMO

Moreblessings dreamt of doing his MBA at University of Chicago’s Booth School

of Business. Originally from Harare in Zimbabwe, he worked in private equity

and investment banking in corporate finance in Zimbabwe before undertaking

his MBA.In an interview with Prodigy Finance, he explains why he decided to do

an MBA, his struggles with financing his degree and what he thinks of the Prodigy

Finance business model and community.

MOREBLESSINGS

BELIEVES INVESTING IN

HUMAN CAPITAL IS

EXTREMELY IMPORTANT

CASE STUDY EMAAN KARAMATULLAH

Emaan was born and raised in Pakistan, though she completed her undergraduate studies in the USA. Before pursuing her MBA at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business, she worked for five years as an economic consultant in Maine. Emaan has developed a perfect American accent since she last lived in Pakistan, but she is looking forward to the day she can return and make a difference in her home country”

WHY SHE DECIDED TO PURSUE AN MBA

After completing her undergraduate studies,

Emaan went to work for one of the consulting

companies she interned with and found her

intellectually curious colleagues were an

inspiration. Better still, they supportive of her

goals to progress. “I know I’ve done well at

work, I know I have the capacity to do better,

what do I need to get to that next step?”

Emaan considered her choices. She could have

pursued another job, but she didn’t want to stand

still. An MBA became the obvious next step.

“I couldn’t progress at my old company any further

than I was because they need you to have a

graduate degree.” Now, she defines herself as a

career-switcher, moving from economic consulting

to management consulting. For her, an MBA is the

most direct route to success along this path.


Emaan struggled to find lenders willing to provide

loans to international students – even though

she had lived in the United States for nine years.

She remembers the day she received an email

from Wharton with information about a new vendor

- Prodigy Finance. Her experience has been so

positive that she’s happy to recommend the

company to incoming students.

“Whenever an [incoming] international student

reaches out with questions regarding finances,

my go-to response is this is Prodigy Finance…

effortless. Go for it. You know, it’s going to be

fine. I know I’ve had that experience, and I’m very

comfortable suggesting it to other people.”


If you were to ask Emaan, she would tell you

that the Prodigy Finance process is more than

easy; it’s thoughtful. In fact, she calls the Prodigy

Finance experience “phenomenal.”

“I could login, fill in my information, I could

upload my documents very easily. I could go in

and check the status on my application. If they

needed something, they asked me quickly. The

whole process felt so relaxed & easy. Honestly,

it was the swiftest I’ve probably ever taken on

when doing something so big.”

The speed of responses from the Prodigy

Finance Operations team eased her initial

skepticism. She was done and dusted with

her financing in plenty of time to focus on her

last months of work.

“They dealt with sending the money to Wharton

themselves. They took me out of the process,

which was great, because I didn’t have to play

the middle-man in any of this.”

A PART OF THE PRODIGY FINANCE COMMUNITY

Emaan appreciates the Prodigy Finance circle

and the human approach to the borrowing

process. She mentions continuing to receive

messages from the operations team regarding

her studies and wishing her well. “I feel it’s not your

typical lender/borrower interaction, it’s definitely

a lot more personable, and I really like that.”

And, she has a message for those that have made

her time at Wharton possible, “to the investors

who took a chance on me, and bet on me, I want

to say thank you so much, and I’m hoping to be

one day, someone like you who has the chance

to invest in somebody else.”


Eventually, Emaan plans to return to Pakistan

where she believes she can truly contribute.

“But before I can go back, I know I need to have

enough experience under my belt that I’ll be

taken seriously, and people won’t just question

my capabilities, or say that I don’t have the

real-world experience to guide decisions.”

And she has an idea about how she wants to

make a difference, working to empower

victimised women through the development of

tangible skills. Emaan plans to be at the forefront,

in the center of whatever form her ambitions

take her. And, she believes she has Wharton,

and Prodigy Finance, to thank for it.

TO THE INVESTORS

WHO TOOK A CHANCE

ON ME, AND BET ON

ME, I WANT TO SAY

THANK YOU SO MUCH

PRODIGY FINANCE

PROCESS IS MORE THAN

EASY; IT’S THOUGHTFUL

WHY MBA? WHY LONDON BUSINESS SCHOOL? WHY PRODIGY FINANCE?

Deciding that an MBA was for him was the

easy part for Farai. And, he found that making

the switch to investment banking and finance

provided the perfect opportunity to begin

his applications.

