Tell us a little bit about yourself and your achievements to date
Hi, I’m Shohail. I’m a Master of Business student with a specialisation in marketing at Monash University. My background is in business administration. I’m a freelance branding consultant and at just 24, I had the opportunity to design a brand from scratch. Currently, I’m a peer assistance mentor at Monash.
What are your goals for the future?
Branding is my passion and I aspire to be an academic in the future in this field. My freelance ventures have proved quite rewarding and I wish to be an entrepreneur having my own design firm. I want to inspire the next generation of students to think outside the box.
Why are you excited about being a Study Melbourne Student Ambassador?
I’m very excited about being a Study Melbourne Student Ambassador because it’s my biggest leadership role to date. Moreover, I’m the first ever Ambassador from my home country, Bangladesh. I want to lead, engage and assist the international student community in embracing the diversity and opportunities Melbourne has to offer.
What are your tips for students who have just arrived in Melbourne?
As an international student myself, I know what a person like me must go through. It’s daunting to say the least, but it really helps to have an open mindset. Melbournians are very friendly, and this is a big opportunity for you to gain important soft skills by making friends.
How have you gone about making new friends and building your networks in Victoria?
My absolute first recommendation would be to start volunteering – be it in your residential college, your university clubs and societies or your local Salvation Army. It helped me meet, work and network with so many bright minds! It also allowed me to learn from others and develop collaboration skills.