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School of Business student Larisa Topalo is one of the 12 young women worldwide to receive the Jane M. Klausman Women in Business Award. The scholarship, valued at $7,000, is awarded annually by Zonta International to outstanding young women who have excelled in their academic and professional pursuits in business and demonstrated potential to become international leaders.

Larisa is pursuing an MSc in Corporate Communication and a CEMS International Management degree, which she will complete in Spring of 2015 at HEC Paris, France. Larisa speaks 3 languages and has lived, travelled, worked and volunteered in 32 countries on four continents.

"I'm incredibly honoured to receive this award. I've had the privilege of working with smart, successful, driven women who have inspired me to always strive to be the best version of myself. This global award from Zonta International is an immense support and recognition and I hope that through my work I can in turn inspire others to dream and achieve", says Larisa.

In addition to an exceptional academic record, Larisa is cited for her commitment to global leadership and professional excellence, with experience in both public and the private sector and volunteer work in Peru and in Germany. During her time as a student at Aalto, she has also won the Creative Student of the Year Award, landing a prize business trip to Shanghai with sponsoring company Rovio.
 
"Aalto University has given me an amazing range of opportunities to grow. I've been the president of the Communications student club, I'm pursuing an international double degree with an exchange to Paris next year and I've been able to garner awards and a job placement over the summer because of the education I am receiving here. I'm very grateful", tells Larisa.

In earlier years, two of School of Business Corporate Communications / IBC students have applied and received lower level scholarships, and about 10 years ago a student from our School of Economics won this global Award.