This article is sponsored by Cybage

“I have always been passionate about engineering since I was a child, but growing up in a lower-middle-class family, I wasn’t sure if that dream would ever come true,” shares 24-year-old Fiza Shaikh. With her father working as a carpenter and her mother a housewife, her family faced constant financial struggles, leaving little room for higher education. Like many young students in similar situations, she found her dreams clouded by the weight of financial constraints.

That changed when she discovered CybageKhushboo, a scholarship and mentorship initiative dedicated to helping promising students turn their aspirations into reality. With financial support and skill-building opportunities, Fiza not only pursued engineering but also gained confidence and abilities she never thought possible.

Bridging the gap between talent and opportunity

“Talent is equally distributed across all sections of society, but opportunity is not. That’s what CybageKhushboo aims to change,” says Ritu Nathani, the driving force behind this initiative. More than just financial aid, CybageKhushboo is committed to creating equal access to education and shaping future leaders in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).

Founded in 2010, the initiative has grown into a powerful platform supporting hundreds of students in their academic and professional journeys.

Built on purpose: The story behind CybageKhushboo

Cybage, an IT services company founded in 1995 by Arun Nathani, has come a long way since its humble beginnings in a three-bedroom apartment with a team of just four engineers. Today, the company employs over 7,200 individuals and continues giving back to society through philanthropic efforts. The story of CybageKhushboo is intertwined with the personal journeys of both Ritu and Arun Nathani, who, through their own experiences, understand the power of education.

Arun’s journey began in a middle-class home in Bhopal, where his father worked at Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL). From an early age, he saw firsthand the power of perseverance and education in shaping a better future. Determined to carve his own path, he pursued mechanical engineering at G.B. Pant University in Nainital and later refined his skills with a master’s degree in Virginia.

These experiences laid the foundation for his entrepreneurial journey, leading him to build a successful software company. Despite his achievements, Arun remains deeply connected to his roots. He firmly believes that education is the key to unlocking potential, and through CybageKhushboo, he strives to ensure that financial barriers don’t stand in the way of a student’s dreams.

Ritu Nathani, a former dentist, grew up in a home where hard work and education were deeply valued. Her father, an engineer at a private company in Pune, always encouraged her to dream big. When she and Arun built their own paths to success, they couldn’t ignore a stark reality—so many bright, hardworking students in India never get that chance because of financial barriers.

Determined to change this, they made it their mission to ensure that deserving students wouldn’t have to put their dreams on hold just because they couldn’t afford an education.

Providing access to STEM education for all

For many bright students from underprivileged backgrounds, higher education—especially in STEM fields—feels like a distant dream. CybageKhushboo was created to change that. Through scholarships and mentorship, it ensures that financial constraints don’t stand in the way of talent and ambition.........

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