[My First Steps at Salford]
I still remember the first time I arrived in Manchester. Having just completed my military service and left my hometown to begin my journey at the The University of Salford, I felt a sense of excitement wondering who I would become by the time I graduated. As an international student, I successfully completed the International Year One course and entered Salford Business School directly into my second year. However, despite being a second-year student on paper, I knew nothing about the campus facilities, which made the initial transition quite challenging. Although I wanted some time to adapt, the reality of graduating the following year constantly kept me on edge. As a result, I relentlessly participated in every competition and event the university had to offer. Looking back, it was quite a reckless approach, but it ultimately became a massive help in shaping my future vision and preparing for my career.
[The Seed Planted in Marketing]
Among the modules I took upon arriving at the University of Salford, Business Intelligence and Dashboards was particularly impressive. Learning how to utilise Power BI for practical applications rather than the tedious academic approaches I was used to made me clearly realise that I wasn’t just studying at university, but genuinely acquiring tangible skills.
While every module was excellent, the one that left the deepest impression on me was Project Management. I am not sure if prospective university students will read this, but I want to say that this module alone made studying at the University of Salford worthwhile. The memories of structuring a project based on SMART objectives, setting the direction through a Stakeholder Classification Matrix, and agonising over how to successfully complete an M&A using an Excel, Impact Matrix and PBS/WBS structures remain vivid in my mind, even after a year has passed. After successfully completing these two modules, I found myself participating in a competition that would alter my career path.
[The Turning Point in Career Planning]
How many university students enter higher education with a clearly defined career path? I certainly wasn’t one of them. I simply had a vague idea that I would become a ‘marketer’ in a broad sense and smoothly secure a job in that field. However, one day I had the opportunity to deliver two business pitches at Salford Business School. I became a finalist in the Dragons’ Den-style pitch and won the ultimate victory in the Salford Business School pitch, earning prize money.
This experience became the fundamental turning point that changed my career trajectory. At the time, I was somewhat arrogant due to my excellent grades, but actually experiencing the entire process of developing, operating, securing investment, and promoting a business firsthand made me realise that what I learned at university was truly just the absolute basics. Afterward, I joined the Launch Business Incubator and received various support, intending to use my prize money to build a prototype of my business model. However, after discovering potential visa complications, I had to temporarily put the development on hold. Furthermore, the question of whether I could build a stable business model with only an undergraduate level of knowledge, coupled with a lack of specialised expertise, shifted my immediate goal from starting a business to wanting to work in the industry that actually moves money.
[The Final Chapter at Salford]
In my final year, I recall participating in a pitch for IBM through the CIM-affiliated Marketing in Action module, where I agonised over how to allocate a £400k budget and construct an effective marketing campaign. Unfortunately, we didn’t win the final round, but using this experience as a foundation, I took on the role of CFO during the Edumundo Simulation in the Strategic Management and Advanced Digital Marketing modules. Overseeing the team’s overall ROI and KPI management, as well as budget allocation, I achieved a 194.1% increase in profitability compared to the start of the simulation. In addition to this, receiving the Dean’s Award and my internship experience at Mindless Academy fostered a stronger interest in investing and managing money, rather than strictly pursuing a path as a marketer.
[Taking the First Step Forward]
I have now chosen the path of Investment Management over the marketing industry, and I am currently striving to build as many connections as possible with professionals working in this sector. From an outsider’s perspective, it might seem puzzling why someone who studied Business Management with Marketing suddenly pivoted to Investment Management. However, I believe that the most beautiful thing we can pursue during our university years is discovering what we truly love and can immerse ourselves in throughout our lives. My journey at the University of Salford allowed me to take my first steps as a marketer, but choosing the path of Investment Management was an outcome even I couldn’t have predicted. Now, aligning myself with the Korean market, I am preparing for the AFPK; Associate Financial Planner Korea, CFA, and Certified Investment Manager, with exams scheduled for this August. This is just the starting point; while I am currently focusing on the Korean market to begin my career, I hope to one day return to the UK and build my career at Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust.
As I conclude this post, I want to ask everyone reading this: Did you find what you truly love by the end of your university life?
I would love to actively connect with those who have had similar reflections, or professionals currently working in the Investment Management industry in London or Seoul. Please feel free to send me a connection request anytime!