London Business School’s impressive finance

education and, of course, its location within the

finance capital of the world influenced Farai’s

final decision to apply. But, if it hadn’t been

LBS, it would have been another European

business school; Farai wanted to “get that

different experience, and get that exposure.”

Interestingly, there was another factor in his

short list. Knowing that financing would be

a challenge for an international student, he

applied only to schools accepting Prodigy

Finance loans after learning about the company

through the grapevine.

He cites the exchange rate as one issue affecting

his budget. Another is the banking system in

nearly every question he had, so he almost never

had to reach out to the team. But, he certainly

found them to be helpful when he did.

When he was uncertain whether his documents

would comply, he always found a fast response.

All he had to do was let them know, and the

Prodigy Finance Operations team assisted with

the deadlines and compliance. “I think it’s a very

understanding team, and extremely helpful.”

His loan approval was the highlight of Farai’s year,

he claims. The stress of finances was getting to

him, and he had become nervous that he wouldn’t

make it to campus. He celebrated immediately,

citing the moment as transformational. “Just

knowing this was going to enable me to achieve

my dreams, it was great.”

PRODIGY FINANCE BUSINESS MODEL AND COMMUNITY

“I think it’s great that Prodigy Finance gets the

alumni of the school to invest.” He knows the

initiative is filling a gap that aspiring students

from developing countries needed.

For Farai, it’s about the connection made. “It makes

me feel good that the reason I’m here is actually

because of LBS alum. It’s got that personal

connection to it, and I think that’s great. I think

also it encourages me to want to give back in the

same way.” It’s the personal touch that drives

him to succeed so he will be in a position to assist

future MBA students at LBS.

COMMUNITY/POST GRAD ASPIRATIONS

The future is wide open for Farai. He loves London

and appreciates all the work he canachieve in the

city. But he may need to reevaluate in the future;

his heart may always be in somewhere else. It’s

obvious when he considering the possibility of

returning to the continent where he was born.

“I think there’s a lot to be done in Africa, which

I’m really passionate about, and I can play a big

role over there.”

South Africa. “It’s tough to get financing for study,

for MBA studies in general, and especially for a

course of this magnitude, as far as the expense.”

Farai isn’t sure what he would have done without

a loan from Prodigy Finance. Though he would

have reached out to every person he knows, he

believes it would nearly impossible. “I don’t think

I’d have been here without Prodigy Finance.

I mean I may have been here, but it would have

been extremely tough.”


“I think the process of getting funding through

Prodigy Finance is extremely simple and

intuitive. If you go to the website, it’s very clear

what you have to do. Once you actually get into

the process of applying for the loan, I found it

like extremely simple. I didn’t need to call up

anyone and ask hey, how do I fill this out? So,

for me, it was a very simple process.” He was

impressed enough that Farai regularly sug-

gests international graduate students take a look

Prodigy Finance’s products. The FAQs covered

CASE STUDY FARAI MWAMUKA

Farai was born to get an MBA; at least it was the plan for as long as he can

remember. He just needed to f ind the right time and university to make it

happen. Though he grew up and completed his high school education in

Zimbabwe, he studied his undergraduate degree in the United States. From

there, he went to work in South Africa for f ive years before completing his

MBA at London Business School.

I THINK IT’S GREAT THAT

PRODIGY FINANCE GETS

THE ALUMNI OF THE

SCHOOL TO INVEST.” HE

KNOWS THE INITIATIVE

IS FILLING A GAP THAT

ASPIRING STUDENTS

FROM DEVELOPING

COUNTRIES NEEDED

WHY HE DECIDED TO PURSUE HIS MBA

MBAs aren’t reserved exclusively for students

that pursued business as undergrads; Santiago

graduated with a Bachelor’s in Political Science.

From there, he went on to pursue a law degree.

Rather than practicing in courtrooms, he moved

into management and risks consulting. The

urge to improve his business acumen grew and

continued business studies drew nearer on

the horizon.

“I was a business practitioner with a legal

vocation, and I felt that an MBA was a perfect

complement to my practice experience and my

theoretical legal formation.” Santiago believes

his MBA studies have helped him grow in

various ways. Besides the desired foundations

in business and general management, he knows

it’s opened doors to opportunities he couldn’t

have dreamed of otherwise. And, just generally,

he appreciates the growth in his world vision

and his experience in it.

“Doing my MBA gave me the opportunity to

explore different fields and new industries.

this, this is just a present from life, I don’t even

deserve this. As things sunk in, I realized the real

deal here is a lot of responsibility.” But, that’s a

challenge Santiago has never run away from.


