Kinza Athar: From startup founder to Forté scholar

About

Name: Kinza Athar

Nationality: British

Programme: MBA 2025

Education: MA Chemistry, University of Leicester

Pre-MBA role: Strategy Consultant, Accenture

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Kinza Athar.

Kinza is the recipient of the the Forté Foundation Fellowship.

What led you to choose the Cambridge MBA? 

My decision to pursue the Cambridge MBA was driven by its unique position at the intersection of tradition, innovation and impact. Cambridge is not only a world-class academic institution but also a thriving hub and a rich ecosystem of startups, investors and innovators. It offers an unparalleled environment for someone like me, an entrepreneur determined to build ventures that create both commercial value and positive societal change. 

What has been your biggest career accomplishment so far? 

Launching my functional snacking startup has been the most transformative milestone of my career. I had a clear vision for the brand,  from its positioning, branding, storytelling to its market strategy  and was humbled to see it gain early traction, with my LinkedIn posts going viral and attracting global distributors, including from the GCC region, most notably Kuwait.  The venture was further accelerated when we gained acceptance into prestigious global accelerators, securing funding and mentorship that helped scale the business further.  

Building the business from the ground up required me to navigate complex challenges in logistics and distribution, especially in international markets. Yet, each obstacle sharpened my entrepreneurial mindset, strengthened my resilience and expanded my strategic toolkit. 

For me, launching this startup was never just about creating another snack brand, it was about sparking a movement. Our mission has always been to empower people with the knowledge and tools to make healthier, more informed choices in their daily lives. Seeing the brand grow and touch consumers in this way has been incredibly rewarding and has fuelled my ambition to continue creating ventures that drive meaningful impact on a global scale. 

How do you feel about receiving your scholarship? 

I am honoured to have been awarded the Forté Fellowship. This recognition affirms my journey as a woman entrepreneur and leader. Throughout my career, I have witnessed the persistent disparity in opportunities, perceptions and outcomes across genders in entrepreneurship. Receiving this scholarship strengthens my resolve to challenge those barriers and to champion greater equity in business. 

At Cambridge, I am excited to create an encouraging and energising space for women who are navigating their own entrepreneurial paths. I hope to foster open dialogue, share lessons from my own ventures and build a community that celebrates ambition, resilience and bold ideas. For me, the Forté Fellowship is not only a personal milestone but also a call to action,  to use my voice, experiences and platform to help more women see themselves as founders, leaders and change-makers. 

What do you hope to gain from the MBA over the next year? 

Over the next year, the Cambridge MBA will be my catalyst for transformation, fuelling my ambition to become a visionary leader. I aim to immerse myself fully in the Cambridge ecosystem, broadening my network, sharpening my entrepreneurial toolkit and challenging myself to think and act on a truly global scale. One of my priorities is to deepen my knowledge of entrepreneurial journey. By choosing the Entrepreneurship Concentration, I will explore the many dimensions of entrepreneurship, from social enterprises to venture-funded startups, while gaining practical experience, testing ideas and navigating funding strategies. 

I am particularly excited to get involved with the King’s Entrepreneurship Lab and use it as a launchpad to test and refine new ventures. Beyond academics, I want to surround myself with ambitious, visionary peers and mentors whose perspectives will stretch my own. 

Where do you see the MBA taking you in your future career? 

The Cambridge MBA represents a pivotal chapter in my journey to redefine impact in the world of business. Having honed my strategic acumen in consulting, I’m eager to channel the rigorous analytical skills and global perspectives gained from my career into the dynamic realms of entrepreneurship and venture capital. The MBA is my catalyst for transformation. A platform to blend my consulting expertise with the innovative frameworks and diverse networks offered by Cambridge to forge a path as a visionary leader. 

My ambition is to launch or scale ventures that address pressing global challenges, potentially in FMCG, luxury goods, or tech, though I remain open to exploring uncharted territories. I am equally drawn to venture capital, where I can empower bold entrepreneurs to bring transformative ideas to life.  

While I hold a clear vision for my post-MBA trajectory, I am very much open to the serendipity of opportunity that the Cambridge ecosystem fosters. The MBA will undoubtedly open doors to unexpected collaborations, inspiring me to embrace the unknown with confidence and curiosity.  

What does Cambridge mean to you? 

Cambridge is more than an institution; it’s a vibrant tapestry of intellect, ambition and legacy that resonates deeply with my aspirations as a leader and changemaker. To me, Cambridge represents an incubator of innovation, where centuries of academic excellence converge with a forward-thinking ethos to shape the future. 

As a Forté Scholar, I see Cambridge as a beacon of empowerment, a place where I am challenged to push boundaries, refine my vision and lead with authenticity and courage. 

Something few people know about you… 

I have interviewed for the TV show, The Apprentice. 

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