Anurag Katam

Tell us about your degree - why did you choose it?
I chose MSc Management Consulting because I was at a point where I knew I enjoyed building ideas and telling stories, but I wanted to understand the “why” behind business decisions. I did not just want to be the person who makes something look good. I wanted to be able to step back, see the bigger picture, and solve the problems that actually shape an organisation.

Consulting appealed to me because it is essentially structured problem-solving. You are thrown into unfamiliar situations, expected to learn quickly, make sense of messy information, and then explain your thinking clearly. That felt like the kind of skill set that would make me stronger in any career I chose, especially marketing, where strategy and insight matter as much as creativity.

I chose Leeds because it felt grounded and practical. It was not just about learning concepts from a textbook. The course pushed me to work with different people, defend my ideas, and improve how I think and communicate under pressure. Looking back, it was the right choice because it gave me confidence in my ability to handle complex challenges, and it helped me define the kind of work I want to do: work that is creative, but also intentional and impact-driven.

What did you enjoy the most about your course – what were your course highlights? For example, the facilities, staff, peers, course content etc.
What I enjoyed most about the course was the people. The content and skills mattered, but it was the support around me that made the experience feel genuinely transformative.

A real highlight for me was the way the course helped me think more clearly and confidently. It trained me to take a messy problem, break it down, and communicate a solution in a way that makes sense to different audiences. That shift in how I think and present ideas has stayed with me far beyond assignments and exams.

If I had to name one standout part of my experience, it would be the support I received from the faculty member, Andrea Denny. She did not just teach the material. She paid attention to my progress, encouraged me when I was stretching myself, and helped me back my ideas with stronger reasoning. A lot of the outcomes I am proud of from Leeds, whether that was academic performance, confidence in presenting, or simply believing I could aim higher, were shaped by her support and guidance. Having someone like that in your corner makes a huge difference.

I also loved the friendships and teamwork. Working with peers from different backgrounds challenged me in the best way. It taught me how to collaborate under pressure, respect different viewpoints, and still deliver something we were proud of. Those moments, the late nights, the debates, the laughs, and the shared wins, are some of the memories I value most from Leeds.

What did you enjoy most about your life as a student at the University of Leeds? Did you get involved in any activities outside of your studies that had an impact on your experience here, or your personal development
What I enjoyed most about life as a student at the University of Leeds was how full it felt, not just academically, but personally. Leeds gave me the space to explore who I was becoming, and it was the first time I felt I could genuinely combine ambition with purpose. My best memories are not only from the classroom, but from the moments in between, building friendships, learning how to lead, and finding communities that made the university feel like home.

Outside my studies, I got involved in activities that shaped me in a deeper way. I took on projects that blended creativity with impact, including creating a promotional film for Leeds University Business School, and I remained closely connected to social and community-focused work through my NGO initiatives. I also pushed myself to step into opportunities where I could represent values I care about, such as sustainability and responsible leadership.

Some of my proudest moments at Leeds came through recognition for that work. Receiving the Dean’s Prize for Citizenship was especially meaningful because it reflected not just achievement, but contribution. I was also grateful to be recognised through Business School awards and competitions, including the LUBS Partnership Award for Innovation and the Oxfam sustainability competition. Those moments were affirming because they showed me that the work I care about, community impact, creativity, and problem-solving, has a place in professional spaces too.

What made those moments even more meaningful is that I did not do them alone. Sai Hasitha Thontepu and Aino Uemura were with me through all of these competitions. We were a real team, supporting each other, challenging each other’s thinking, and sharing both the nerves and the excitement that comes with putting your work out there. Having them beside me turned every competition into a shared journey, and many of my best Leeds memories are tied to that teamwork. Additionally, my personal tutor and research guide, Adrian Murton, also helped me stay focused and encouraged me to keep aiming higher. Looking back, the combination of community, guidance, and shared effort is what made my student life at Leeds so special, and it is what I will always carry forward.

How did you find adjusting to living and studying in the UK? Did the university offer support or services that you found helpful? Can you offer any advice?
Adjusting to living and studying in the UK was exciting, but it definitely came with a learning curve. In the beginning, everything felt new at once, the academic expectations, the pace of deadlines, the way seminars and group work functioned, and even the smaller day-to-day things like weather, food, and learning how to feel settled in a new city. I remember having moments where I questioned whether I was doing “enough” because the standard felt high and people around me seemed confident. Over time, I realised most international students feel that way at first, and the key is to give yourself permission to take time to adapt.

The university support that helped me most was the sense that I was not alone. Having access to clear guidance, student services, and academic support made a difference, but honestly, the biggest support system was the community I built. Finding my people helped me feel grounded. Working closely with friends like Sai Hasitha Thontepu and Aino Uemura, especially through competitions and projects, gave me stability and motivation when things felt overwhelming. I also benefited a lot from supportive staff, majorly, Andrea Denny, who helped me build confidence in my ideas and adjust to the academic style in a constructive, encouraging way.