HBS offers its international students financing options

not available at many other schools. Santiago had

a choice unlike many other Prodigy Finance-funded

students.

“When I looked at my financing options, some

were based on the prime, some were based on the

LIBOR. I decided on Prodigy Finance, because LIBOR

tends to be more stable in the long-term. It seems like

we’re in a cycle where interest rates might go up,

and being a loan based on LIBOR made me think

that I was going to pay less interest in the future.”

Though he made the decision based on sound

financial principles, Santiago likes the trust aspect

of the Prodigy Finance loan. “It’s basically people

who have been in my position, and are trusting

people who are now in need of loans to finance

their education. That trust between generations is

something that I really like. If I could get involved in

this community of trust, I would definitely do it. I must

repay my loans before I can lend to others, but I

would definitely like to be part of this.”

PRODIGY FINANCE APPLICATION PRO-CESS

Santiago appreciates the efficient responsiveness

of the Prodigy Finance Operations Team.

“I think getting a loan is always a painful process,

but I felt with Prodigy Finance that the customer

support was great. If I had questions, they all

helped me navigate through the process very, very

quickly.”

A benefit for this seriously motivated MBA candi-

date was the online application process. Preparing

for an international business school experience is

complicated. Anytime an applicant can save time,

the entire process becomes much smoother and

easier, claims Santiago. “The fact that you can all

do it a hundred percent online saves a lot of time,

and it makes it less painful than just having to go to

an office, back & forth.”

I would tell the Prodigy Finance Operations

Team to keep doing what they’re doing. I felt

that they listened to me; they were very flexible,

and tried to understand that every country has dif-

ferent particularities - that every student is dealing

with something different back home.”

It allowed me a lot more freedom to go where

I really wanted, and not where I was.”

Harvard Business School was Santiago’s top

pick, and not just because of the value of the

brand. He was sold by the ability to explore any

and every area of general management that

struck his fancy. His background in law led to

an appreciation for the case method employed

by HBS. And then there was the benefit of the

larger university of Harvard. Because it is so

big and well-known, it ’s able to attract the

diversity that Santiago truly desired. “When I

was accepted my first reaction wasI can’t believe

CASE STUDY SANTIAGO ARTEAGAS

Santiago is now in his second year at Harvard Business School; the

Columbian MBA candidate believes that growing up in a developing

country had a profound inf luence on the way he sees the world and

his future. He feels strongly about contributing to his home county

and wants to make an impact when he returns.

WHEN I WAS ACCEPTED

MY FIRST REACTION WAS

I CAN’T BELIEVE THIS,

THIS IS JUST A PRESENT

FROM LIFE

SANTIAGO BELIEVES HIS

MBA STUDIES HAVE

HELPED HIM GROW IN

VARIOUS WAYS

CASE STUDY CARLOS SADOVNIK

Carlos describes himself as “just a finance guy.” And, he may have been that, but most people would have a difficult time boxing this HEC MBA candidate into a single stereotype. Born and raised in Colombia, he completed his undergraduate degree in Finance and International Relations. He worked in Finance and Control at Nestlé in Bogota, before realising it was time for a change.

WHY HE DECIDED TO PURSUE AN MBA

“I was working in finance but wanted to change

careers and get international exposure. Well,

that’s the biggest part of an MBA.”

Carlos has always been decisive. He pursued

finance as an undergrad rather than business as

he felt Colombia already had plenty of business

administrators. He moved to his position at

Nestlé because his first position didn’t offer the

opportunities and progression he desired.

Besides personal growth and the ability to switch

careers, Carlos believes that an MBA provides

career flexibility. It’s an amazing journey he can’t

wait to take.


Carlos wasn’t entirely sure how he would finance

his MBA, but he knew he would make it happen.

He considered speaking to family members and

also looked at bank loans he could secure in

Colombia. Unfor tunately, Colombian banks

require borrowers to return home immediately

following their studies. Though he knew he

would return at some point, Carlos wanted to

further develop his skills abroad before applying

them locally.

For him, Prodigy Finance was a perfect fit with

his aspirations.

“Prodigy Finance was very important for me. I

had some savings, but not enough to live in Paris,

so Prodigy Finance was a lifesaver.”

