Three from MIT named 2025-26 Schwarzman Scholars
Andrii Zahorodnii ’24, Yutao Gong MBA/SM ‘25, and Brandon Man SM ‘25 were granted scholarships to study global affairs at Tsinghua University.
On Jan. 15, the Schwarzman Scholars Program announced its tenth cohort, including three from MIT. Scholars pursue a fully funded, one-year master’s degree at Tsinghua University in Beijing, China. Per the scholarship’s website, the Schwarzman Scholars Program is intended to create leaders and form “global relationships that can be activated over a lifetime.”
MIT-affiliated awardees were Andrii Zahorodnii ‘24, Yutao Gong MBA/SM ‘25, and Brandon Man SM ‘25. Zahorodnii will graduate with concurrent SB and MEng degrees in Course 6-9 (Computation and Cognition).
At MIT, Zahorodnii has pursued research in both neural networks and cognitive science at the MetaConsciousness Group and Fiete Lab, as well as founding the Ukraine Leadership and Technology Academy. Before coming to MIT, Gong studied at Duke University and worked at the Boston Consulting Group (BCG). She is pursuing two master’s degrees in the Sloan School of Management and Course 1 (Civil-Environmental Engineering) as a Leaders for Global Operations (LGO) fellow. Man is a master’s student in Course 2 (Mechanical Engineering) and the cofounder of the startup Sequestor, which describes itself as the “data engine for carbon markets.” These three students will join 147 others representing 38 countries.
Thoughts from an awardee:
Over email, Gong answered The Tech’s questions about the Schwarzman Scholarship application process, her thoughts on receiving the scholarship, and goals as a scholar. Answers have been edited lightly for clarity.
TT: What was the application process like for this scholarship? Why did you choose to apply?
Gong: The application process is different for Chinese passport holders versus other countries. I hold a Chinese passport. It includes two main essays (one about leadership, and the other is a personal statement), short essays, a one-minute video introduction, and recommendation letters among other miscellaneous stuff. This application was due in mid-May 2024.
Then, they flew around 100 people to Tsinghua in early July for an in-person interview—each person has 25 minutes with a panel of around seven interviewers, then a luncheon to socialize with interviewers and other candidates. We also stayed a night at the college. We found out the results in late August.
I grew up in China but have mainly been spending time in the U.S. since college—I would love to learn more about the issues this country is currently facing as it's my motherland, especially together with like-minded peers with different backgrounds. The Schwarzman Scholarship feels like the perfect opportunity to do so.
TT: How did you feel when you learned you were chosen for this award?
Gong: Honestly, a mix of feelings—very excited because it's a competitive program and there are many aspects of it I very much look forward to, but I also felt a sense of uncertainty. I am in the middle of my MBA program, and still feel unsure about what I want to do in the long run. Moving back to China for a year after I have built a network here (not only professional connections but also great friends, some of whom mean a tremendous lot to me) feels like a leap of faith. On top of that, I still plan to return to the U.S. after the program for work, but my eligibility to work (visa, etc) will be less certain compared to starting work in the U.S. right after graduation.
What eased this uncertainty to some extent is hope from the long-term perspective—having spent so much time in China and the U.S., I am certain that my ultimate career/life trajectory will be somewhere between the two countries, or if I'm lucky, bridging the two countries. I am confident that being a Schwarzman Scholar will lay an important and firm foundation for me to achieve my long-term goal, which probably outweighs the short-term hassles. Similarly, for personal relationships—a lifelong relationship should be able to withstand one year of separation!
TT: What do you hope to accomplish as a Schwarzman Scholar, and how does this feed into your long-term goals? How has your time at MIT or beforehand contributed to these goals?
Gong: I am very passionate about sustainable development, particularly energy transition. I worked at BCG for three years before coming to MIT as an LGO fellow, so my approach to this issue is predominantly from the business perspective, but both the project work at BCG and classes I've taken at MIT have made me realize that government and regulation plays a huge part in the energy transition. I want to equip myself with knowledge in business, technology, and policy—BCG and MIT helped me achieve the first two, and I hope I will achieve the third at Schwarzman.
In addition, I have had ample exposure to the manufacturing and industrials sector from both projects at BCG and the LGO program—I think this sector will play a huge role in achieving sustainable development in the future, and I'm grateful to have had the chance to build lots of connections and some extent of expertise in this sector.
TT: Do you have any advice for students interested in this scholarship?
Gong: Don't be intimidated by a rejection! This is my second time applying.