International student sets herself up for marketing career thanks to GCU London

A GCU London student has been reflecting on her decision to move to the “hub of opportunities”.

Verdha Mishel started her MSc International Marketing (with professional practice) degree in October 2023 after taking the decision to leave Pakistan.

Since then she has adapted to life in London by being proactive and getting involved in a variety of different opportunities, including a group discussion with Scotland’s First Minister, John Swinney.

We sat down with Verdha to hear more about her personal and professional journey:

Tell me about your background and why GCU London was the right place for you to study your Masters?

“I have always planned to come to London and study – it’s been a dream of mine for a long time. This plan was driven by my father’s experience when he came to the UK back in 2008. He really liked the learning environment and different programmes being offered at the Universities.

“I was searching different universities in London and I came across GCU. The thing that really struck me about GCU was all the links they have to a variety of industries. I went through the website and found out that my area of interest - International Marketing - was being offered here along with professional practice. I felt it was a win-win situation and it made complete sense for me to study here.”

Was it a difficult decision to move to London?

“London is known to be the hub of opportunities. Being in London and studying in London is known to be amazing fun, so it wasn’t just my father’s dream of his daughter coming here to complete a degree. I was looking at things from my perspective and recognised there was a huge amount of opportunity and diversity here across this great city. GCU London is right in the heart of the centre, so it couldn’t have been any more perfect for me.

“Living in London was initially very overwhelming because the city is such a busy place. It can be challenging to get around but you quickly get used to it and it feels like you have successfully completed a mission each day when you get on at the correct Underground station and find your way to the place you are meant to be!”

Why did you want to study International Marketing?

“My background is basically business and management – that’s what my Undergraduate degree focused on back in Pakistan. I have always enjoyed the creative side of business, in terms of promotion. Marketing has changed dramatically with the digital era, so it was very intriguing topic for me. I wanted to learn more about the digital world and look at how I could develop myself and businesses through this.”

Have you enjoyed the course so far?

“Part of the reason behind me choosing GCU was because of the course modules – the holistic approach was very important to me. They focus on everything from branding to the importance of Facebook, Instagram and other social media platforms. The course is very diverse and offers a great insight into the world of marketing.

“I’ve really enjoyed the whole experience. I had obviously opted for the placement opportunity and I secured work with a start-up company who I am still working with.”

As well as studying MSc International Marketing, you also joined the marketing team at GCU London as a Unibuddy Ambassador, how did that opportunity come about?

“I always try to be proactive. While I was studying at GCU London, I was very observant in regards to the marketing strategies used by the University. I believe the learning starts from home and for me that is GCU. I decided to analyse their strategies in regards to what I was learning in class. I felt there was a gap that I could help with and basically offered my services as a volunteer because I’m well aware any sort of experience is important alongside my degree. I was able to use the company I had worked with for my placement as a reference and they were happy to recommend me after seeing the work I had produced.”

What does the Unibuddy Ambassador role with the marketing team actually involve?

“Being a Unibuddy Ambassador involves me basically representing GCU London to prospective students. I am able to share my experience of studying here and provide an insight into what life is like as a student in London. I’m involved in writing different blog posts for the app and there is also possibly going to be a content creation side to it as well in future.

“One of the ideas I’m keen to explore more is starting my own podcast. As I mentioned, the world of marketing really is changing. Consumers’ attention when it comes to marketing is shifting and there is much more of an interest in shorter videos and podcast, so I believe there is an opportunity there.

“I have always enjoyed the creative side of content creation and being on camera. I’ve noticed a trend with Generation Z where there has been a shift from finding opportunities to creating their own opportunities. I want to speak to some of these different entrepreneurs to hear their mindset and the different paths they have went with their careers.”

You also had the chance to meet Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney, tell me about that?

“I basically got an email inviting me to a round-table discussion with a VIP guest. No-one knew who the guest was actually going to be and we just got to see an agenda and different discussion points. There were different people from the university and different industries that were going to be in attendance.

“It was a very big thing for me when I got there and found out it was John Swinney who was going to be in attendance. I’ve never met a minister before, even back in Pakistan, so to meet the First Minister of Scotland was amazing for me.

“The First Minister joined us in the meeting about half an hour after the discussion started. The focus of our conversation was around employability, artificial intelligence (AI) and international education strategy. I was the first person to give their thoughts to Mr Swinney on the introduction of AI and its impact within many different job fields. We also reflected on the challenges facing international students in being proactive and finding a good job in a city like London.”

How did it feel to have the chance to share your thoughts and opinions as an international student at GCU?

“It was a massive privilege for me to represent their voice. Having the opportunity to do this with the First Minister of Scotland was an excellent experience, but I also find my role as Unibuddy Ambassador helps me do this as well. It is very important for me to share the challenges but also to share the good experiences and positives of coming to study at GCU London.

“One thing I always refer to is my placement opportunity because the university has really helped me. There are also regular sessions put on at GCU London with local employers to reflect on the job market in London – it is really important for us to provide an insight as an international student.”

What are your plans once you have completed your degree at GCU?

“I’m actually undertaking different courses related to AI, because I feel it is a must if you really want to succeed in the world of marketing. My long-term vision is to start up my own marketing company, the podcast is just the beginning for me. I would also like to get some full-time experience in London before starting up my own company in Pakistan, where marketing is really growing as a field.

“I know that when I do return to Pakistan that I will definitely be recommending students to come to study at GCU, either in Glasgow or London.”

Find out more about the MSc International marketing course at GCU London

By Ross Clark       
Got an SHLS or GSBS story? Email me at Ross.Clark@gcu.ac.uk or message me on Twitter