Equitech Alumni win prestigious Chevening scholarship to pursue their masters in the United Kingdom

By Anodya Mishra

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Clinton Manoti from the Applied Data Institute 2022, Mohammed Mohammed from the Applied Data Institute 2023, and Riffat Ashrafee from Civic Tech Institute 2023 were recently awarded the Chevening Scholarship to study in the United Kingdom. We sat down for a conversation with the three Equitech scholars, asking them about their journey, their time at Equitech Futures, and their future plans. 

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Can you walk us through your experience with the Chevening application process? How long did it take, what challenges did you face, and how did you overcome them?

Mohammed: This was my second time applying for the Chevening Scholarship. After not being selected last year, I decided to try again. Over that year, I gained significant work experience, which I believe made my profile stand out more. I co-founded a company in Sudan, participated in the Young African Leaders Initiative, completed the Applied Data Institute with Equitech Futures, and worked as a research fellow—all of which strengthened my application. So, for me, the journey to Chevening was much longer than the actual application process itself. Now that it’s paid off, it feels surreal.

Clinton: The entire Chevening process took about a year, start to finish. I remember applying in August 2023, and now, a year later, everything has finally settled. My biggest challenge was mustering the confidence to apply for such a prestigious scholarship. After completing my undergraduate studies, I had no intention of pursuing further education, but life has a way of surprising you. Equitech’s Applied Data Institute was my first introduction to data science, and now I’m heading to the UK for a master’s in the same field.

Riffat: I believe it took me close to a month to submit my application. I worked multiple times on my drafts. Having worked in the international development space for a few years now, it was easy to come up with examples and content for my essays. However, I have always seen my projects as part of a larger effort, driven by the talented teams I have managed. Thus, highlighting my individual contributions in applications was challenging, but I overcame this by finding a balance. I saw it as an opportunity to celebrate the diverse projects and the incredible people I have led.

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When you received your acceptance letter, what was your first reaction? What were you feeling?

Clinton: We knew the results would be announced sometime around the end of June, so I was mentally prepared. When I received the email notification from Chevening, I immediately put my phone down and tried to compose myself. I was so nervous. I told myself that I had done my best and was ready for whatever the outcome. When I finally opened the email, I saw the words, “we are delighted to inform you,” and before I even read the word “accepted,” I knew it was good news. It took me a full 24 hours to really process it—I'm a Chevener now. My mom was thrilled when I told her, and my friends called to congratulate me. It was an incredible day.

Mohammed: I completely relate to Clinton’s experience. When I received the email, I saw the subject “Chevening Application: Action Needed”, and I had a hunch this was an acceptance letter. I had applied for the scholarship last year, so I knew that rejection letters don’t say “action needed”. But I had to read the entire email three times to actually believe it. Truth be told, I wasn’t expecting to get accepted because there were some issues during my interview. 

Riffat: Upon receiving the acceptance letter I was absolutely elated. However, the situation in my country, Bangladesh, was quite critical politically and many of my friends and family were affected. So I could not help feeling emotionally overwhelmed with what comes next.

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Could you tell us more about the interview experience? 

Mohammed: During my interview, the call suddenly dropped, and I lost my internet connection. That’s when I realized my data pack had expired. I rushed to the nearest supermarket, bought a new pack, and logged back in, hoping the panel was still there—and thankfully, they were. By that time, I was understandably nervous, and I don’t remember much of the rest of the interview, but in the end, everything worked out.

Clinton: That sounds very stressful and unnerving, but I am so glad it worked out for you! During my interview, I relied heavily on advice from Thomas Murray. He had taught us, “You only need to take care of the small box on the screen through which you’re presenting yourself.” So, I kept a calm demeanor on my face, but under the table, I was clenching my fist from nervousness. As the interview progressed, I started to feel more comfortable, and I believe I did well. Many of the questions they asked were ones I had already prepared for—I had created a 15-page document with potential questions and answers.

Riffat: I really enjoyed my interview. I went through Chevening's resource hub for interview preparation, which was very helpful in my preparation. Many Cheveners also have their own YouTube channels where they've shared their interview experience thoroughly - hearing from them also helped me prepare. Finally, I spoke to some former scholars, who gave me some additional information. The interview felt like just another job interview - a very good one! I  always end up having a very productive conversation in my interviews, and I'm really glad my Chevening interview experience was no exception in that regard.