PRODIGY FINANCE APPLICATION PROCESS AND COMMUNITY

“The process of getting the loan was easy,

step-by-step, and very quick. The customer

support was perfect.” And, it’s not as if Carlos’

application was without challenges. The current

fnancial regulations in Colombia make it difficult

to get a credit score, which is an essential

component in determining interest rates for any

lender, including Prodigy Finance. And yet,

he had his offer a week and a half after beginning

his application. He’s also impressed by the

community and the alumni investors. Carlos

plans to offer the same support to future MBA

candidates. “I know that afterwards, I have to be

very responsible for keeping this business model

alive….And being part of Prodigy Finance’s

network, it’s amazing.”

HIS POST GRAD DREAM

“What’s the dream? First of all, to move into

marketing. Secondly, to be international, to go

out of my country and comfort zone.”

IT’S NOT A IF CARLOS’

APPLICATION WAS

WITHOUT CHALLENGES.

THE CURRENT FINACIAL

REGULATIONS IN

COLOMBIA MAKE IT

DIFFICULT TO GET A

CREDIT SCORE, WHICH

IS AN ESSENTIAL

COMPONENT IN

DETERMINING

INTEREST RATES FOR

ANY LENDER, INCLUDING

PRODIGY FINANCE.

AND YET, HE HAD HIS

OFFER A WEEK

AND A HALF AFTER

BEGINNING HIS

APPLICATION

WHAT’S THE DREAM? FIRST OF ALL, TO MOVE INTO MARKETING.

SECONDLY, TO BE INTERNATIONAL, TO GO OUT OF MY COUNTRY

AND COMFORT ZONE

WHY AN MBA? WHY INSEAD?

With an undergraduate business degree in hand,

Gabriel interned in the strategy departments of

various infrastructure companies in Brazil. He

enjoyed the work and wanted to push his career

and personal growth further.

“It’s much broader than just thinking about your

career. It’s a year when you will meet different

people from all over the world, and learn from

experiences that benefit both your professional

and your personal life. It will change you forever.”

Though he cautiously considered other business

schools, Gabriel knew INSEAD was the best

place to pursue his education. Every alumnus

he spoke with underlined the programme’s

strengths and the open-minded diversity.

“ INSEAD was my plan A, and to be here is

a huge li fe achievement. I really am where

I wanted to be.”

When he completed a form incorrectly, he wasn’t

admonished; Gabriel was offered a helping hand. He

received correspondence saying, “Gabriel, it doesn’t

make sense. I said it was not what meant. She

continued, don’t worry – we can correct it right

away. In the same day, she helped me to correct

everything in my form.” It doesn’t work

that way at the bank.

INSEAD AND PRODIGY FINANCE CREATE COMMUNITIES PROCESS

While considering his MBA opportunities,

Gabriel met with INSEAD alumni. The meeting

demonstrated INSEAD’s sense of community,

which is what he wanted during and after his

graduate studies.

At this stage, he was also introduced to Prodigy

Finance. In addition to the ingenuity of the

business model, Gabriel was attracted to the

community aspect of the company and its loans.

“It was maybe the first experience of how

INSEAD is really a community, and it doesn’t

end there.”

He’s definitely planning to be an active part of the

INSEAD community after graduation, and a part

of the Prodigy Finance cycle.

“I knew it was alumni that would invest in my

MBA. I want to return that. I want to create the

same opportunity that somebody is creating

for me.”


After completing his MBA, Gabriel hopes to

transition into consulting – an opportunity he

wouldn’t have had without his MBA.

“My long-term goal is to focus on public sector

projects within consultancy firms. I want

to develop public sector efficiency in Brazil.

Particularly in infrastructure and education,

areas that wil l help the country to develop,

to create opportunities and really impact

people’s lives.”

FINANCING AN MBA WITH PRODIGY FINANCE

In Brazil, education loans are difficult to come

by. If Gabriel had continued to work and save for

years, it still would have been impossible to get

an international degree. And, if Gabriel had

managed to get a loan from a Brazilian bank,

it ’s likely it wouldn’t have covered the expense

of studying at a top business in Europe.

With Prodigy Finance, Gabriel secured enough

to pursue his dream. Just as alumni had cited

before him, it’s a relief to focus on the experience

and maximising the time spent working towards

his MBA.


The transparency of the Prodigy Finance

application process impressed Gabriel from the

beginning. And then there was the convenience

of it all. “It was hundred percent online, I didn’t

have to go anywhere, it didn’t disturb my work.”

It not just the obvious trust towards MBA candidates,

it’s the swift responses and the willingness to help

applicants every step of the way.

CASE STUDY GABRIEL CATALANI

MY LONG-TERM

GOAL IS TO FOCUS ON

PUBLIC SECTOR

PROJECTS WITHIN

CONSULTANCY FIRMS.

