In honor of his 50th reunion and Columbia Business School’s upcoming centennial, Lord Irvine Laidlaw ’65 has made a generous donation of $2 million to the School. With his gift, the Scottish baron and former member of the House of Lords will supplement need-based scholarships and increase opportunities for Columbia Business students to travel and learn abroad. Half of the total donation will be used to establish the Laidlaw Centennial Scholarship Challenge Fund, which will match up to ten $100,000 current-use scholarships. Another $850,000 will establish the Laidlaw Scholarship Fund at Columbia Business School, which will provide current-use scholarships for a number of students over four years. The remaining $150,000 will be used to launch the Laidlaw Fund for International Study Tours and Global Immersion Programs at the Jerome A. Chazen Institute of International Business. 

“Scholarships are a direct way to give more people access to the world-class education I had at Columbia,” says Lord Laidlaw, who is the owner of Laidlaw Capital Management and Laidlaw Estates. He adds that his gift is intended to inspire others affiliated with the School to give back as well. “I hope the match will be an accelerator, motivating more people to step up and do the same.” 

Lord Laidlaw’s investment in the Chazen programs will provide critical opportunities for tomorrow’s global business leaders to learn about different cultures and how business is conducted around the world. If anyone understands the importance of international study, it’s Lord Laidlaw: He founded the Institute for International Research—a global conference provider—in the late 1970s and served as its chairman for 30 years. “Self-funded students may not be able to take advantage of the School’s global trips,” he says, “so I wanted to help.” 

“These scholarship funds will open doors and introduce new opportunities for current and future students,” said Columbia Business School Dean Glenn Hubbard. “On behalf of the entire Columbia community, I want to thank Lord Laidlaw for this life-changing gift.”

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