Can you tell us a bit about your background and what led you to London Met?
I moved from Greece to London to complete my higher education, where I began an undergraduate degree in business at Kingston University. After getting a job in North London working as an assistant manager, I decided to transfer universities and applied to study Business Management at London Met. I chose London Met for a number of reasons, firstly they have great facilities such as an extensive library and a world class science lab. Secondly, for the central location of the Guildhall School of Business and Law, for the diversity of students and lectures who form the London Met community.
What have you been doing since you’ve graduated?
After graduating from London Met, I decided to continue working in London. I currently work as a product support specialist for a global SaaS company which provides virtual datarooms to leading clients who are seeking to complete their M&A transactions. As a product support specialist, I provide both industry specific and technical support to help our clients complete their deals efficiently and securely. This experience has led me to develop a considerable interest in the business intelligence industry and a desire to understand how automation can be used to improve future business processes. For the future I plan to undertake a master’s degree in a business and tech field to expand my job prospects within the business tech industry.
What were your lecturers at London Met like?
My lectures at London Met were one of a kind! They were always there to help and were both incredibly supportive and engaging. Not only did they come from a diverse backgrounds, but they were also especially knowledgeable on their areas of expertise. They performed beyond my expectations and opened me to new and radical ideas within business, encouraging me to think critically and giving me an insight into the versatile nature of business process and practice. I also cannot thank them enough for giving me all the support I needed to achieve my first-class honours.
You’ve participated in the Pathfinder programme with Salesforce and Deloitte. Can you tell us more about the programme?
I heard about the Pathfinder program through my senior lecturer, Bettina Coleman-Schoels who reached out to me about the opportunity after I had graduated. I had experience as an end user of Salesforce through my work, so I was eager to learn more and decided to apply for the program. The application process involved an introductory seminar that outlined the program, an application form and interview. The Pathfinder team was very warm and welcoming, which made the interview process easy and enjoyable. I began the program online on the Salesforce training platform called Trailhead where I got to learn key technical Salesforce skills which are great for starting out in Salesforce and business tech management. Trailhead is one of the best aspects of the training program. It is free and flexible, and you can continue learning things out of the program that you are most interested in. Later during the program, we had business training with Deloitte which aimed to prepare us professionally for future employment by mimicking a real workplace. We also had a week of collaborative training called 'solutions week'. During this week we learnt how to build a Salesforce demo solution in teams while working from a case study based on a real business scenario. This experience was both fun and also very informative as I got to know how to build effective solutions for the current business environment and how a Salesforce team needs to operate to work effectively.
How do you think your study at London Met prepared you for your work?
The skills and knowledge that I obtained through my studies at London Met provided me with a well-rounded understanding of the business process and practice. This essentially opened me to a wider range of job opportunities and vastly improved my job prospects. Moreover, the expertise that I developed through my modules and assessments prepared me for the workplace in a number of ways. Firstly, it gave me a critical understanding of how the business and its stakeholders operate. Secondly, it provided me with the key soft skills that are needed to develop successfully within the workplace. And thirdly, it exposed me to vital online sources that have allowed me to stay up to date with the dynamic nature of business. In addition to this, London Met also offers excellent opportunities, such as Accelerator, which aims to support students to pursue their entrepreneurial ambitions.
Do you have any advice for current students or graduates?
As I have mentioned the lectures at London Met are very knowledgeable and supportive so do not be shy to ask for their advice. Make use of the resources available to you while studying, there is a lot to gain from the facilities offered at London Met. Get involved in social events such as voting for student representatives or joining a society as it will make you feel more a part of the London Met community. Attend seminars outside of your studies, particularly ones that interest you, even if they may not relate to what you are studying, they can broaden your knowledge and improve your critical engagement in a variety of topics. Take advantage of the programs offered (such as the Pathfinder) through your studies, they can greatly benefit your personal and professional development and may even help you make crucial career decisions. Try to get work experience while studying as this experience can be greatly beneficial when starting your career. Get into your studies and enjoy your time at London Met, you never know where it might take you in the future. After graduating, finding the right job can be hard and applying for jobs can be even harder so remember to not give up on yourself!