I WANT TO DEVELOP

PUBLIC SECTOR

EFFICIENCY IN BRAZIL

Sao Paulo is home for Gabriel, but he fits in well at INSEAD – just like he knew he would. He’s been working in the strategic department of an infrastructure company in Brazil. But, he’s hoping to move into consulting once he finishes his MBA.

INSEAD WAS MY PLAN A,

AND TO BE HERE IS A

HUGE LIFE ACHIEVEMENT

CASE STUDY MARIA MULLER

There’s no questioning the love Maria feels for her country; South Africa is part of who she is and who she wants to be. Now studying for her MBA at Columbia Business School, she knows exactly where to f ind her favourite foods from home in New York City. Her undergraduate degree in finance and accounting from the University of Cape Town was just the beginning of her journey towards empowering others in the pursuit of financial literacy and inclusion.

WHY SHE DECIDED TO PURSUE AN MBA FROM COLUMBIA BUSINESS SCHOOL

With a fascination for the role job creation plays

in economic development, business has always

called to Maria. Growing up in South Africa, there

was always a development question in the back

of her mind. And, she was inspired to answer it

through the intellectual stimulation associated

with finance.

With such a robust f inance and accounting

background, Maria felt she needed broader

management skills needed to push her career

forward. It ’s hardly surprising that Columbia

was at the top of Maria’s list.

“Columbia’s tagline is that it’s at the very centre

of business, and it sounds clichéd, but it’s so

true.” In New York City, it’s difficult not to benefit

from exposure to top finance companies.

And, of course, Columbia is as well known for its

value investing program as they are for attracting

a truly diverse MBA class. With 40 percent

international students, “you get exposure to guest

speakers, companies, professors and class

mates that broaden your world completely.”

THERE WERE NO OTHER FINANCING OPTIONS

As a South African, graduate study in the United

States isn’t exactly affordable. Maria knows

firsthand just how far out of reach it can be. She

approached local banks without success. The

disbelief that any education could cost so much

was palpable - and the maximum educational

loan amount they could offer was less than ten

percent Maria needed to attend Columbia.

Her parents weren’t in a position to assist, and

she had limited savings. It’s a situation many

MBA candidates know well.

“Then I approached Prodigy Finance, and the

process was just so simple. They understood

exactly what we need as MBA students.

And, make so easy as an international student

to come study in the US.” “If it weren’t for

Prodigy Finance, I wouldn’t be at Columbia;

it ’s that simple.”


“When I started looking for funding options,

the first thing that came up on any search was

Prodigy Finance. They are the leader in

providing student loans for business school

students that come from abroad. It’s evident

on the university websites, when you Google it,

or when you use a search engine. It’s listed on

MBA admissions blogs, and everyone has such

good things to say. It’s the first portal when

you’re looking for a loan as an international

student.”

Maria found the application process for

a Prodigy Finance loan easier than buying

a plane ticket. After filling in her online form,

she received a call to confirm a few details

and shortly after, her finance offer. Not only

was it quick, but she was also impressed by

the smooth transitions between steps. “It’s

simple to follow; it ’s not complicated. It all

goes really quickly and is a breeze compared

to any other kind of loan application. Prodigy

Finance really makes it very easy.”

PART OF THE PRODIGY FINANCE COMMUNITY

Not everyone has a Prodigy Finance loan, but

a lot of the international students at Columbia

Business School do. For many students, it’s the

only option. Maria appreciates the team’s visits

to campus; it makes borrowers feel like a

community rather than a number at the bank.

“I feel quite strongly about the financial inclusion

situation in South Africa, and the effect it can

have on economic development. I want to use

my finance skills to uplift the local people, create

jobs, and work on financial literacy.”

Maria hopes to make enough money over the

years to invest in future MBA students through

Prodigy Finance. She knows education is a

catalyst for change and that’s truly important

for her to achieve.

IT’S SIMPLE TO FOLLOW;

IT’S NOT COMPLICATED.

IT ALL GOES REALLY

QUICKLY & IS A BREEZE

COMPARED TO ANY

OTHER KIND OF LOAN

APPLICATION. PRODIGY

FINANCE REALLY MAKES

IT VERY EASY

AN OXFORD MBA IS MORE THAN BUSINESS CLASSES

After six years in the non-profit sector, Maria

knew an MBA was the right path for her as she

began to explore the impact commercially

-viable social enterprises can make. That’s

exactly what she hopes to achieve after

graduation – the development of businesses

that make a difference.

