After finishing my Masters I moved back to India. Last November, I married a fellow Business School classmate of mine, Amit. We studied together in Leeds and fell in love. We have now been married for almost a year and we run a number of garment manufacturing units together. So, thank you Leeds for giving me my better half. We even visited Leeds for our honeymoon!

After graduating from Leeds I joined Procter & Gamble, UK. I spent 10 years working on projects in the UK, Spain, Portugal and finally Switzerland. I then spent five years in a corporate position with a multi-national healthcare company called Medtronic. Since then I have focused on innovation and entrepreneurship in healthcare within the Swiss ecosystem. I now spend the majority of my time as Chief Financial Officer for a biopharma start-up, developing botanical drugs in the area of Immune-Dermatology and Oncology Supportive Care. We’re really excited for the future!

Prior to completing the EMBA, my only formal qualification was a certificate in IT and Computing from the Open University. Achieving the MBA gave me the confidence to continue with tertiary education, and I decided to focus on programme management to complement my work experience. I was delighted to be accepted for the MSc in Major Programme Management at Saïd Business School, Oxford in September 2016. I submitted my dissertation on September 3rd 2018 and at the time of writing I’m eagerly/nervously awaiting marks.

2018 has been an eventful year. I was elected President of the Insurance Institute of Leeds and launched my own insurance brokerage – ARIA Insurance Solutions. My role as President involves leading a team that runs educational and social events for those working in the insurance industry, as well as raising money for charity and building relationships with the wider Leeds business community. I am also very passionate about providing support and opportunities to the next generation of insurance professionals. I am really enjoying the role and also really excited about the challenge my new venture is bringing me. For anything insurance related please do get in touch: james@ariainsurance.co.uk

A lot has happened since graduation where hectic academic life turned into a professional one. The best part of this is being able to contribute as much to youth community as I pledged before departing for the UK in 2016. This year I have had the opportunity to speak at events and offer mentorship, formal classes, and training to young people in Cambodia. This gives them the chance to learn about topics such as scholarships, professionalism, motivation, work-life balance, life failures and life choices. This has impacted many young minds and I hope to keep doing this moving forward.

After graduating from Leeds, I returned home to Nigeria where I got my first full time job as a Business Development Manager in a private accounting firm in Abuja. One year in, I got the opportunity to work at the Central Bank of Nigeria. Currently, I am working with the Banking Supervision Department where I analyse and appraise banks’ returns and requests and ensure compliance. I love what I do as I’m able to promote stability and soundness in our financial sector. I am happily married with two adorable boys. Reach me at: Wunmi.kayode@gmail.com

Following my Erasmus studies at Leeds, I continued my international studies in Germany before returning to Canada to work as a Capital Markets Analyst and complete my undergraduate finance degree. Upon graduation, I joined a graduate scheme for a Tier 1 Canadian Bank and have since transitioned to the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC). Most recently I have obtained a UK visa in the hopes of relocating to London to further my corporate banking career. My experience in Leeds has been fundamental in career development and in fostering a global mindset.

From Leeds to the world of aromatherapy and essential oils. I studied Economics from 1983 to 1986 and enjoyed a student existence like most students do, convinced that everyone else was having more fun than me! I loved the freedom that student life gave me to manage my own life and make my own decisions. I was drawn towards having my own business. I needed to prove that I could face any of the doubters, so qualifying as a Chartered Accountant after university was a great way to gain experience and business confidence. Now as one of the owners of Absolute Aromas, one of UK’s leading aromatherapy companies I have the fantastic excuse to travel the world seeing where essential oils are produced and the many countries in which we sell.

In April 2018, my current employer asked me to present my team’s efforts during a critical face-to-face leadership meeting. This resulted in me having a very educational but unusual trip. Since the meeting was scheduled in Tokyo, I was required to go on a short trip – spending 32hrs in Tokyo. I travelled for 12 hours, presented our results, spent one night in Tokyo, and flew back after having the best Italian food I have ever had – in the heart of Tokyo! Although the trip was exhausting, I really enjoyed meeting our Japanese leadership team. I also learnt that Tokyo is apparently the place to be, if you fancy some Italian food!

After my experience at Leeds, I moved back to my hometown to start my career in international logistics. I worked at the Kellogg Company for around eight years, as a Foreign Trade Executive and as an Optimisation and Savings Foreign Trade Supervisor. I am currently working as an Account Manager at BNSF Logistics LLC, a Berkshire Hathaway Company. During this time, I have had the opportunity to travel to South East Asia, Europe, the Caribbean and of course, all over my beloved Mexico. I still cherish my time at Leeds, with fond memories of my friends and the experience as a whole!

My Masters and PhD at the Business School prepared me for a great career in HR by giving me the competitive edge to grow to managerial level at the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) in Nigeria. In 2017 and 2018, I received two commendation letters from the Director General of BPE for my positive contributions to the organisation. I earned two prestigious awards – Integrity Idol Nigeria Award and Leadership in Academic Excellence Award. I am now working as Head of HR at Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD).

In September 2012, I handed in my dissertation and moved back to China. I still regret not attending my graduation ceremony in December. I worked in a rural commercial bank in China. This year, I came back to the UK with my mother and visited the University. This is the most unforgettable and pleasant thing I’ve done this year. When I wandered around the campus, I could see myself studying there five years ago. I had a brief conversation with my personal tutor. I am so lucky to have been a part of life at Leeds.