Anaswara Sreelakshmi Anilkumar

Why did you choose to study this degree?

If someone had told me a few years ago that I’d go from debugging code to discussing international strategy over coffee with classmates from across the world, I probably wouldn’t have believed them. Yet that’s exactly what led me to choose this course at Leeds University Business School.

Having already completed a Master’s in Computer Science in India, I wanted to step outside the technical world and understand the bigger picture, how businesses think, lead and grow on a global scale. Leeds immediately stood out, because the course gave me the opportunity to connect my technical background with a broader understanding of international business.

What did you enjoy most about your course?

If I had to pick one moment that summed up my time at Leeds, it would be being elected Course Representative. Standing in a University-wide election was slightly outside my comfort zone, and definitely more nerve-racking than some exams, but winning the vote was incredibly rewarding. It gave me the opportunity to act as the bridge between my cohort and the Business School, working with staff to make an already great student experience even better.

What made that role so enjoyable was the people. The staff at Leeds University Business School genuinely cared. Their doors and inboxes always seemed were always open, and they consistently went above and beyond to support students, whether it was with academic guidance, career advice or simply checking in.

The teaching style was another highlight. It was refreshingly hands-on and never confined to a traditional lecture theatre. One of my favourite memories was a LEGO® Serious Play® session, where we somehow managed to turn colourful bricks into lessons on teamwork, communication and problem-solving.

What did you enjoy most about student life at Leeds?

Outside the classroom, I joined the Indian Business Society, which unexpectedly led to being selected as the Master of Ceremonies for Edu-Ex 2023, hosted by the Consulate General of India in Birmingham. Public speaking wasn’t something I’d imagined myself doing when I first arrived in Leeds, but the University has a funny way of encouraging you to surprise yourself. If my time at Leeds taught me one thing, it’s that the best experiences often begin with simply putting your hand up and giving something a go.

How did you find adjusting to living and studying in the UK?

I must have adjusted well because, by the end of my degree, I’d decided to make the UK my home. That transition felt much easier thanks to the support from Leeds University Business School. The support started long before I arrived, with guidance during the application process, webinars on everything from what essentials to pack to what to expect when landing in the UK, and even airport pick-up services that made those first few days far less daunting.

What professional skills and experience did you gain?

The biggest thing Leeds University Business School gave me wasn’t just knowledge, it was confidence. Confidence in my abilities, confidence in my ideas, and confidence to walk into interviews knowing I had experiences worth talking about.

What really stood out was the level of support available throughout the journey. The Careers Service and Business School regularly brought employers onto campus through networking events, careers fairs, employer talks and workshops, making it easy to connect with industry professionals and understand what employers were really looking for.

How did your time at Leeds prepare you for the future?

Leeds taught me how to build a life in a new country, navigate unfamiliar situations, make decisions for myself and embrace uncertainty with confidence. Somewhere between figuring out British weather, which I’m still convinced has a mind of its own, cooking meals that occasionally resembled what I intended, and balancing University life, I realised I was growing in ways no textbook could ever teach.

How has your career progressed since leaving the Business School?

My career began moving quickly after graduation. Within less than three months of leaving Leeds University Business School, I joined FDM Group as a Business Consultant, which gave me the opportunity to begin applying what I had learnt in a professional environment almost immediately.

I am now subcontracted to UBDS Digital, where I work as a PMO Analyst within the Digital Security division. Moving into a role connected to digital security has been an exciting step because it combines business, technology and project delivery, areas that reflect both my earlier technical background and the broader management perspective I developed at Leeds.

In my current role, I support project governance, reporting, coordination and the wider delivery of work across the team. It has given me exposure to how complex programmes are managed in practice, how different stakeholders work together and how structure and communication can make a real difference to successful delivery.

What are your ambitions for the future?

At this stage of my career, my ambition is simple: to keep learning, keep challenging myself and keep building on the strong foundation that Leeds gave me. Longer term, I’d love to take an entrepreneurial path.

One goal that’s particularly close to my heart is to one day return to Leeds University Business School, not as a student, but as a speaker. I’d love to stand in front of future students, share my journey, the lessons I’ve learnt, including the mistakes, and hopefully inspire someone else to take that leap of faith that I once did.

If even one student walked away thinking, “If she could do it, maybe I can too,” I’d consider that a real success.”

Would you recommend Leeds University Business School?

Without hesitation, I would recommend both the University of Leeds and Leeds University Business School. What makes Leeds special is that it offers so much more than a degree. It gives you opportunities to grow, to challenge yourself, to meet incredible people and to create memories that stay with you long after you’ve graduated.