(Business Management BSc, 2010)
Building relationships with personal advisors and lecturers and becoming part of the Queen Mary alumni family, really helps build your professional network and ability to work collaboratively.
What made you choose to study BSc Business Management at Queen Mary?
Having a real in-depth conversation with my Dad really sparked my interest in Business, as it is a wide discipline that provides a variety of career prospects.
What aspects of your degree did you find most enjoyable? What did you enjoy learning about and was there anything that surprised you in your studies?
My favourite modules were Marketing, Consumer Psychology, and Social and Political Marketing. I learnt that there is not a “one size fits all” approach to marketing and that there is more to the discipline than I previously thought; it is flexible and creative in every way. No two projects and/or campaigns are ever the same, nor should they be, and marketing helps really distinguish products and services. Marketing also really helps you as an individual to market and promote yourself to the world.
You should never get bogged down with trying to have a career that matches your degree - do not limit yourself. Make use of LinkedIn, and ensure you are involved in activities that really make you stand out from others.
4ps, 7ps and SWOT Competitor Analysis were useful to learn and a key foundation for all marketers to grasp. I mostly enjoyed group and individual presentations on key brands, for example, when our group had to cover Kellogg's.
You can do anything if you set your mind to it and nothing is hard in life – these are key life mottos for me that I still live by to this day.
Can you describe your career path to date and your current role?
I have over 10 years of marketing experience, working for a range of companies covering a variety of industries, from charities to mobile advertising, to environmental consultancy, education and more.
I have been working in the legal industry for just over 7 years now. I am currently the Marketing and Business Development Executive at VWV LLP.
Can you describe what your current role entails?
I lead on implementing the overall business development and client relationship plans, as well as new product development and launches, and I work on marketing campaigns, ensuring mailing lists are up to date as well as working on events, cross-selling initiatives and internal communications around business development.
Pre-pandemic, I led in managing over 80 healthcare-related events annually and during the pandemic, I’ve supported 25+ online events every month. I collaborate with Events Assistants in terms of overall organisation and work collaboratively with lawyers in planning events.
I manage the CMS web system of the firm, and work with the Communications Team on SEO and in-depth statistical analysis, and the firm’s social media platforms - LinkedIn, Twitter, Google+ and Facebook - and I am responsible for creating, coordinating and distributing the firm’s Healthcare and Employment Law Brief and one-off stop press.
Outside of your work at VWV, you’re also a dedicated mental health advocate and Co-Director of Happy Heads. Can you tell us a little about your work as a mental health activist?
I am the Co-director of Happy Heads, a mental health non-profit organisation focused on the ‘Balance Ball’, a visual self-empowered recovery tool. I am also a Rethink Mental Health Charity Committee Member, Time to Change London Champion, Samaritans Support Volunteer, National Suicide Prevention Alliance (NSPA) Influencer, YiS Young People's Mental Health Volunteer, and Queen Mary University of London Mentor.
Having lived experience of mental health issues (Anorexia Nervosa, Body Dysmorphia Disorder and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) from July 2012 and attempting to take my own life on 29 August 2014, I have since devoted my life to championing and supporting individuals suffering from mental health problems. Mental health philanthropic work is my calling and I sit on Boards supporting various UK and international mental health charities, I'm involved in many public speaking opportunities, I've worked on many worldwide media opportunities as well as campaigning and fundraising projects, especially in the Asian community. ‘The Angel and the Devil’, a documentary of my overall mental health journey, received worldwide recognition and featured in the IFFSA Toronto South Asian and Canberra Australian Film Festivals. I am a true trailblazer for mental health.
How did your time and studies at Queen Mary help your career and development?
The three, key marketing-related modules really made it clear to me that marketing was the career I wanted to pursue. I really made use of the Queen Mary Careers Service to start thinking about the career that I wanted to pave out for myself. They also helped me to develop my character and attitude in readiness for the professional working world.
The course equipped me with the overall necessary business and marketing skills, tools and knowledge that I needed to succeed in my career. I never studied business before, so it was great to have this under my belt. It also helped that Queen Mary is an established London-based University and part of the Russell Group.
What was special about your time at Queen Mary? Can you give one or two examples of your most memorable moments?
I have great memories from my graduation day – I remember entering the Great Hall, and queuing on stage to collect my certificate, and finally, throwing our hats in the air - a proud moment for all involved.
It was also great to see so much diversity at a university and to meet and make friends across different degrees from different ages and backgrounds.
What is the most exciting thing about what you do?
I love that I have a lot of variety in my day-to-day work; my role is a hybrid role, where I cover and work with Events, Comms and the Business Development team and I am able to be flexible and support teams where help is needed.
It is always great to hear and know the exciting history of VWV, which dates back to the 18th century – acting for survivors of the Titanic and more! I am able to learn about various legal areas of expertise, the law industry and the range of sector and service lines the industry supports, which amazes me every day. Lawyers are so friendly and lovely to work with, they are not all serious individuals. They have such a strong work ethic and drive, which is lovely to see.
I am involved in different firm projects, with the CSR team, the Social Committee, the Green Team, Wellbeing Committee and the ENGAGE (formerly BAME) Network. Overall, VWV is a friendly firm to work for – they really make you feel at home.
What are your hopes and plans for your career going forwards?
I would love to move up the ladder and progress in Marketing, but my ultimate goal is to start my own business around mental health and become self-employed.
Is there any advice you would give to current students or recent graduates considering their career options?
Say ‘Yes’ to everything then try and figure out how you will do it. Stay focused on your goals – have a personal diary to help you stay on track, or perhaps a vision board. Take any opportunity that comes to you, it will open doors and those doors can lead anywhere so jump right in. Make the most of every single opportunity at Queen Mary, i.e. societies, careers support, social projects, etc. When you leave university, come back as an alum and get involved in the activities they have to offer i.e., QMentoring, event support and more – stay in touch with the university and staff members and remember to build, build, build that network and harness those relationships!
You should also never get bogged down with trying to have a career that matches your degree - do not limit yourself. Make use of LinkedIn, and ensure you are involved in activities that really make you stand out from others.
Why would you recommend Queen Mary to prospective students hoping to study Business Management?
Life at Queen Mary does not end after graduating. There are heaps of opportunities get involved with as an alum, do it – you will not regret it.
Queen Mary is in a great location, in central London; it is diverse, and is top 100 ranked and is a fantastic university to have on your CV.
Business Management offers you a wide variety of different topics to choose and really opens your eyes to the business world and Queen Mary does this really well. The School welcomes everyone, no matter what previous business/marketing/management background, and accepts you for who you are.
If you would like to get in touch with Sandeep or engage them in your work, please contact the Alumni Engagement team at alumni@qmul.ac.uk.