Rasika
Nanal

What inspired you to choose Nottingham Business School and your course?

I chose Nottingham Business School because I was looking for a very niche course, one that wasn’t widely available across the UK with a strong curriculum and excellent employability prospects. That made my decision very clear and straightforward. The course content and structure were incredibly insightful and aligned well with the career path I wanted to pursue.

What also stood out was the reputation of Nottingham Business School, especially its strong ranking in employability. As an international student, moving to a new country and starting everything from scratch can feel overwhelming, so finding a university that offered both academic quality and strong career support was essential. NBS consistently met those expectations, and because of that, it became my first choice from the very beginning.

What aspect of Nottingham Business School stood out to you during your decision-making process?

For me, what really stood out about Nottingham Business School was the balance between proper academic learning and real professional exposure. It wasn’t just textbooks and theory, the industry talks, the live projects, and the chance to work closely with companies made me feel like I was already stepping into the professional world. Those experiences pushed me to explore opportunities I honestly never thought I’d have the confidence to try.

Coming from an education system very different from the UK, the transition wasn’t easy at first. But the support I received from my professors made a huge difference. They encouraged me to think independently, to trust myself, and to learn in a way that made me feel more capable and confident. That support, combined with the school’s strong reputation, facilities, and employability rankings, reassured me that I was in the right place.

Overall, it was that blend of practical exposure and a genuinely supportive environment that made NBS stand out to me.

What was your favourite aspect of your course and why?

My favourite part of the course was how close it felt to the real industry. Nothing felt superficial or just theory for the sake of it, there was a good balance of learning the concepts and actually putting them into practice. In my specialised modules, I remember creating a 15 minute pitch using everything I had learned, from MCT theories to building storyboards and PR pieces that were directly connected to the career I wanted.

I also really valued the consultancy project. It gave me the chance to apply everything from the course in a real company setting, from understanding their KPIs to learning how to communicate with clients professionally. It was the first time I felt the full picture of how things work in the real world.

From the beginning, I wanted a course that combined both theory and practical experience, and I’m genuinely grateful that I found exactly that at NTU.

Did you have the opportunity to personalise your course? If yes, how did this contribute to your learning experience?  

I did get the chance to personalise my course, even though the main modules were fixed for everyone. We didn’t get to pick specific modules based on interest, but I tried to shape my assignments and projects in a way that matched my goals. For example, when I had to deliver a pitch in one of my modules, the brief was on ageism, but I chose to focus on “Autism in Bollywood” because it was something I genuinely cared about and wanted to explore.

The consultancy project was another area where I added my own touch. I chose a literature review topic that aligned with my interests, which made the whole experience more meaningful for me. I also made the most of any guest lectures or the lecture series that NTU offered, especially the ones linked to marketing and communications.

So even though the structure of the course was fixed, I tried to personalise it through my project choices, topics, and the extra learning opportunities I took. It helped me get more out of the course and build work I could actually use in my portfolio.

What initially attracted you to your current line of work?

I come from a media background. I have studied a bachelor’s in journalism, which made me aware of the whole media field altogether. As I was progressing in my career, I got to know more about the marketing side, and I found that quite interesting.

I have always been a newspaper lover since the time I started reading or even understanding words. I used to sit with a newspaper in my hand every single day, which is quite unusual for a child or a teenager to do. I used to read a lot during my school days, and that made me interested in literature altogether. I always had this strange confidence within me, and I never felt uncomfortable during any public gatherings. I started taking part in competitions, and that made me more confident.

There was always something in media and advertising that intrigued me. I still remember humming all the jingles and ads that used to run during my childhood. That’s how I started pursuing media. After working in the journalism field for three years, I felt I needed to expand my knowledge not just in journalism but in the overall media field. Advertising was something I was interested in since my teenage years. I have been watching iconic ads done by so many legends, and I grew up admiring them.

I was initially drawn to this field because it combined my strengths with my long-term interests. The role gave me opportunities to be analytical while also being creative and collaborative. I was inspired by the potential to make a meaningful impact within organisations and to continue learning in a dynamic environment.

As I mentioned before, what attracted me at NTU was the main social media account that the university was running. Of course, later I got to know that every school has a different social media team working really hard, but in the beginning, I only knew one main account run by NTU, and it stood out to me. It surprised me to see how many students were engaging with it.

I wanted to be a part of that community that genuinely wants students to grow in their careers. The initial attraction was to learn from the very best people your own university. There is nothing beyond your own university’s marketing team helping you deliver content pieces, and it almost felt like I was giving something back to my community.