“When I walk out of the MBA, I want to speak

confidently to investors and have them take

PRODIGY FINANCE APPLICATION AND COMMUNITY

Maria quickly discovered the ease of Prodigy

Finance’s loan process.

“The process for getting the funding with Prodigy

Finance was quite simple. It reminded me of

filling out my first Facebook profile, in the sense

that there were open boxes, and if you got it

wrong, they let you know. It was just really

seamless and easy.”

Dealing with the operations team made it clear

that she was more than a number attached to

file on a computer. “I think that that adds a bit

of humanity to the otherwise rather cold, student

loan industry.”

Knowing a lot of other Prodigy Fnance-funded

students on campus also draws Maria closer

to the community. When she’s successful in

her career, she hopes to become an investor,

providing finances for the future generations

of MBA candidates to achieve their goals.

POST GRAD PURSUITS

It’s not easy to transition from a non-profit career

to starting a commercially viable venture. But,

Maria will surely be someone that makes it seem

effortless. With her talent for communicating with

those around her and an Oxford MBA backing

her, she plans to make a difference – even in a

commercial world. Her goal is the creation of a

businss that delivers a needed, socially-viable

service.

“I’m hoping that after this year, I’m going to have

the financial skills, and potentially a founding

team to go out and get that started.”

me seriously.”Given her background, it ’s not

surprising Maria wanted a programme with a

global approach to business. “I chose Oxford

for this reason. In my study group alone, I have

someone from India, Australia, Japan, Turkey,

and myself, from the United States.”

With 56 countries represented in her class, it’s

Maria’s chance to question perceptions. It ’s

both a dream and a responsibility she takes

very seriously.

FINDING THE NEEDED FINANCES

Maria completed her undergraduate degree as

an American in the United States. Finding the

finances needed to study wasn’t difficult. When

looking for the funds necessary to pursue her

MBA at Oxford in the UK, she faced challenges.

Even large, well-respected US lenders couldn’t

assist. Some couldn’t offer the amount required

even after subtracting the amounts covered

by scholarships. Almost unbelievably, another

provider didn’t have Oxford in its list of known

institutions.

Maria then came across Prodigy Finance and

the insecurity of funding began to slip away.

CASE STUDY MARIA SPRINGER

GIVEN HER BACKGROUND

IT’S NOT SURPRISING

MARIA WANTED A

PROGRAMME WITH

A GLOBAL APPROACH

TO BUSINESS. I CHOSE

OXFORD FOR THIS

REASON. IN MY STUDY

GROUP ALONE, I HAVE

SOMEONE FROM INDIA,

AUSTRALIA, JAPAN,

TURKEY, & MYSELF FROM

THE UNITED STATES

Maria grew up in a part of Los Angeles known as Little Ethiopia. Exposure

to dif ferent cultures didn’t end there. She’s also lived in Chile, Spain,

Portugal, Kenya, Liberia, and now the UK. She’s pursuing her MBA at Oxford

- and knows just how lucky she is to be there.

AFTER SIX YEARS IN THE

NON-PROFIT SECTOR,

MARIA KNEW AN MBA

WAS THE RIGHT PATH

FOR HER AS SHE BEGAN

TO EXPLORE THE IMPACT

COMMERCIALLY-VIABLE

SOCIAL ENTERPRISES

CAN MAKE

CASE STUDY OLEG MARYNCHAK

Oleg Marynchak hails from the Ukraine and it seems as though he was always destined for a postgraduate degree. However, it was only after working in a commercial bank and then in auditing for seven years that he realised just how much an MBA would further his career.

TAKING NEW STEPS WITH HEC PARIS

Once he decided on an MBA, there was no

stopping Oleg. He felt it was time to gain

international experience & a global perspective

on finance and business.

“It ’s been a long journey for me; in terms of

passing the admission exams, but to also be

ready emotionally and professionally for the

opportunity to pursue an MBA.”

Oleg wanted to study in Europe and began

by looking at the best possible programmes.

With incredible rankings, including its position

at the top of the Economist’s European business

school list, HEC Paris was Oleg’s top choice.

MORE FINANCING OPTIONS THAN MOST

Despite being an international student, Oleg had

more financial options than most. The other lender

that would cover Oleg’s tuition would not be able

to assist with any living expenses. And other

options presented high interest rates. Oleg chose

Prodigy Finance as he was able to borrow

everything he needed – at a low interest rate,

without a cosigner or collateral. He was able

to fulfill his budget without relying on family

members or friends to sponsor him.

Completing the loan process was also simple.

