• Dr. Bijna K. Dasani Follows Amitabh Bachchan’s Footsteps : Youngest Indian Woman to be Awarded Honorary Doctorate by De Montfort University (DMU)
Mumbai, July 31, 2018 : Dr. Bijna K. Dasani (aged 33), Head of Architecture and Innovation at the UK’s largest Banking Group, Lloyds, has been awarded with an Honorary Doctorate by the prestigious De Montfort University on 21st July. Bijna is the youngest woman to be felicitated thus by the same University which has also honored Indian achievers to include Amitabh Bachchan and Gurinder Chadha as well as Nelson Mandela – with the same honor they have bestowed upon Bijna.
Bijna’s contribution to the Business World through her lenses on Strategy and Innovation, together with her relentless contribution to social responsibility since she joined DMU as an undergraduate in 2002, has earned her a meteoric rise professionally, and this felicitation. She has been honored by her industry globally, academic institutions nationally, and the media as catalyst for change and her thought-leadership.
Overwhelmed to receive the honorary from her alma mater through a spectacular ceremony in Leicester, UK, she spoke of her strong connection to DMU’s alumni family: “The family that is a global network across 177 countries; it is the invisible thread of connectivity that binds us together to the incredible DMU family – past, present and future” and offered this advice to graduates: “Education ultimately makes you the master of your own destiny and the change-maker of the future for humanity – Know and respect that you have the power to influence and shape the planet.”
“As you graduates move into the world to make your mark – as one shining star on this planet of seven billion people – you too will appreciate the wonderful staff who helped you to become you – without you even realising. I cannot quantify with simple words what this institution has done for me, but I can share a heartfelt sentiment; the people that make this the centre of excellence it rightly is, are simply amazing,” she added.
Graduates from De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) were urged to become masters of their own destiny in the inspiring acceptance speech by Honorary Doctor of Business Administration Bijna K. Dasani.
As a DMU graduate herself, she has done just that with an incredible career at the intersection of Financial Services and Technology, which has taken her to more than 30 countries across five continents, bringing her ethos of social impact, inclusion and diversity to the fields of business.
About Bijna :
Bijna has a robust track record of delivering strategic, innovation and complex transformation successes for global Financial Services firms, across products, asset classes and markets. Bijna influences to deliver and build high performing teams.
Bijna serves the Boards of CIO Net, the IPQC CDO Exchange Series, and the Inclusive Companies Network. She is a FinTech mentor and films videos on Mentorship, Leadership & Technology; she’s a co-presenter for the Women in Business TV series.
Bijna is a Fellow of the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA), a Leadership Fellow at St. George’s House, Windsor Castle and an Associate Member of Oriel College, University of Oxford.
Bijna advises and advocates for a diversified portfolio of Business, Data & Technology, Social Impact, I&D causes. She has spoken to global audiences (37+ countries) at Millennial Board London, Deloitte, Edinburgh DataFest, Amazon, Sky, IPQC CDO Exchange, Lloyds Banking Group, University of Oxford, Imperial College London, De Montfort University, Appway, CIO NEXT, Bloomberg and other. She serves as a Host / Judge / Speaker for a portfolio of events and awards.
Bijna has been recognised for her contributions with an Honorary Doctorate by De Montfort University (2018), the Lloyds Banking Group Ethnicity Role Models List (2018) and by felicitation at the House of Lords (UK), at the NRI World Summit (2017) for ‘making India proud’. Bijna is credited as one of the Top 50 Visionary Young Leaders in Business, by Henley Business School (2017), one of 35 leading British business women under 35, by Management Today, Accenture and The Telegraph (2015) a Rising Star by We Are the City (2013) and has received recognition with nine further honours including the National Diversity Awards (2012) and the Asian Women of Achievement Awards (2010). Bijna is also the International Women’s Day Young Achiever of the Year (2006).
