In the member spotlight this week is Zulekha Selant, an undergraduate student studying Leeds Beckett University’s (LBU) BA (Hons) International Business course, accredited by the Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade.
Selant spoke to the Daily Update about the opportunities the course has presented inside and outside the classroom, growing her understanding of business and politics, while supporting her international career aspirations with once-in-a-lifetime overseas learning programmes.
International ambitions
Selant describes herself as “creative and adventurous” and says that choosing international business has helped her carve a path towards a career that reflects these qualities.
“Not a lot of people know this,” she shares, “but I used to study fashion design at a different university in Leeds.”
“I loved the creative aspect, but I realised it wasn't quite the right path for me. I didn't like feeling confined to one specific field – it felt really limiting.”
After reflecting on her interests and the need to keep her career options open post-university, she found international business, which she says is the “perfect fit” for her.
“Business really stood out to me because business is so multidimensional,” she adds.
“I could be creative, but it also let me be more flexible in terms of my future career aspirations.”
It also fulfils her passion for experiencing other cultures, which she describes as “a huge, massive part of what I've always wanted to do – it’s definitely shaped both my personal outlook and even my professional ambitions”.
Seeing theory in practice
Selant has used her LBU degree to great effect to realise these ambitions. Throughout the course she’s seen international business operate in practice, visiting other countries through overseas programmes.
Her first experience was at a summer school facilitated by LBU, in which she spent two weeks in India, studying and participating in excursions to business sites around Pune.
“It gave me the chance to see international business practices first hand and really understand how they play out in different cultural and economic settings beyond academic [theory].
“It was also just a really great opportunity to connect with people from different backgrounds and gain a deeper appreciation for how businesses operate on a global scale.”
She adds that one experience which has stayed with her was visiting a sustainable farm. “It was just incredible to see the sustainable practices that people were including,” she says.
“I got to meet the women that were working on the sustainable farm and see the balance they had in their personal lives alongside work.”
South Korea
Inspired by her experience in Pune, Selant set out to pursue other international opportunities, securing a place on a six-month global immersion programme in South Korea independently, which she describes as “a huge confidence boost” and “one of the most valuable experiences I've achieved so far”.
In addition to completing further industry visits, she also studied at Kyungdong University, exposing her to different perspectives on business as she learned alongside and from other international students.
“The international environment made discussions in class more interesting, because we were constantly exchanging ideas and experiences from our own countries.
“What made it so impactful was seeing first-hand how business, education and practises differ in a culture that operates completely differently from a Western approach.”
Thriving in another international setting bolstered Selant’s conviction that a career in international business is for her. “The idea of it doesn’t feel daunting to me,” she says, adding that choosing South Korea was especially valuable as “a country with such strong global business presence”.
‘Deeper understanding’ of business
Following the global immersion programme, Selant will return to LBU for her final year in September, completing her degree and making career plans post-graduation.
While her international experiences have broadened her horizons and given her a competitive edge, she values the strong foundation in international business that the course has provided.
She says the BA has given her “a deeper understanding of how interconnected our world really is”.
“It's easy to look at international business as just the exchange of goods and services but studying it in depth has shown me how much it influences economies, cultures and global politics.”
Echoing fellow LBU student Courtney Mckenzie, she adds that studying trade has given her greater insight into current affairs and sharpened her commercial acumen.
“When I look at news stories, whether they’re about tariffs, trade agreements, or supply chain disruptions, I look at [them] with a much more analytical mindset. I can understand the economic motivations behind [them].”
What’s next?
As she prepares to graduate next year, Selant is weighing up how she wants to apply her newfound knowledge and experience.
Asked what her future plans would have been a year ago, she says she was “very focused on securing a role in a multinational corporation abroad”.
“Somewhere I could gain valuable industry experience and work in a dynamic work environment.”
However, with so much international experience already under her belt, and having become much more independent through her travels, she says she would rather pursue her own business venture overseas.
“I'm not entirely sure what I would like to do just yet, but I'm keeping an open mind and exploring different opportunities.
“My main goal is to find something that really lets me use my creativity, while also connecting with different cultures and industries.”
Use the following links to learn more about LBU and the BA (Hons) International Business.
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