Gian Brizzolara, a Bocconi Student among the Schwarzman Scholars
THE MSC IN INTERNATIONAL MANAGEMENT STUDENT IS ONE OF THE 142 YOUNGSTERS SELECTED AMONG 4,000 APPLICANTS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM AT TSINGHUA UNIVERSITYGian Marco Brizzolara, a student of Bocconi’s MSc in International Management, is one of the 142 students, selected from over 4,000 applicants to participate in Schwarzman Scholars, the one-year Master’s degree program in Global Affairs at Tsinghua University in Beijing. Stephen A. Schwarzman, Chairman, CEO and Co-Founder of Blackstone, has personally donated $100mln to this effort and is leading a campaign to raise $300 million more to fully endow the program.
The program, focused on China’s role in global trends and on personal leadership, is taught in English in the newly-built Schwarzman College, inside the Tsinghua Campus.
The construction of the new college was the talk of the town, a couple of years ago, when Gian went to Beijing to meet two friends who were in Beijing for an exchange. “I collected some information and the project immediately attracted my attention”, Gian Brizzolara says. “In a few years, China will overtake the US and it is essential to well understand this country”.
"The selection process was very intense and I started drafting my application back in April. Particularly the three essays that were required consumed a lot of time. Fortunately, many friends, including ones from Bocconi, supported me. I was lucky to meet Martina Fuchs, the only foreign moderator at CCTV, the largest Chinese television channel, at the St. Gallen Symposium, as she helped me with my application video”, Gian says, referring to his participation, as one of the selected “Leaders of Tomorrow”, at the 47th St. Gallen Symposium last May.
“After submitting the application”, the student explains, “I was invited to an interview day in Singapore. The fact that the interview took place in front of a panel of 6 highly distinguished interviewers including leaders from business, diplomacy and government, was very unique. I found the questions quite critical and challenging so that I had severe doubts that I would be admitted. Thus, when I received the positive news I was very surprised. I am really looking forward to studying as a Schwarzman Scholar from next year. I want to particularly thank Bocconi, which provides me with a world-class education and opportunities, for instance with the Double Degree in India I am currently pursuing, which definitely enhanced my chances”.
by Fabio Todesco
