This year, we are excited to welcome the members of our new Women in Business Board: Surayyah, Maria, Bler, Natasha, Radhika, Daniela, Marie Lydie, Manali, Hetal, Ajibola and Divya. Each of them brings distinct insights and new perspectives that will enhance the Women in Business programme. 

What Is the Women in Business Board?

The Women in Business Board was created to empower current scholars and alumni to achieve their full potential in their careers and in their lives. Our mission is to foster meaningful connections between among Women in Business Scholars, providing the support and opportunities they need to thrive in the business world during their studies and after their MBA.​ We aim to ensure that Laidlaw Women redress the persistent underrepresentation of women in senior leadership roles, championing women to lead across every sector & geography and lift others as they rise.

If you have ideas or initiatives you’d like to see, we’d love to hear from you! Reach out to a board member directly or share your ideas via this form: https://forms.office.com/e/K3EVxg0Ch0

Laidlaw Scholars Advisory Board 2025

In order of position

Surayyah Ahmad - Co-Chair 

Oxford Said Business School | 2024 Cohort

Surayyah Ahmad is a Founding Partner at Sabou Capital (formerly Aduna Capital), which provides funding and technical support to high-growth SMEs in West and Central Africa with a gender lens. She also supports UK scaleups through her role as a scale-up Advisor at Barclays Eagle Labs. Additionally, she sits on multiple startup advisory boards, mentoring and supporting founders from underserved regions. Surayyah is currently pursuing an MBA at the University of Oxford, specializing in finance and impact investing. She also serves as Co-Chair of the Oxford Africa Business Alliance, working to foster engagement between Oxford’s business community and the African continent.

As an experienced operator, Surayyah founded and successfully exited an e-commerce and fulfillment service company with operations in both Nigeria and the UK. She is deeply passionate about empowering women and driving economic development in underserved markets through private enterprise and investment.

Maria Sobcakova - Co-Chair 

HEC Paris | 2024 Cohort

Originally from Slovakia, I spent the past nine years living in the Czech Republic, where I built my career in luxury brand management. At L'Oréal, I developed brand communication through digital media, influencer collaborations, PR, and events. I also launched Power Talks, a flash mentoring program that has already helped over 150 young women in Czechia build confidence. Now, as I further my education at HEC Paris with a strong focus on the luxury industry, I am working toward transitioning into a more business-oriented role within the French luxury market. I look forward to contributing to the Women in Business Board and engaging with this inspiring community.​

Bler Bahidi - Secretary

IE Business School | 2024 Cohort

As a Laidlaw Scholar and MBA candidate at IE Business School, I am passionate about fostering global connections, driving strategic growth, and championing diversity in business. With over a decade of experience across three continents, I specialize in investor relations, financial communications, and market expansion, leveraging my expertise to build meaningful stakeholder engagement. Fluent in five languages, I thrive in cross-cultural environments, shaping partnerships that fuel innovation and economic development. ​

Natasha Makhubele - Alumni Relations Lead 

Oxford Said Business School | 2024 Cohort

Natasha is a qualified chartered accountant with experience in audit, accounting advisory and management consulting within a Big four audit firm.  She has worked with clients across diverse industries, providing strategic guidance on complex accounting transactions and helping enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of finance operations.​

She holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree and Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting from the University of Cape Town.​

Natasha is passionate about building meaningful relationships with people. As the Alumni Relations Lead, she looks forward to growing a strong ,engaged Laidlaw scholars and alumni community.​

Radhika Patel - Alumni Relations Lead 

London Business School | 2022 Cohort

Radhika is an MBA2024 graduate from London Business School. She is currently an Investment Manager at Zouk Capital, working in the Infrastructure private equity space with a focus on the energy transition. Before this, she spent five years in the investment team at Pantheon and started her career as an investment banking analyst at RBC. She is a keen traveller, enjoys staying active and is passionate about creating a more sustainable planet. Radhika holds a BSc in Economics from University College London and spent a year studying at UCLA during this time.​

Daniela Boquete Tudesco - Communications Lead 

London Business School | 2024 Cohort

Daniela Boquete Tudesco is a Media and Entertainment industry leader, currently Senior Director, Streaming Partnerships at Paramount. She develops, launches, and scales content services, bridging technical and business functions to lead product strategies that drive growth, optimise user engagement, and expand market reach. ​​

She is pursuing an Executive MBA at London Business School, deepening her expertise in leadership, strategy, and finance. A passionate advocate for women in business, Daniela is dedicated to mentorship, leadership representation, and advancing female career progression.​

Marie Lydie Tedom - Communications Lead 

HEC Paris | 2024 Cohort

HEC Paris MBA student, a marketing professional with 8+ years of experience. Through a decade of volunteering, I have impacted 600+ women and girls, creating spaces for financial inclusion, career growth, and leadership development. I believe true empowerment comes from a powerful sisterhood; one that uplifts, amplifies, and creates opportunities. As Communications Lead for the Laidlaw Women in Business Board, I am committed to building a legacy where women feel limitless and unapologetic in their ambitions.  ​

Manali Amitav - Events Coordinator 

London Business School | 2024 Cohort

Manali is a Laidlaw Scholar pursuing her MBA at London Business School. Previously, as a Manager at the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, she worked on high impact deep technology and innovation advisory projects. She was instrumental in co-drafting the Deep Tech Startup Policy for India, after consulting with over 200+ start-ups and investors. Prior to this, Manali worked as a trader with a Singapore-based fintech start-up. She has cleared Levels I and II of the CFA Exam and worked in traditional finance roles such as algorithmic trading, trade execution and financial analysis. In 2019, she was awarded the Young India Fellowship where she started a social impact initiative on financial inclusion.​

​She is passionate about leveraging her diverse experiences to work at the intersection of technology, finance and impact; helping impactful start-ups scale and capture value.​

Hetal Ketawa - Events Coordinator 

IE Business School | 2024 Cohort

Before starting my MBA at IE Business School, I worked in banking and consulting, gaining valuable insights into the corporate world. However, my true passion lies in impact entrepreneurship, and I am building my startup alongside my studies. Growing up in India, I always aspired to study at leading global institutions, and the Laidlaw Foundation has been instrumental in making this dream a reality. I am driven to pay it forward by fostering leadership, innovation, and meaningful impact. I am committed to using this platform to create opportunities for the next generation of women leaders.​

Ajibola Bolanle - Mentorship Lead 

Oxford Said Business School | 2024 Cohort

Ajibola is an infrastructure investment specialist at the Nigerian Sovereign Wealth Fund, with previous experience as a management consultant at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). Passionate about advancing infrastructure development in Nigeria and across Africa, she has dedicated her career to social impact and economic growth, particularly in infrastructure financing. With a background in economics, her long-term goal is to drive sustainable finance and capital mobilization for infrastructure projects across the continent. She believes that an Oxford degree, alongside the prestigious Laidlaw Scholarship, will provide her with the expertise, networks, and resources to expand her impact.​

Divya Chaurasia - Mentorship Lead 

London Business School | 2023 Cohort

I am Divya, a Laidlaw Scholar pursuing MBA at the London Business School. I am the first person in my entire family and amongst the first in my hometown to pursue an education abroad. My mother's journey of raising me and my brother as a single parent has been my source of inspiration and power. I aspire to make her and many like her proud. I am excited to be a part of the Women in Business Board and I hope I can create an impact.