In the beginning, it was just curiosity about what goes on behind this huge marketing team in such an amazing university. But I actually got the chance to see how these people work really hard every single day to maintain that reputation, and that made me even more excited to be part of this field.

What does a typical working day involve for you in your current role?

My days are never the same, and that’s what I love. Some days I’m planning content, filming, or editing. Some days I’m working with the team on ideas or understanding what the audience needs. Other days are spent looking at how our posts performed and what we can do better. I usually spend part of the day analysing data or progress, part working on projects or strategy, and part engaging with colleagues or stakeholders. No two days are exactly the same, which keeps the work rewarding and engaging.

Most days start with a lot of preparation: understanding trends, going through social media, checking whatever is happening in current affairs, and deciding a line of work according to the season. For example, for Christmas, the preparation starts really early, so your days start looking very different.

If I am working on any particular content pieces, I like to sit with a hot cup of coffee, maybe in a café or at home in my cosy work corner, and start analysing what competitors are doing. Doing competitive research is honestly my favourite thing going through a lot of brands, their work, and whatever goes on behind their campaigns is something I really enjoy.

Apart from that, if my day requires teamwork or any kind of consultation with the team, then I attend those content jam sessions and try to be as useful and as creative as I can with the team. As I said, there is no particular set routine for my day. No two days look the same. Everything is different every day.

Sometimes the days are quiet where you just have to work in front of your laptop, and sometimes you skip all the office setup, go out, and film.

What challenges have you encountered in your career so far?

One of the biggest challenges I faced was the language barrier. I come from a diverse country where my native language is not English, and English is actually my third language. Even in school, it wasn’t my primary language, so I initially had a bit of low self-esteem about how to communicate with people on a day-to-day basis. That thought kept coming back to me: if I’m struggling to make a simple conversation in daily life, how will I present myself confidently in front of a camera?

I do have a background in journalism, which naturally gave me confidence, enthusiasm, and a strong presence of mind, but language was still a key challenge after coming here. Slowly and gradually, working on it every day and being surrounded by native speakers made me much more comfortable.

Another major challenge was translating all the experience I already had in my career into a completely different country. Building yourself from scratch in a new place is definitely not easy. You’re not in your comfort zone, you’re not surrounded by your loved ones, and you constantly feel the need to make connections and network not just personally but professionally as well. That clock keeps ticking in your mind all the time.

What helped me was not seeing every person as an opportunity or a ladder. Not expecting things to turn out extremely good or extremely bad helped me stay balanced. Finding that emotional and mental balance really supported me in adapting, growing, and achieving more than I expected.

Looking ahead, what goals or aspirations do you hope to pursue in your career?

As I move forward, I would like to associate myself with a variety of people who support my growth and creativity. There is a certain perception in the marketing field that everyone is always trying to sell you something, but I want to make marketing feel more genuine,  more like a conversation, not an effort to push something onto people.

I want to work with brands that are well-established and have already built strong reputations in this field, and surround myself with professionals who not only focus on creativity but also understand human emotion, understand themselves, and understand consumer psychology. I want to work with people who are genuine and kind-hearted, because life isn’t just about work all the time and you eventually reach a point where other areas matter just as much.

At some stage, I also want to start my own business. I’m really excited by the hospitality and food and beverage sector, especially anything to do with coffee. I would love to gain some experience on the business side and eventually start a café. I don’t know exactly how it will happen right now, but I definitely want to create something that I can call my own something truly made by me.

What have been the biggest highlights or achievements in your career to date?

This is a very tricky question because I tell myself every single day that you have to start from zero. Even if you gave a hundred percent yesterday or had your best day, you still start fresh the next morning. But at the same time, I don’t want to demean any of my wins so far, because they are the reason I’ve come this far.

There is one incident I always remember. It may seem small, but nothing feels better than someone genuinely complimenting your work. In journalism, I was always around celebrities and politicians people considered “big personalities.” After a point, it didn’t fascinate me at all, and I never saw those interactions as career achievements. That was just part of the work, and at the end of the day, they’re only human like everyone else.

What felt like a real highlight was when ordinary people like me appreciated my work. I remember being at a bank once, and a student from my university recognised me and told me she liked my work and that it helped her decide to choose NTU. Moments like that have happened again too people stopping me and saying they’ve seen my videos, that they like my vibe or my energy.

When you’re in a different country, building your life from scratch, and no one knows what you’ve done before, that kind of appreciation feels even more meaningful. It’s not just recognition it’s encouragement. And in the future, I want to continue doing work that doesn’t feel like work. I want it to stay something that comes naturally from me.