After graduating in 2012, I returned to India and joined the family business of Real Estate Development. In 2014, I had an opportunity to participate in an internship with CBRE Shanghai. It was a terrific learning experience which resulted in significant growth in my professional outlook.

Following the internship with CBRE, I returned to India and joined Uber in my home-town of Pune. Uber was just setting up their operations in the city at the time, and this experience allowed me to observe how a fast-moving “Unicorn” start-up swiftly expands into new regions. During my year-long stint there, Uber Pune grew from a scrappy outfit run by a team of 4 and operating out of a hotel room to a full-fledged corporate entity with more than 30 employees and counting.

I later joined CBRE, this time as a full-time employee at their Pune office. After spending a year in Transactions Management, I joined the Strategy Consulting group, which is where I am currently working. This is the most challenging role I have taken on till date, while also being one of the most fulfilling. I get to work with (and be mentored by) a highly talented and amazingly supportive team. The experiences and lessons learnt during my time at the University of Birmingham also shape my habits and help me make decisions every day.

I chose to apply to the University of Birmingham because I was excited about the opportunity to study at one of the original British 'Red Brick' Universities. The modules for the B.Sc. in International Business offered an ideal mix of solid Business Management concepts complemented with the right amount of practical international experience to enable students to stay relevant in an increasingly globalised business environment. The additional exposure I received while undertaking my International Module at EDHEC France’s campuses in Nice and Lille were invaluable for gaining a better understanding of the intricacies of the business and regulatory environments of various countries.

The main piece of advice I would give current students is to make the most of your time. Make a conscious effort to keep challenging yourself, step out of your comfort zone and surround yourself with people smarter than you – people that you can learn from. This, from my experience, is the key to achieving consistent growth. In addition to your studies, the University also has a number of opportunities for you get involved in extra-curricular activities – take full advantage of these and participate in as many of them as you can. And most importantly, have fun! The connections and memories you make here will stay with you for years to come.