Nils Igelström, Yolanda Mthembu, and Konstantinos Vandikas receive the SSE MBA Carl Silfvén scholarship 2026
Nils Igelström, Yolanda Mthembu, and Konstantinos Vandikas have been awarded the SSE MBA Carl Silfvén scholarship for 2026. The scholarship is presented to the next generation of leaders to promote the competitiveness of Swedish-based businesses in the international market. They are grateful for the many new opportunities the scholarship provides.
The SSE MBA Carl Silfvén scholarship is funded by the Carl Silfvén Foundation, established in accordance with the will of Carl Silfvén from 1914. The scholarship covers the full tuition fee of SEK 645,000 for the SSE MBA Executive Format program.
Nils Igelström, Managing Director at GAC Sweden AB
The jury's motivation for the award:
For his exceptional leadership, professionalism, and ability to build trust and bring out the best in others. Nils combines strong business judgment and a long-term perspective with a drive to challenge established practices and improve operational performance. Through his dedication, integrity, and commitment to openness and collaboration, he leads by example and inspires those around him.
Nils has the necessary qualities to effectively promote Sweden and contribute to the competitiveness of Swedish-based business in the international market. His extensive experience, and leadership qualities, make Nils an outstanding and worthy recipient of the SSE MBA Carl Silfvén scholarship.
“Receiving the SSE MBA Carl Silfvén Scholarship is a tremendous honour, and I am deeply grateful to the Carl Silfvén Foundation for this opportunity. I would also like to warmly thank the Stockholm School of Economics for the care and commitment they have shown me throughout the process. Even though my career has been mostly spent in the Swedish shipping industry, studying at SSE has always been a parallel dream, so being able to unite the two feels truly exciting. I also see the jury’s choice as a recognition of the vital role shipping plays in our daily lives, from delivering the goods we depend on to the ripple effects we all feel when global shipping lanes are disrupted. I look forward to developing my skills in leadership, finance and AI, and to bringing those insights back to the industry to help strengthen the competitiveness of Swedish shipping on the international stage.”
Yolanda Mthembu, Associate Director, Global Project Mangement at AstraZeneca
The jury's motivation for the award:
For her outstanding leadership, resilience, and ability to turn complex challenges into successful outcomes. Yolanda combines strategic thinking and operational excellence with a remarkable ability to build trust, inspire collaboration, and bring out the best in others. With curiosity, determination, and a strong sense of purpose, she drives innovation and progress in the development of new medicines for patients.
Yolanda has the necessary qualities to effectively promote Sweden and contribute to the competitiveness of Swedish-based business in the international market. His extensive experience, and leadership qualities, make Nils an outstanding and worthy recipient of the SSE MBA Carl Silfvén scholarship.
“Some opportunities open doors, others transform lives. Being awarded the Carl Silfvén Scholarship to pursue an Executive MBA at the Stockholm School of Economics is both. I am profoundly grateful for this belief in my potential and humbled by the responsibility it carries. More than support for my education, it is an investment in the leader I aspire to become and the impact I hope to create. I accept this honour with gratitude, purpose, and a commitment to learn, grow, and serve. I will strive to honour this gift through purposeful leadership, lifelong learning, and meaningful impact. Your confidence in me is both inspiring and humbling, and I hope to repay that trust through excellence, service, and leadership far beyond the classroom.”
Konstantinos Vandikas, Principal Researcher at Ericsson
The jury's motivation for the award:
For his outstanding expertise in AI and telecommunications, his ability to transform innovative ideas into valuable products, and his strong technical leadership. Konstantinos combines curiosity, determination, and humility with a remarkable ability to inspire and mentor others.
Konstantinos has the necessary qualities to effectively promote Sweden and contribute to the competitiveness of Swedish-based business in the international market. His extensive experience, and leadership qualities, make Nils an outstanding and worthy recipient of the SSE MBA Carl Silfvén scholarship.
"As the recipient of the SSE MBA Carl Silfvén Scholarship, I am honoured and sincerely grateful to the foundation for its trust. My career so far has been about turning ideas into inventions. The SSE MBA will help me take the next step: transforming innovation into strategic and commercial value at scale. I look forward to building the business, financial, and leadership skills needed to help Sweden stay at the forefront of AI and 6G. This scholarship strengthens my commitment to bridging research and business, to leading with curiosity and responsibility, and to carrying Swedish engineering excellence onto the global stage.”
For further information about the SSE MBA Carl Silfvén scholarship, please read here.