“It was like some kind of miracle, because all

the documents were uploaded to the website.

It was so easy, so fast. And I also signed my

loan agreement via the internet platform.”

A PART OF THE PRODIGY FINANCE COMMUNITY

Oleg has fe l t par t o f the Prod igy F inance

community from the moment he signed up. He

knows he has a responsibility to the community

of investors that have allowed him to pursue

his dream. He believes the model demonstrates

a trust not easily found elsewhere in business

and finance. “It’s showing trust in the success of

our generation of students – respect for the alma

mater, with benefits for the success of students.”

He feels the drive to excel academically and

repay his loan because he doesn’t want to let

his investors down.


It’s not a big move, but Oleg plans to move from

auditing to corporate finance. He hopes to work

for a few years in Western Europe or the United

States to gain more experience and a solid

worldview of his work.

But, he won’t be away from home forever. Within

five years, he plans to return to the Ukraine

to make confident financial strides using the

network and skills gained with his MBA.

IT’S NOT A BIG MOVE,

BUT OLEG PLANS TO

MOVE FROM AUDITING

TO CORPORATE

FINANCE. HE HOPES

TO WORK FOR A FEW

YEARS IN WESTERN

EUROPE OR THE UNITED

STATES TO GAIN

MORE EXPERIENCE &

A SOLID WORLDVIEW

OF HIS WORK. BUT,

HE WON’T BE AWAY

FROM HOME FOREVER.

WITHIN FIVE YEARS, HE

PLANS TO RETURN TO

THE UKRAINE TO MAKE

CONFIDENT FINANCIAL

STRIDES

COMPLETING THE LOAN PROCESS WAS ALSO SIMPLE. “IT WAS LIKE

SOME KIND OF MIRACLE, BECAUSE ALL THE DOCUMENTS WERE

UPLOADED TO THE WEBSITE. IT WAS SO EASY, SO FAST. AND I ALSO

SIGNED MY LOAN AGREEMENT VIA THE INTERNET PLATFORM

THE MBA DREAM

When Orgil arrived in the United States for the

first time in 2001, the standard of living difference

from his home country was obvious. Narrowing

the gap between developing and developed

nations became a priority – and he became

interested in the solutions finance and business

could provide.

Working in the Central Bank of Mongolia provided

a tangible look at finance & business in his home

country. But Orgil wants to make a difference; he

wants to speed access to development in South

East Asia – and an MBA is a crucial experience

to making that happen.

“Having an MBA showcases me as a qualified

professional, with the credibility to pitch ideas

and projects to potential investors.”

With Warren Buffet as a childhood idol, Columbia

Business School was obviously going to be at

the top of Orgil’s shortlist.

“Columbia is one of the top schools for investment

bankers, it really complemented what I wanted

to do.”

“Columbia Business School recommended

Prodigy Finance to international students. It was

an easy experience and the application process

was very simple. You would start your application,

& it would tell you step-by-step what information

and documents were needed.

Orgil found the process as simple as it could be

– it was beneficial to know what the expectations

were, but better still to find out quickly whether

a financing of fer would be extended. With a

provisional offer in hand, he set out to inform his

employers and begin preparations for his MBA.

THE PRODIGY FINANCE BUSINESS MODEL

“Because Prodigy Finance has really been vital

to achieving my dream of getting an MBA degree

at Columbia Business School, I’ve been trying to

give back to the community by being active”.

It ’s the pay-it-forward, give-back model that

inspires Orgil to suggest Prodigy Finance to

international students seeking financing. And,

he hopes to find himself on the other side of the

business in a few years; he wants to become an

investor too.

“I think Prodigy Finance is a great organisation

because it achieves that double bottom-line

results of social and economic returns. It gives

students the ability to develop themselves, and

put that degree back into use in the professional

world. But it also gives investors a return. Prodigy

Finance is a great social initiative.”

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER GRADUATION?

At the moment, Orgil is trying to absorb all of

the information he can while building diverse

networks. In the short-term, he’d like to work in

investment banking to learn the intricacies of

micro-economics at an industry-level.

“I would also like to return to Mongolia and apply

the concepts that I learnt through an MBA to the

developing frontier markets in South East Asia.”


“Prodigy Finance was essential in financing my

degree at Columbia Business School. It was the

backbone of what I built other financing around.”

When considering his options, especially access

to savings and the credit available in his home

country, it’s easy to believe Orgil’s claims that

he wouldn’t have made it to business school

without Prodigy Finance. Fortunately, he was

pointed in the right direction early in his search

for financing.

