Lea Christine Peter, a Master's student of International Business Studies at the Faculty of Business Administration and Economics at Paderborn University, was honoured with the Schmalenbach Scholarship from the Schmalenbach Foundation at the 78th German Business Management Conference. This award recognises her outstanding academic achievements and social commitment.
"During my courses, I have come to know Ms Peter as an extremely committed, inquisitive student who is keen to engage in discussion and who goes above and beyond the usual level of involvement in professional discourse," explains Prof Dr Michael Ebert, who recommended the student for the scholarship. The Schmalenbach Scholarship provides Ms Peter with financial support and offers her the opportunity to take part in the exclusive activities of the Schmalenbach Society for Business Administration.
After completing her Bachelor's degree in International Business Studies, Lea Christine Peter continued her studies with a Master's degree and gained international experience in Austria and Spain. Her many awards and commitments - including the e-fellows scholarship and the Deutschlandstipendium - underline her impressive career.
Speaking about her motivation for applying for the Schmalenbach Scholarship, she says: "I hoped that the scholarship would enable me to make valuable contacts in business research and business practice and gain insights into various working groups. I am not only aiming to consolidate my professional orientation after completing my Master's degree, but also to actively contribute to the exchange of knowledge and cross-industry networking between universities and practice."
In addition to her studies, Lea Christine Peter has been involved in the non-profit association Haarzell-Leukämie-Hilfe e.V. since 2024, where she uses her knowledge of economics to help improve the lives of cancer patients and their relatives. She receives a lot of gratitude for her work in the organisation - a motivation that drives her forward.
The next steps are already planned: In autumn, the scholarship holder will begin a three-month internship in auditing at KPMG in Frankfurt am Main, followed by another internship at Deutsche Bundesbank in the field of banking supervision. "After my anticipated Master's degree in autumn 2025, I will then look for a challenging position in the business world or an exciting PhD topic," she says, giving an insight into her future career.
Prof Dr Ebert is convinced: "Ms Peter will use the freedom that a Schmalenbach Scholarship gives her in an exemplary manner for personal development and to achieve outstanding academic performance."
The Schmalenbach Foundation, which has set itself the task of supporting students who are qualified in their field and socially committed, currently has 85 active scholarship holders and around 600 alumni. Lea Christine Peter not only benefits from financial support, but also from a unique network that will accompany her on her future career path.
