Tell us about your educational and/or career journey since you graduated from Brunel?
After graduating from Brunel, I joined Heathrow Airport on the future leaders engineering graduate program, where I spent three years taking a grand tour of all the engineering teams and systems that uphold the airport. This took me from baggage to the control tower and everything in between. While on this journey I used to make short, sharp and educational videos that I used to post on social media to educate the next generation all about what happens at the airport. These videos went viral and became a huge source of inspiration for thousands of young people. So much so that’s 53% of all the graduates and apprentices within the engineering team as Heathrow said it was these videos that made them want to join the team. When the department for transport saw the work that I was doing, they asked if I could join them as an aviation ambassador to help attract the next generation of talent in aviation. So now I work full-time as an influencer/ content creator and aviation ambassador to solve the global skills crisis.
What does a typical day at work involve for you?
Since leaving my job working as an engineer, every day has been different. Some days I am travelling internationally to give speeches at conferences in places like Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia and Marrakesh in Morocco. Other days I am glued behind my desk doing emails all day. Meanwhile, there are days that I spend at airports creating content, as well as running workshops for young people across the country where I teach them all about the aviation industry. truly every single day is different, and I truly appreciate the work that I do.
What’s been the highlight of your career journey so far?
Last year I was invited on an exclusive flight with Richard Branson to New York as part of the first ever sustainable aviation furl transatlantic flight. This was a historical milestone that I was invited to be a part of and share with my community. Spending time with Richard as well as other leaders across the aviation industry was extremely enjoyable and it is sure to be one of the memories that I cherish for a long time.
How would you say your Brunel experience has helped you to get where you are today?
During my time at Brunel, not only was I there to learn about aerospace, but I also got a chance to play sports and developed as a human being in general. I would say my time playing American football with Brunel Burners was the time I developed most as a man. I learnt the importance of teamwork and the power of a positive mindset. Playing the sport truly shaped me to becoming the man I am and had it not been for the opportunity to play it at Brunel, I do not know who I would be right now.
Why did you choose to study at Brunel and why would you recommend Brunel to others?
To be honest, studying at Brunel was an accident. But one I am extremely grateful for. I ended up at Brunel after not getting the grades I had hoped for on results day and applying through clearing. I know that there are other people who are in a similar situation to mine and I want to remind them, as well as those who chose to go to Brunel, that those were the best four years of my life and I am so grateful that I ended up “Brunelian”!
What is your best memory of studying here?
My favourite memory was when me and my friends got the giggles during a very serious aerodynamic lecture. We were sat next to each other close to the front row and could not breathe due to the amount of laughter. Meanwhile, the lecturer was giving us evil looks as we were starting to distract the class. As much as university is about learning, it’s also about having a good time and this is one of those memories I will never forget. It makes me laugh just thinking about it now over five years later.
If you could give one piece of advice to current Brunel students, what would that be?
My advice is threefold: 1) Take responsibility in a society of some sort. 2) Join a sports team. 3) Surround yourself with ambitious people. Additional point: Do as many random things as you possibly can during your time at university, you never know which of those things might teach you something about yourself all the world large changes you outlook forever. Without realising it, those things have the potential of changing your life trajectory.
What would be your top tip or key advice for new graduates as they begin their career journey after leaving Brunel?
1) Recognise that the majority of your success will come back to one pivotal skill, your ability to communicate and connect with other people around you. This is a skill you can learn, and it is worth investing time and energy into. 2) Find a problem that you are truly passionate about solving and use all the skills that you have to solve it. There are so many problems in this world that need good minds to be able to tackle them. So why not allow one of those minds to be yours?
#IamBrunel