My advice to new students is simple. Do not try to do everything perfectly in the first few weeks. Build a routine, ask questions early, and speak up if you are struggling, support exists, but you have to use it. Say yes to opportunities outside lectures too, because activities, competitions, and team projects are often where you find your confidence and your community. And finally, take pride in being an international student. The adjustment is challenging, but it also builds resilience, independence, and perspective in a way that stays with you for life.

What professional skills and experience did you gain during your time at Leeds University Business School? What support did you get to help to develop these skills, and with your overall career and employability?
During my time at Leeds University Business School, I gained professional skills that I still rely on every day because they changed how I think and how I work. The biggest shift for me was learning how to approach problems with structure. The MSc Management Consulting programme trained me to take something complex and messy, break it down clearly, and then build recommendations that are logical, evidence-based, and easy to communicate. That skill sounds simple, but it is powerful. It made me more confident in meetings, more organised in my thinking, and much stronger at explaining ideas in a way that brings people along.

I also developed stronger communication skills in a very practical sense. Presentations, group work, and written assignments pushed me to improve how I write professionally, how I speak with clarity, and how I tailor my message depending on who I am speaking to. That has been especially useful for the kind of marketing roles I am drawn to, where storytelling is important, but it has to be backed by insight and purpose.

Outside the classroom, I gained experience that helped me connect those skills to real work. I built hands-on marketing and content experience through my role as a social media trainee, where I worked on campaigns, audience growth, and performance-focused content. I also had the opportunity to create a promotional video for Leeds University Business School’s International Study Tour, which taught me a lot about end-to-end project management, from shaping the narrative to coordinating delivery and making sure the final output matched the goal.

Another important part of my development at Leeds was leadership. I learned how to lead without needing a title, by taking initiative, bringing energy to a team, and following through consistently. Being recognised with the Dean’s Prize for Citizenship meant a lot because it reflected contribution, not just grades. Taking part in competitions and being recognised through initiatives such as the LUBS Partnership Award for Innovation and the Oxfam sustainability competition also helped me build resilience and confidence. Those experiences taught me how to work under pressure, respond to feedback quickly, and keep improving until the work felt genuinely strong.

In terms of support, I did not build these skills on my own. The feedback and guidance I received at Leeds helped me raise my standards and trust my ability. Support from staff gave me direction when I felt unsure, and the environment of the Business School made it normal to aim high. Just as importantly, the collaborative culture helped my growth in a very real way. Working closely with peers across different backgrounds taught me how to communicate in diverse teams, handle disagreement professionally, and deliver results together. By the end of my time at Leeds, I did not just feel more qualified. I felt more capable, more confident, and clearer about the value I can bring in a professional setting. 

How did your time at Leeds prepare you for the future?
Leeds prepared me for the future by changing what I rely on when things feel uncertain. Before Leeds, I could work hard and stay driven, but I did not always have a consistent method for making decisions or explaining my thinking. At Leeds University Business School, especially through MSc Management Consulting, I learned how to approach challenges with structure. I became more confident breaking down complex problems, identifying what actually matters, and turning that into a clear plan that other people can understand and trust. It also gave me a stronger sense of professional discipline. The pace of deadlines, the expectations in group work, and the constant need to present ideas taught me how to deliver consistently, not just when I feel inspired. I learned how to manage my time properly, communicate early, and stay calm when pressure builds. Those are the habits I know will matter in any career I step into.

Beyond the classroom, Leeds gave me proof of what I can do when I commit fully. I had opportunities to apply my skills through hands-on marketing and content work, and through creative projects like producing a promotional video for the International Study Tour for Business School. Being recognised with the Dean’s Prize for Citizenship and through initiatives and competitions was not just a “nice achievement”, it was reassurance that my strengths are real and transferable: initiative, leadership, teamwork, and impact.

If I had to sum it up, Leeds did not simply prepare me to take the next step. It helped me build the mindset to keep stepping up, again and again, even when the path is not obvious. I left with clearer skills, higher standards, and more belief in my ability to create work that is both purposeful and high quality.

How has your career progressed since leaving the Business School? Have there been any notable highlights?
Since leaving Leeds University Business School, my career has been shaped by two priorities: building real marketing experience and staying close to work that has purpose. I have continued to develop my skills in content, social media, and brand storytelling, focusing on how to create ideas that connect with people and also deliver measurable results. Through my marketing and social media experience, I have worked on campaigns, content strategy, and audience growth, and I have learned how to balance creativity with performance and consistency.

