Reaching New Heights in Tribute to Her Grandfather: Dr Shreya Jajoo (MiM 2016) Empowers Aspiring Female Leaders with Access to Global Experiences

"It's lonely at the top if you grow alone." 

Throughout her career and life, this quote by Dr Shreya Jajoo (MiM 2016)’s late grandfather, Mr Ram Kishan Jajoo, has deeply shaped her values and approach to life. As an entrepreneur and researcher on women's leadership and governance, giving back has always been a driving force behind Shreya’s journey, whether it is through mentoring, supporting causes that she cares about, or helping others navigate opportunities. 

The year marks a significant milestone for Shreya. Aside from it being the 10th anniversary since she graduated from Singapore Management University (SMU), it also marks the first year that she will be celebrating her birthday alone without her grandfather, with whom she shares the same birthday on August 19. 

Wanting to commemorate this occasion with a meaningful gesture, Shreya has established the Jajoo Udaan SMU-X Overseas Exposure Grant with the intention of supporting aspiring female SMU students in pursuing overseas opportunities. Inspired by the Hindi word udaan, which means “reaching new heights”, the grant reflects Shreya’s aspiration for the fund recipients: that they’re able to access cross-border academic experiences, enriching cultural exposure, and independence without financial worry, just as her grandfather opened this path for her. 

One of Shreya’s fondest memories of her dadaji, as she affectionately calls him, is the long Sunday walks they used to take whenever he visited. He would often regale her with stories about different countries, cultures, and ways of life, and these stories would then go on to shape Shreya’s perspective of the world. They taught her that the world is filled with opportunities and experiences, and one should approach it with curiosity and wonder. 

Aside from the Sunday walks, Shreya also remembers her grandfather as a kind person who gave without expecting recognition in return. As someone who spent his life working internationally in pursuit of his entrepreneurial aspirations, Ram Kishan was not just remembered for his personal achievements, but also for his generosity, warmth, and optimism. Believing strongly in creating opportunities for others, Ram Kishan has supported girls’ schools, mentored those in need, and helped others to build their businesses and careers. 

The Jajoo Udaan SMU-X Overseas Exposure Grant is both an extension of those Sunday walks and a tribute to Ram Kishan’s legacy. 

Without the influence of her grandfather, Shreya’s path in life may have turned out differently, and she remains incredibly grateful to him for pushing her to pursue an education at SMU. It was at SMU where she experienced growth that will ultimately mould her to become who she is today. The consistent challenges and moments of discomfort that she faced during her journey here have left a lasting impact on her and helped her learn that talent itself is not enough. What matters equally is access to networks, experiences, and opportunities. 

She envisions that through the fund, it can help to address this existing gap for aspiring female leaders in SMU. By providing a pathway for them to access learning beyond the classroom without financial worries, she hopes that the fund will provide recipients with the confidence to approach future opportunities with greater ambition, perspective, and self-belief, and to return from these experiences feeling that the world is bigger, more accessible, and full of possibilities they are capable of pursuing. 

To students and potential recipients of the grant, Shreya has one piece of advice: “Adopt a ‘yes, and’ mindset in life. Be willing to ask one more question, meet one more person, or explore one more idea. One question leads to another, one introduction leads to a new perspective, and one experience opens doors to many more. You never know which conversation, experience, or insight will change the trajectory of your journey.” 

To find out more about how you can establish your own grant, study award, or scholarship, please email us at giving@smu.edu.sg