By: Daniel Fusch
A Bangladeshi scholar, Yeasmin Islam, has received the prestigious Culver’s Foundation Scholarship for 2025 from Scholarship America to pursue her Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) at Ottawa University in Kansas.
The Kansas-based Ottawa University distinguishes itself through its student-centered model, which unites academic excellence with individual development. The university provides students with personalized attention through its small class sizes and committed faculty members who work in a supportive environment that values personal growth. The university develops leadership skills, career readiness, and service through practical learning experiences and community involvement.
Ms. Yeasmin’s current GPA is 4.0 as she pursues her doctoral studies in the fields of HR strategy, leadership, organizational development, and sustainable business practices. Ms. Yeasmin’s achievement is a testament to her academic excellence and her ability to apply scholarly research to solve real-world problems.
The late Mr. Mohammad Nurul Islam, a former government officer from Chandpur, Bangladesh, and the late Parveen Begum of Narsingdi, Bangladesh, are the parents of Ms. Yeasmin, a proud daughter of public service who has now become a global business leader and researcher.
Academic and Professional Footprint Across Continents
She graduated with high distinction in BBA in Management Studies and an MBA in Human Resources Management from the University of Dhaka. She has a teaching and research career spanning ten years, during which she served as an Assistant Professor at United International University (UIU) and Northern University Bangladesh (NUB) in Dhaka, where she taught various business subjects.
In her academic papers, Ms. Islam has published eight papers in refereed journals and five papers in international conferences in the United Kingdom, Malaysia, Australia, and Bangladesh. She is researching various vital issues, including financial inclusion, tourism development, and environmental sustainability, to develop economic development frameworks for emerging markets.
Scholar-Practitioner with Real-World Business Leadership
Ms. Yeasmin is currently working as the Manager of Training and Development at Culver’s by Mitchell Private Holding LLC in Kansas, United States. Culver’s operates as a fast-casual restaurant chain that serves ButterBurgers alongside fresh frozen custard and Wisconsin cheese curds. The company established its first location in Wisconsin in 1984 and now operates more than 1,000 restaurants throughout the United States. The company distinguishes itself through its customized food preparation, welcoming staff, and commitment to neighborhood relationships.
She leverages her expertise to optimize operational efficiency and devise effective HR strategies, ultimately driving business growth. She is proficient in four languages: Bengali, English, Hindi, and Urdu, which enables her to work with diverse people from all over the world.
She also holds certifications in SPSS, STATA, R programming, and business intelligence platforms, which she utilizes in both academic research and business analytics.
She also earned certifications in Outstanding and Defensive Driving from Johnson County Community College in Kansas City.
Recognition and Vision for Impact
The Culver’s Foundation Scholarship is awarded to Ms. Yeasmin because of her academic excellence, leadership potential, and her interest in creating sustainable business models that are people-oriented.
The recognition indicates that the research should be applied in the business world, said Yeasmin. “I want to develop strategies that help organizations to achieve both economic success and ethical and sustainable practices on a global scale.”
Channel-I (Eye) Television interviewed her as an expert in entrepreneurship on Bangladeshi national TV.
Future Trajectory
She is expected to complete her DBA by 2027. Her future career goal is to hold a senior position in either academia or strategic leadership, which will enable her to influence the organization’s development and policy, particularly in sustainability, human capital, and inclusive economic growth.
She wants to lead initiatives that enhance education, alongside promoting economic fairness and environmental sustainability in her ideal society. Her PhD research demonstrates her ability to integrate academic theory with practical application methods. Her data-driven decision-making skills will benefit organizations with complex operational systems. Her scientific interests, combined with her global perspective, will drive innovative approaches to environmental stewardship, inclusive growth initiatives, and stakeholder engagement. Her intellectual abilities, together with her professional experience, have developed her into an exceptional leader. Her excellent problem-solving skills and deep cultural understanding enable her to navigate the changing global economy while addressing vital social and environmental issues. Her potential for international leadership stems from her combination of intellectual abilities, financial expertise, and multicultural understanding. Through her dedication to education and commerce, she drives lasting positive transformations in organizational policies and community-focused corporate entities. Her influence will extend beyond conventional company boundaries to spark a broader discussion about sustainable development and ethical business practices.