One of the most meaningful parts of my journey has been continuing my involvement with my NGO work in India. Being responsible for communication and community-led initiatives has strengthened my leadership and project management skills in a very real way, because you are not working in a controlled environment, you are solving problems with real constraints and real people depending on outcomes. It has also kept me grounded in why communication matters, not just to promote something, but to build trust and drive action. In terms of highlights, I am proud of the foundation I built at Leeds and how it continues to show up in what I do. My achievements during university, including recognition like the Dean’s Prize for Citizenship and success in Business School initiatives and competitions, gave me confidence to take on bigger responsibilities and keep aiming higher.

Since graduating, I have focused on translating that momentum into the next step of my career, and I am now actively pursuing marketing roles where I can bring together strategic thinking, creativity, and impact.

What are your ambitions for the future?
My ambitions for the future are to build a career in marketing where I can combine strategy, creativity, and real impact. In the short term, I want to secure a role where I can learn quickly, work closely with people who are better than me, and build strong fundamentals across brand, content, and growth. I am especially interested in roles where I get to turn insight into storytelling, understand audiences deeply, and create campaigns that are not just “nice content”, but work that actually moves people and delivers results.

Over the next few years, I want to keep expanding my skill set. That means getting better at content strategy, performance marketing, creative direction, and measurement, so I can confidently own projects end-to-end. Longer term, I would love to grow into a position where I can lead a small team, mentor others, and shape a brand voice with clarity and consistency. I also want to keep one foot in purpose-led work alongside my career, whether that is continuing my community initiatives in India or supporting organisations that care about education and social impact.

On a more personal level, if everything goes right, I would love to learn and pursue Kigumi sometime in the future. Kigumi is a traditional Japanese woodworking method where structures are built by carefully interlocking pieces of wood, often without nails, screws, or metal fasteners. It is precise, detail-focused, and relies on patience, craft, and a deep respect for materials. I find it inspiring because it is the opposite of rushed work. It is slow, intentional, and built to last. For me, Kigumi is not just a hobby idea. It represents the kind of life I want to build: ambitious, but grounded. Fast-paced marketing work can be intense and digital, so the idea of learning a physical craft that requires focus and calm feels meaningful. In the future, I would like to be someone who can succeed professionally, contribute to communities, and still make time to learn something beautiful that teaches discipline and humility.

What was your biggest highlight of studying at Leeds? (For example, friendships made, confidence in your abilities, or any single event that you will always remember)
My biggest highlight of studying at Leeds was the combination of people who shaped my experience and the confidence I built because of them. I can point to awards, projects, and milestones, but when I look back, what I will always remember is how supported I felt while I was growing into a more confident version of myself.

Academically, faculty member, Andrea Denny played a huge role in that. Her guidance made a real difference to my journey. She helped me strengthen how I think, how I back my ideas, and how I show up in professional settings. Having a professor who genuinely invested in my progress gave me the push I needed to aim higher and trust my ability. My mentor, Adrian Murton, also had a big impact. He helped me stay focused, think long-term, and keep perspective when things felt intense.

On a personal level, the friendships I built are what made Leeds feel like home. Sai Hasitha Thontepu and Aino Uemura were my closest people through it all, especially through competitions and the busy weeks when we were juggling deadlines and big goals. They were not just friends, they were teammates, and a huge part of my best memories at Leeds come from the way we supported each other.

One single experience I will always remember is the international study tour. It brought everything together, learning, friendships, and the excitement of being out of your comfort zone. I met people who became genuinely important to my Leeds story, like Beppe and Maria. Those conversations, shared moments, and the feeling of being part of a global community are memories I will carry for a long time. Leeds gave me skills, but more than that, it gave me people and belief in myself, and that will always be my biggest highlight.

Would you recommend the University of Leeds and the Business School to others? What advice would you give to students to help them get the most out of their time in Leeds?
Yes, I would absolutely recommend the University of Leeds and Leeds University Business School. For me, it was an environment that genuinely helps you grow, not only through teaching, but through the people you meet and the opportunities you can access if you stay curious and proactive. The Business School gives you a strong academic foundation, but what really makes the experience special is that Leeds feels full of energy. There is always something happening, a project, a competition, a society, a part-time role, an event, or a chance to collaborate with people outside your course. If you engage with it fully, it becomes more than a degree.

The best advice I can give is: get out of your comfort zone early. Say yes to things even if you feel slightly underqualified or nervous. Some of the best opportunities I had came from simply showing up, putting my hand up, and being willing to learn as I went. Keep looking for opportunities, because they are everywhere at Leeds, not just within your programme, but across the university and different schools too. You will be surprised how much you can do if you explore beyond your department.

And when you need help, ask. Ask your professors, ask careers staff, ask classmates, ask people running societies, ask someone you admire. The worst they can say is no, but most of the time people are more open than you expect. Those conversations can lead to guidance, support, and opportunities you would never find by yourself. If you treat Leeds like a place to experiment, build relationships, and take initiative, you will leave with far more than a qualification.