LUMS Graduate Named McCall MacBain Scholarship Finalist

Hamza Ashfaq, a 2020 BSc Accounting & Finance graduate from LUMS, has been named a finalist for the prestigious McCall MacBain Scholarships at McGill University. He is among 88 top candidates worldwide competing for a spot in the programme’s fifth cohort. Final interviews will take place in Montreal this March.

The McCall MacBain Scholarships are Canada’s largest leadership-based awards for master’s and professional studies. Thousands of students and graduates applied for the scholarship. The top 279 advanced to regional interviews with local leaders in October and November, and 88 finalists earned a spot in the final round. Of these, 52 are from Quebec and Canada, while 36 hail from abroad.

Reflecting on this achievement, Hamza shared, “It feels great to have made it this far in such a competitive selection process and to represent my country on an international stage. This is a fantastic opportunity to connect with talented individuals in the cohort and draw inspiration from them to build inclusive communities.”

Finalists will travel to Montreal for interviews with distinguished leaders from academia, business, government, and the social sector. Following the final selection process, up to 30 McCall MacBain Scholars will be chosen, while those not selected may still receive awards of $10,000 or $20,000.

Speaking about his motivation to apply, Hamza said, “McGill has been a dream university for graduate education, and the thought of taking my best shot led me to the application page. I had moments of self-doubt while investing heavily in the process, but my experience playing basketball taught me that I will miss 100% of the shots I don’t take. That belief helped me persist.”

Hamza credited LUMS for shaping his aspirations and preparing him for this opportunity. “LUMS played a crucial role in shaping my career. The ability to take courses outside the business school broadened my perspective on using business as a force for positive change. Studying public policy, education, entrepreneurship, and social sciences empowered and helped me explore the intersection of business and development. That push led me to start my career in impact investing.”

Discussing his long-term goals, he added, “I aim to leverage my business education and impact investing experience to become a social entrepreneur. This scholarship is invaluable because it grants me access to hands-on business education and resources at McGill that would otherwise be financially out of reach. It also connects me with inspiring individuals and helps build a strong network essential for success in my chosen career path.”