Opportunities I’ve Utilised at Queen Mary to Advance My Career
We caught up with Maya, an MSc Marketing and Digital Communications student, to discuss the programmes she has participated in at Queen Mary University of London.
Having moved to the UK from the US two and a half years ago, I knew I wanted to build my life and career here. I worked in journalism and public relations for two years before I decided that I wanted to pivot slightly. Feeling as though I wasn’t utilising all of my skills in digital content strategy, research, and analysis, in a moment of kismet, I found Queen Mary. The Marketing and Digital Communications programme looked like a perfect fit, with knowledgeable professors teaching courses that I was genuinely interested in. However, I quickly realised that Queen Mary had just as many opportunities on offer outside of the classroom as well as in it. Here is a brief overview of the programmes I’ve taken advantage of, and why I think you should know about them.
One of the first opportunities I found at Queen Mary was the Student Knowledge Exchange Programme (SKETCH), within the School of Business and Management.
The programme allows students to work together on a project for a business, individual, or community partner, allowing them to gain real-world experience in consulting. I participated in the Entrepreneurship Hub pillar of the programme and worked with other students to help the Jigsaw House Society, a consultancy and community support organisation helping survivors of the Windrush Scandal. We worked on conducting research and building a comprehensive communications and public relations plan for the Jigsaw House Society to help them achieve their goal of building wider public support for the Windrush Justice efforts. It was an amazing experience working as a consultant for this organisation and providing in-depth analysis about the current narratives surrounding the Windrush Scandal, and how we believe they can be changed.
In addition to participating in the SKETCH programme, I have also taken advantage of numerous opportunities offered by the Entrepreneurship Hub. In advancing my career by pursuing my Master of Science, I also knew that I wanted to utilise the skills I learned at Queen Mary to start my own business. The only problem was that I didn’t know anything about entrepreneurship. Luckily, the Entrepreneurship Hub has been there to help, and since starting at Queen Mary in September 2025, I have taken part in three programmes they offer.
The programmes I’ve participated in:
- QIdea competition (applied)
- QHack (3-day bootcamp)
- QIncubator (accelerator for entrepreneurs)
All of these programmes have allowed me to learn about entrepreneurship and grow my business idea with the guidance of mentors. I’ve found the expertise of the lecturers and guest speakers invaluable, and I have built my business plan with their help over the last six months.
Overall, I would say that Queen Mary is a place full of opportunities- if you know where to look and when to seize them. In meeting with your professors in office hours or joining one of the programmes I mentioned, you can build up your skillset and your CV before entering the job market.
Maya Mehrara, MSc Marketing and Digital Communications Student
Queen Mary University of London
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