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Clinton and Mohammed, both of you were part of the Applied Data Institute in different years, and then went on to work with Equitech Futures in different roles. What role did Equitech play in your success?

Mohammed: Equitech supported me every step of the way during the application process. Abhilash Mishra wrote me a strong recommendation that really boosted my application. Krittika Bhattacharjee took the time to carefully review my essays, and Thomas helped me prepare for the interview. Beyond the faculty, the alumni community was also incredibly supportive. I spoke with Riedwaan Fakier, a Civic Tech Scholar from 2023, who offered me valuable advice. 

Clinton: Being a part of the Applied Data Institute was one of the most rewarding experiences. I was surrounded by brilliant faculty and peers. I had peers like Maria Clarissa Fionalita, Raunaq Jain, and Mitchell Odili in my class, all of whom were so passionate about their work and making a difference in their field. After graduating from the program, I co-founded NawiriTech with Andrew Kimani and Apollinaire Abi, both Equitech alumni. It’s been two years since that, and it has been the most fulfilling journey. The support we received from Equitech in founding and running the company in these last two years has given us a solid foundation. Even before the Chevening application, Equitech Futures was instrumental in my growth.

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Riffat, you were part of the Civic Tech Institute. How would you describe Equitech Future’s role in your success?

Riffat: I definitely drew inspiration for going back to academia and enrolling in a Masters program after my Civic Tech Institute (CTI) experience. I had been thinking of taking a pause from my full time practitioner life and diving deeper into some intellectual soul searching for a while, and I would say CTI gave me enough food for thought to solidify my decision. After the program, when I got to interact with faculty in person, it was a major turning point. I spoke to Abhilash regarding some of my research ideas, and he wasn't just supportive but also shared important suggestions. Krittika's writing lab was a key reminder for me that there is only one way to get over my writer's block - and that is simply to write more. And I kept reminding myself of this note (often with Krittika's voice in my head!) whenever I'd find myself staring at a blank section in the application. And finally, the Community Action Lab classes were my most favorite. And I could write an essay about how much I've learnt from Thomas! The most important one is that he has really influenced me in how I view myself and others positively, especially in difficult situations; how I perceive debates and deliberations. This absolutely impacted how I shaped my application narratives.

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What are your plans after completing your master's? Do you have any specific goals or aspirations?

Riffat: After my Masters, my goal is to leverage the experience gained during my studies and contribute further to the development of evidence-based policies and interventions in digitisation efforts to prioritize verified service delivery for vulnerable populations in humanitarian crises. Additionally, I envision actively contributing to the formulation and implementation of ethical digital policies that prioritize inclusion through addressing issues on racial bias and gender inequality.

Mohammed: I am pursuing a master’s in Business Analytics because I want to return to Sudan or the Middle East and continue building my company. Business consulting is still relatively new in these regions, and there’s a wealth of data that small businesses don’t yet know how to leverage. However, after my experience at Equitech Futures, both as a scholar and a research fellow, I’ve also developed a strong interest in research. Currently, I work with Measuring Carbon, a venture under Equitech Futures, as a research fellow, and I see great potential in their work. I’d like to continue in that direction as well. Initially, I focused mainly on business problems, but my work with Measuring Carbon has sparked a growing interest in the climate space.

Clinton: I love Kenya, and I know I want to return home after my studies. I’ve always been deeply connected to my roots—I enjoy watching the 9 pm news, looking around, and thinking about the various challenges we face. My goal is to use the knowledge and experience I gain from my master’s to make a positive impact in Kenya, particularly in poverty alleviation and overall development. I’m also committed to growing NawiriTech with my co-founders, and we’re determined to expand our company’s impact. While the methods or path I take may change over time, my overall goal will remain the same.

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Clinton will begin his  masters in data science at the University of Aberdeen, Mohammed will go to pursue his masters in business analytics at the University of Birmingham, and Riffat is set to start her masters in development studies at the University of Cambridge. We congratulate them on this achievement and wish them all the very best.