This week, the Daily Update spoke to Courtney Mckenzie, a student of Leeds Becket University’s (LBU) BA (Hons) International Business BA, accredited by the Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade.
Mckenzie, a highly driven individual with an early penchant for both business and trade, had already established a successful company importing and selling e-scooters while still in sixth form. He then decided he wanted to build an international career.
Set to graduate this year, with his perfect grad role in international recruitment lined up, he explained how his LBU experience has set him up for success, along with how studying international business and trade has broadened his horizons and deepened his engagement with current events.
University pathway
Having already amassed a wealth of practical business experience and success, what prompted Mckenzie to consider returning to education?
After a dissatisfying pandemic university experience and another successful stint in industry, he “worked [his] way up into” a kind of “car salesman position”, before he realised that a return to higher education could “open more doors” for him, unlocking opportunities to build the international career he wanted.
“I was looking for other jobs and opportunities and just thought [that] having a degree gives you that foot in the door.”
‘Real-world applications’
He praised the course for its “practical approach” and said that he appreciated how it placed an emphasis on “real-world business application”.
One area in which Mckenzie found this especially valuable was through the course’s focus on sustainability.
“Just the other [day], we were speaking about like why companies nearshore their operations,” he says.
“The whole class didn't really [appreciate] the points [the lecturer] was making at first. Then they explained that businesses are now thinking about their carbon footprint, boosting local economies, after relying on cheap labour.
“When they explained that sustainability aspect of it, why companies are actually moving a bit closer to home, it clicked – I didn't really look at in that [way]”.
Real-world issues
Mckenzie adds that the course has given him a much fuller understanding current events, including another dimension to the nearshoring trend: the trade policy of US president Donald Trump.
“I've been interested in what's going on in the US at the moment with the increased tariffs that Trump's imposed on Canada, Mexico, the EU,” Mckenzie says.
“I think the course as a whole has been great, especially for understanding where the world's heading.”
Reflecting on the past five years in general, studying international business and learning about trade has given him “lots of insight” into the biggest political and economic events around America, China, tariffs and Brexit.
“It's been beneficial, especially for someone like myself, that's looking to do business internationally, just [to] understand how exporting works, [learning about] trade regulations and how something gets from A-Z. It's been quite helpful.”
Skills for success
He says that the course also gave him the skills he needed to compete in an especially tough graduate jobs market. One skill that stood out as especially useful for selection processes was public speaking.
“You get a bit nervous when you have to present in front of a company’s director,” he says.
“It’s just you guys in the room and you’ve just got to start speaking. But they’re skills you’ve just got to keep working on and take any opportunity to keep improving.”
He cites the course as giving him ample opportunity to improve, with multiple assignments requiring him to present to seminars on specific businesses or sectors, which stood him in good for the kinds of presentations he was expected to deliver.
“It's developed my confidence in constructing and delivering a presentation,” he says, adding that “there’s been a lot of that for graduate interviews”.
“I had already had experience of doing research and presenting business insights.”
Graduate opportunity
The practice clearly paid off, as Mckenzie is preparing to start a graduate role at international recruitment firm MacKenzie Stuart in September.
The firm, which specialises in executive search services, with recruiters working across industries globally, was a great fit for Mckenzie. Aside from a bit of nominative determinism, he says he always knew he wanted his career to be as international as possible.
“I want to do business internationally. I like operating across borders, it's quite fascinating, it gives that kind of broader perspective on markets, trade and cultural nuances.”
Tips for success
When asked what advice he would give to a business graduate wanting to emulate his success and progress into an international career, Mckenzie suggests students think about what’s going to “set them apart” from others, with a particular focus on industry experience.
He recommends “practical experience – whether through internships, part-time jobs, entrepreneurial activities and other hand-on experiences like that”.
“It sets you apart from other people, but also builds on your own personal skills as well.”
In terms of the personal skills needed to succeed, he adds that “consistency is the main thing”.
“It’s just like going to the gym,” he says.
“When you first go to the gym, you don't see the results, but six months, a year down the line, you start seeing a small gain.”
“So, I'd say definitely be consistent. Don't give up.”
Use the following links to learn more about LBU and the BA (Hons) International Business International Business BA.
