Anoosha Krishna Bhat

Why did you choose to study International Business?

Having started my career in government engineering services before moving into the FMCG and technology start-up ecosystem, I genuinely enjoyed solving complex technical problems. But as my responsibilities grew, I noticed a pattern. The biggest challenges organisations faced were rarely technical but were business challenges shaped by people, culture, strategy and the realities of operating across different markets.

I wasn’t looking to move away from technology; I wanted to complement it with a broader understanding of business. I wanted to understand how organisations expand internationally, lead across cultures, navigate global trade and make strategic decisions in an increasingly interconnected world.

For me, the MSc International Business at Leeds University Business School was the opportunity to build that missing perspective and bridge the gap between engineering and business.

What did you enjoy most about your course?

The biggest highlight of the programme was that it constantly pushed me outside my comfort zone, not through exams, but through people.

One experience that stands out was leading my team during the Global Industry Project for a German health technology company. Our team consisted of six students from different cultural and academic backgrounds, and while we all shared the same goal, we didn’t always share the same approach. I still remember our first client feedback as it was honest, constructive and far from what we had hoped for. At the time it felt disappointing, but it became the defining learning experience of my degree.

Rather than simply improving our presentation, we learnt to improve how we worked together. We communicated more openly, learnt to appreciate each other’s strengths and built trust as a team. That experience taught me more about cross-cultural leadership, stakeholder management and collaboration than any textbook could.

What did you enjoy most about student life at Leeds?

If the classroom shaped the way I think, life outside it shaped who I became. Moving to a new country can feel overwhelming at first, but Leeds has a way of making people feel welcome. One of the greatest gifts of my time there was the friendships I built with classmates and people from around the world. We came from different cultures, spoke different languages and had very different experiences, yet those differences became our greatest strength.

Becoming an active member of the Leeds University Consulting Society was one of the most valuable decisions I made. Through workshops, networking events and case interview sessions with professionals from organisations such as BCG, Bain & Company and Jane Street, I learnt to think more strategically and communicate ideas with greater clarity.

Another experience that had a profound impact on me was being selected for the Global Mentorship Programme. From reviewing my CV and conducting mock interviews to discussing dissertation expectations and offering honest career advice, my mentor helped me build confidence at an important stage of my journey.

What professional skills and experience did you gain during your time at Leeds University Business School?

One of the biggest lessons I took away from Leeds was that technical knowledge alone is rarely enough to succeed in today’s business environment. The ability to communicate, collaborate, adapt and understand different perspectives is equally important.

The course also strengthened my ability to analyse complex problems from a business perspective. Modules such as International Trade, Global Business Strategy and Data Analysis helped me develop structured thinking, research skills and the ability to communicate ideas clearly. The support I received outside the classroom was equally important. The Leeds University Consulting Society (LUCS) played a significant role in developing my employability skills. Through case workshops, networking events and interactions with industry professionals, I learnt how to approach unfamiliar business problems, structure my thinking and communicate recommendations effectively. These experiences gave me confidence during interviews and helped me better understand what employers look for beyond academic qualifications.

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

Leeds prepared me for the future by helping me develop a stronger commercial perspective. Coming from an engineering background, I was used to thinking about how things are designed and built. The course encouraged me to think more broadly about why decisions are made, how value is created and how different stakeholders influence outcomes.

Today, working in UK infrastructure projects, those lessons continue to guide me. Whether coordinating with clients, internal teams or external stakeholders, I often find myself applying the same principles I learnt during my time at Leeds, such as communicating clearly, understanding different perspectives and always considering the bigger picture.

How has your career progressed since leaving the Business School?

After graduating from Leeds, I continued building on the combination of technical knowledge and business understanding that I developed during my MSc. My first step after university was joining a consulting firm through an internship, where I gained exposure to project-based work, client expectations and structured problem-solving.

Following my internship, I progressed into my current role in Project Management in London, working within the electrical infrastructure division. My role involves supporting the end-to-end delivery of major infrastructure projects for UK Power Networks, including high-speed rail projects, substations and cabling works.

What are your ambitions for the future?

My ambition is to continue building a career at the intersection of technology, infrastructure and business strategy. I am particularly interested in how emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, can improve the way infrastructure projects are planned, delivered and managed.

In the long term, I aspire to move into leadership roles where I can combine my technical background, project experience and international business perspective to influence larger strategic decisions.

One of the most rewarding aspects of this transition has been seeing how skills developed at Leeds translate into a completely different professional environment. While my current role is rooted in infrastructure, success depends on much more than technical knowledge. It requires stakeholder management, communication, coordination across teams and the ability to balance operational and commercial priorities.

What was your biggest highlight of studying at Leeds?

When I reflect on my time at Leeds, my biggest highlight is not a single event but the transformation in the way I saw the world. A particularly memorable experience was attending seminars organised by the Centre for International Business at the University of Leeds (CIBUL). Listening to academics, industry professionals and experts discuss topics such as tariffs, international business dynamics and the relationship between research, industry and public policy was fascinating.

Would you recommend Leeds University Business School?

I would definitely recommend Leeds University Business School. My advice to current and prospective students would be to approach University with curiosity rather than just focusing on the outcome. Join societies, attend networking events, participate in projects, speak to people from different backgrounds and take opportunities, even when they feel slightly outside your comfort zone.