Daisy Dickens
Current student
- Course
- International Business BSc
- Subject area
- Business, Management and Marketing
I chose to study International Business at Loughborough because much of my university research relied on league tables, student reviews and recommendations from friends already studying there. Loughborough consistently stood out for both academic quality and student experience, making it an easy choice.
What particularly appealed to me about the course was the opportunity to complete a placement year or study abroad experience. The chance to gain real-world experience while still returning for a final year of study felt like the perfect balance. Looking back, it was one of the most valuable aspects of my degree and played a significant role in boosting my confidence and employability.
One of my proudest achievements during my degree was participating in the Team Business Challenge in my second year as part of the Advanced Professional Skills module. My team was shortlisted and received certificates of academic excellence, which was incredibly rewarding. It gave us the opportunity to apply what we had learned in lectures to a real business challenge and showed me the practical impact of business theory.
My placement year was another standout experience. It gave me valuable insight into professional life and helped me understand how businesses operate in practice. I decided to take a placement year because I recognised the value it would add to my career prospects. Having professional experience on my CV gave me examples and achievements to discuss during interviews that went far beyond the experiences I had gained through part-time hospitality and retail work.
After progressing to the final stages with two companies, I chose Crayon UK because I was interested in the technology sector and wanted exposure to a growing industry. The experience exceeded my expectations. I enjoyed the structure of professional life, being part of a supportive company culture and having the opportunity to contribute to meaningful projects. It also allowed me to put classroom learning into practice and understand how business concepts apply in the real world.
During my placement, I developed several important soft skills, including communication, problem-solving and time management. I also improved my technical abilities through regular use of tools such as Excel, Canva and CRM systems.
One of the most valuable lessons I learned was the importance of speaking up. Whether managing workloads or meeting deadlines, I discovered that honest and proactive communication is essential. Learning to raise challenges early rather than struggle in silence gave me greater confidence and helped me become a more effective professional.
Although my placement role sat within marketing, working in a smaller organisation gave me exposure to multiple departments, particularly finance. Throughout my year at Crayon UK, I built strong relationships with both the UK Finance Director and the CFO for Western Europe, who became informal mentors. They offered valuable insights into their careers and allowed me to observe aspects of their work. Through these experiences, I realised that I was more interested in finance than marketing.
Even though I continued working for Crayon during my final year and received a return offer for a full-time marketing role, I decided to pursue opportunities within finance. Armed with the confidence and experience gained from my placement year, I applied to several leading finance firms and successfully secured a graduate position with BDO, one of the UK's leading accountancy and advisory firms.
The Careers Network had a significant impact on my university experience. During my second year, advisors helped me strengthen my CV and prepare for placement applications. In my final year, they supported me with assessment centre preparation and graduate recruitment processes. The mock assessment centres were especially valuable because they provided realistic practice and feedback from employers. Having access to bookable study and interview spaces on campus also helped reduce stress during virtual interviews and assessment days.
Since graduating, I have joined BDO as an Audit Associate. Alongside my role, I am studying towards the ACA Chartered Accountancy qualification, which will take approximately three years to complete. Once qualified, I hope to continue building my career either within professional services or by moving into an industry-based finance role.
For me, Loughborough Business School's ethos of Progress with Purpose means moving forward with intention and making choices that genuinely contribute to personal growth rather than simply ticking boxes. My journey at Loughborough reflects this idea perfectly. It also means being open to unexpected opportunities. I began my placement convinced that marketing was my future, but exposure to finance changed my perspective entirely. That willingness to learn, adapt and follow a path that feels meaningful is what purposeful progress means to me.