Toyin Kukoyi
Current student, Placement student
- Course
- International Business BSc
- Subject area
- Business, Management and Marketing
Growing up in Nigeria and the UK, Loughborough really stood out to me in the prospectuses I looked through. Its strong league table rankings and graduate prospects convinced me that it was the right place to take my next steps. I chose to study International Business because I wanted something that would allow me to work across different industries and geographies, wherever I decide to settle.
I achieved high marks in Marketing modules, because they allowed me to express my creativity, create compelling narratives, and build communities around products and services. Now, my aspirations are focused on brand formation and strategy, ensuring businesses present themselves in a way that resonates with employees and audiences.
My placement year as Activities Community Lead at Loughborough Students’ Union was a fantastic experience. Originally focused on enterprise, my role expanded to include work with the Learning and Development team, helping develop training programs, improve volunteer role awareness, transparency and accountability, and student experience initiatives such as an LSU Alumni Network.
One of the highlights of my placement year was the Women in Enterprise campaign. I created this campaign to raise awareness about the hurdles female founders face, and changes that could be made to create a more inclusive and empowering environment. This entailed a week of events, social media spotlights of student entrepreneurs, and a Women in Enterprise conference. We engaged over 200 students and employees, and the project resulted in the establishment of the Women in Enterprise Network here at Loughborough. Being able to represent the student voice for such a pressing issue and make a lasting impact was incredible.
I also had the chance to study abroad at Laval University in Quebec, Canada, for a two-week intensive course in international marketing. I worked on group projects supporting Quebec start-ups, including a company producing audiovisual equipment for sports and education. My team focused on expanding their business into the German market, and the experience broadened my perspective on international branding and market entry strategies. Beyond academic study, I also embraced the adventure. I had the chance to try canoeing, rock climbing, and even caught a baseball game.
Now in my final year, I’ve joined the Society Exec Committee as the Development Officer. I ensure that societies aren’t just surviving, but thriving and thinking of new ways to bring their ideas to life and empower students. Recently I supported the Train and Gain society with their International Women’s Day event as a panellist after having a drop out the day before. I spoke about my work last year, experience as a woman with many other labels and how we all play a part in creating an equitable world regardless of gender.
I’ve also been working as an academy ambassador for Wiser, a company that helps employers engage with students through ambassadors, which has been another exciting milestone. I’ve always wanted to help people find their purpose, something I struggled with during my gap year when employment support felt lacking. Wiser aims to reshape how people think about work, making it more enjoyable and purposeful, which aligns perfectly with my values.
With graduation on the horizon, I can confidently say that Loughborough helped me discover my passion and equipped me with the experiences and knowledge I needed to forge my future. It’s been an incredible journey, and I can’t wait for what’s next.
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