Netra inspires students with advice on building marketing experience
Netra Sridhar (MA Advertising and Marketing, 2024) recently returned to Leeds University Business School to speak with students as part of the School’s popular Lunch with Alumni series.
The session offered students an opportunity to hear directly from Netra about her career journey since graduating and the experiences that helped shape her path into the marketing industry.
During the session, Netra reflected on her time studying at the Business School and how she made the most of opportunities alongside her studies to gain valuable experience. While completing her master’s degree, she proactively offered her social media marketing services to local Indian restaurants, enabling her to build practical experience, develop her portfolio, and gain insights into running effective social media campaigns for businesses. Netra also spoke about navigating the graduate job market and shared practical tips that helped her stand out when applying for roles.
Now working at Sensational Ventures, Netra discussed why she chose to pursue a career within a start-up environment. She highlighted some of the key benefits of working in a smaller, fast-growing organisation, including the opportunity to gain hands-on experience, develop a broad skillset, and progress quickly by taking on a variety of responsibilities.
Reflecting on coming back to campus and speaking to our students, Netra said:
“Returning to Leeds, this time as a speaker rather than a student, was a truly full-circle moment for me. Walking back into the Business School brought back so many memories, but also reminded me how far I’ve come since those uncertain days of figuring things out. Having the opportunity to speak with current students about navigating university, entering the job market, and building a career felt incredibly meaningful. If I was able to offer even a small sense of reassurance or be the ‘big sister’ I once needed, then it meant everything. I’m so grateful to the University of Leeds for shaping my journey and for inviting me back to be part of someone else’s.”
Many students took the opportunity to ask questions during the interactive Q&A session, seeking advice on topics such as building resilience during the job search, developing professional confidence, and making the most of their time at university.
Throughout the session, Netra encouraged students to take advantage of every opportunity available to them, remain open to new experiences, and approach their career journey with a positive and proactive mindset.
The Business School looks forward to welcoming more alumni back to campus as part of the Lunch with Alumni series, continuing to connect students with graduates who can share valuable insights and real-world experiences.
If you are interested in sharing your career journey with us for a future event, please contact us at alumni@lubs.leeds.ac.uk. You can also find out more about how to get involved and volunteer with us on our website.