CASE STUDY ORGIL SEDVANCHIG

He may humbly describe himself as a “kid from rural Mongolia,” but Orgil is def initely someone who will make an impact on the future of his country. He does it now, with everyone he meets. After an undergrad f inance degree from Indiana University, he worked in the Central Bank of Mongolia before heading to Columbia Business School to pursue his MBA.

COLUMBIA IS ONE OF

THE TOP SCHOOLS FOR

INVESTMENT BANKERS, IT

REALLY COMPLEMENTED

WHAT I WANTED TO DO I THINK PRODIGY

FINANCE IS A GREAT

ORGANISATION BECAUSE

IT ACHIEVES THAT DOUBLE

BOTTOM-LINE RESULTS OF

SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC

RETURNS. IT GIVES

STUDENTS THE ABILITY

TO DEVELOP THEMSELVES,

AND PUT THAT DEGREE

BACK INTO USE

CASE STUDY EDOARDO PASINATO You might find Edoardo Pasinato on the soccer field or in the kitchen, but this MBA candidate has an inquisitive mind which only continued learning seems to quench. After several years working in real estate finance in his home country of Italy, his desire to complement his education with business, finance, and management courses prompted an international move. He already holds a bachelor’s and a master’s in Building Engineering, and now he’s pursuing his business degree at Yale School of Management.

WHY HE DECIDED TO PURSUE A YALE MBA

Though he holds technical degrees, he’s spent

his career in financial services. Edoardo wanted

an MBA to learn more about organisational

behaviour and how effectively manage teams,

believing these skills are critical when moving

to middle and top management roles.

Yale School of Management offers the high-level

education and inclusive experience Edoardo

hoped to find in an international programme. He

was swayed by the outstanding finance professors

and the accomplishments achieved by Dean Ted

Snyder over his tenure. Yale was his first choice

as he desired a small, diverse and multicultural

atmosphere for his education.

WHY PRODIGY FINANCE?

In Italy, it’s possible to find “honour loans” - but

these unsecured products max out at $25,000.

Edoardo soon found, as many international grad

students do, that the loan amount offered by local

banks wouldn’t cover costs and American loans

posed the complicated question of finding a

co-signer. His only other option would have

been asking family to mortgage property to

find the funds needed. None of these financial

products fit.

Edoardo chose Prodigy Finance because it

represented the most attractive financing option.

“It offered a competitive interest rate and

repayment plan, provided enough funds, did

not require additional guarantees and had an

innovative and easy-to-use process.”

And, he appreciates much more than the

financial products. He believes “Prodigy Finance

represents an active and vibrant community

of students and professionals who are genuinely

committed to increasing the level of financial

inclusion.”

A FEW WORDS FOR THE PRODIGY FINANCE COMMUNITY

“The innovative application process & competitive

financial conditions are a clear competitive

advantage. You are investing in something

that is not only generating adequate financial

returns but is also pursuing a social mission

by giving the opportunity to many talented

students to attend the best business schools

across the globe.”

His only suggestion is increasing the range of

financial products offered to meet the needs of

more master’s hopefuls around the world.

WHERE WILL HE GO NEXT?

When he landed for his studies, Edoardo had

never stepped a foot in the United States. But

clearly, it’s become home.

“I think the United States represent the best fit

for my personality and culture. I love being at

the forefront of the innovation, meeting people

with different interests and live in a stimulating

environment, so I see New York City as the best

a long term location.”

He’s hoping to secure a position in a team

working on mergers and acquisitions or a

leveraged finance team at an investment bank.

After that, the natural move will be to join a

generalist but international private equity firm,

where Edoardo can apply his knowledge to

a distinct sector or geographic area, to invest

in riskier businesses and achieve superior

returns.

Wherever he goes, he won’t forget the opportunity

to study at Yale. “Prodigy Finance gave me

the opportunity to pursue a dream: studying

at one of the most prestigious institutions in the

world. Without this financing, I would have had

to give up on an incredible experience, which

is enriching me as a person and a professional.”

I THINK THE UNITED

STATES REPRESENT THE

BEST FIT FOR MY

PERSONALITY AND

CULTURE. I LOVE BEING

AT THE FOREFRONT

OF THE INNOVATION,

MEETING PEOPLE WITH

DIFFERENT INTERESTS &

LIVE IN A STIMULATING

ENVIRONMENT, SO I SEE

NEW YORK CITY AS THE

BEST A LONG TERM

LOCATION

prodigy finance case studies august 2017.1...education loan to finance it, since she completely...

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