Esra Üstün
Nationality: Turkish
MSc Course: MSc Management
Graduation year: 2022
“Bayes has played a very special role in my career journey - it changed everything for me.”
“London is so diverse and dynamic. I come from Istanbul in Turkey, and I wanted to live in a city that could match its vibrancy and professional opportunities. They are both big, bustling cities, and when I visited London as a tourist I was struck by the mix of cultures. There is something for everyone, regardless of where you come from and your background. That is very inspiring, as I was looking to study with a diverse group of people.”
Esra Üstün is talking about her decision to relocate from Istanbul to London for the MSc Management at Bayes Business School.
“I feel like London offers more professional opportunities than many other cities in Europe, especially for Management. I knew it would be the ideal environment to get connections, find a job and gain some exposure to different industries.”
Following in her family’s footsteps
Esra had family connections to Bayes, which were a positive influence on her decision to join the business school:
“My father did his undergraduate degree at City, and my cousin was at the Business School. They both found that having those names on their CVs had been very helpful for their careers.”
“I also read a lot of articles about rankings and could see how highly Bayes is valued. I had really good feedback from advisors about the business school and how it is strongly connected to the business environment, which would give lots of opportunities for career development. Bayes also has a great location in the city, and that was a pull factor too.”
Bayes’ MSc Management programme has an MBA-style curriculum where students learn how to analyse various complex management issues, both operational and strategic, within an international context. It improves strategic thinking, decision-making, team-leadership and other hard and soft skills that are essential for managers and entrepreneurs to thrive.
The breadth and depth of the programme was another key factor in Esra’s decision-making process.
“I have a social sciences background, which is completely different to business. I studied International Relations at Galatasaray University in Istanbul. It gave me a broad overview of economics, law, politics and history, but having done a few internships over the summer months, I realised I wanted to move into a managerial role in the future. The Bayes MSc Management offered a lot of flexibility with modules in Strategy, Finance, Marketing and Entrepreneurship, for example. I felt it would help me understand what I enjoy and help me decide which path to pursue.”
A Careers Service which opens doors
Today, Esra works for Taboola, a global Ad-tech company, based in London. As an Advertising Account Manager, she works with multiple enterprise advertisers, managing their ad campaigns and making sure they get good results. It’s a client-facing role, focused on building long-term partnerships and growing accounts.
“The Careers Service organised a trip to the company, which I attended. It helped me connect with a few people there, including their talent team, which led to me applying for an internship after graduation. I was able to reference that trip in my application and what I’d learnt about the company, and that helped me secure the internship. I’ve now been working there for almost three years, and it’s down to that original company trip which the Careers Team organised. Bayes has had a very special role in my career journey, because it changed everything for me.”
Knowledge and skills for the real world
“As well as opening that door, the master’s has really prepared me for the business world. Modules covering finance and statistics have been so helpful to really understand how a business functions from every point of view, and it helps distinguish you from your peers.”
“I recall that there was a specific module on negotiation and today I have a role which requires a lot of selling skills – I have targets to grow my accounts. That requires very strong communication and negotiation skills. My time at Bayes really helped develop those skills, through team-working projects. There are a lot of different students from all around the world, with different backgrounds. We would come together to work on projects with tight deadlines, which requires a lot of communication. Gaining that experience before starting my career, I felt prepared. Now I am an Account Manager, and I feel my Bayes experience has helped me to become a well-rounded and effective manager.”
“What you learn at Bayes is not just the theory – there is always a real-life case study to apply it to. We studied real business cases and then discussed them in class. It was really interactive with everyone contributing different viewpoints. That diversity of experience helps broaden your mindset.”
“My time at Bayes has taught me so many things, but the main one being that I am adaptable. Moving country is a huge thing, and it teaches us about our own strengths – being away from family and friends. I’ve also learnt how to be flexible – the business world is different every day, so flexibility is important. Time management is another key skill I’ve gained – during the master’s there are so many demands on your time, and you have many different projects to manage. At the same time, you might be interviewing or writing cover letters or doing your dissertation. Those time management skills are very valuable in day-to-day life.”
“I’ve realised that I thrive in diverse environments, because it pushes me to achieve more. My study group was very motivated and ambitious, and that had a positive effect on me as well. It’s given me the confidence to pursue new opportunities.”
Studying and working in London
“Relocating to London was very exciting. Even though I had been a tourist before, it’s such a different experience to actually live here. It’s contributed so much to my personal growth. I moved here when I was 21 and I definitely feel I have grown more quickly because of my time in London.”
“So many of my friends from Bayes had also relocated from another country, and that helps you bond really quickly. I’ve made such good friends who I am still in touch with, and it’s a highlight from my time at Bayes.”
“You will never be bored in London – there’s just so much to do. From restaurants to concerts and museums, I always find something that I enjoy. It can be an expensive city, but there is a lot you can do for free – many museums are free, and there are lots of free events.”
“Now I am working in London it is great to become more financially independent, but it really is quite different to being a student. I do miss student life, but now I know the value of the education I have received. It’s great to be able to say, ‘I’m a Bayes alumnus’, and for people to recognise the name, or you come across people who also graduated from Bayes and you immediately have a connection.”
“London is the European hub for Ad-tech, so I feel like I am in the right place to grow my career. The UK market gives me so many opportunities to meet many different clients and work on different accounts, as well as to learn from a diverse array of colleagues with alternative perspectives.”
Keeping connected
“Although London is big, it’s also small in a way, as people move in the same circles within specific industries. I still go the MSc alumni events and meet other graduates and make new connections – at Bayes the networking never ends!”
“I’ve kept in touch with Careers Team, and I know they are there to support your continued professional growth. They know so many alumni and they can help you leverage those connections.”
“I was recently invited to be a speaker on an alumni panel, and it’s nice to help the students, because I was in the same position. I can completely relate to what they are going through. The job market is more challenging than when I graduated, and it’s good to be able to share my experience and try to help them. It’s also given me confidence in public speaking, so it’s a win-win.”
Advice for prospective students
“Bayes offers so many opportunities to build your network, so take advantage of them. You can build really strong friendships and professional relationships. Start making connections from very early on – both personal and professional. Go to as many events as you can, where you will meet different people from many companies. You never know when you will come across those people again.”
“It’s only a year, so try to experience it fully – and focus on developing both your hard and soft skills. Get to know the Careers Team and use their services – there is no stupid question. They are the experts in the London job market, so ask them for advice and guidance.”
Looking to the future
“I feel like London is my home, and I really enjoy the city, because there is always more to discover. I want to continue building meaningful connections, both professional and personal. I think that’s what makes your experience better.”
“I’m excited for my career development – the world I work in is very fast-paced, and it feels like just yesterday that I was an intern. Now I have grown so much, I’m excited to see what comes next.”