Building confidence through my Business degree

From uncertainty to confidence

Starting university was one of the most exciting yet intimidating moments of my life. Before joining Middlesex University, I had already taken a gap year, and by the time I finally began my studies, I carried many concerns with me. I worried about adapting to a new culture, improving my English, building connections, and finding my place in such an international environment.

At the time, everything felt unfamiliar.

Now, after three years, I can confidently say that Middlesex University became more than just a place where I studied. It became the environment that helped me grow personally, academically, and professionally.

Growing through university life

My first year passed incredibly quickly. I was still adjusting to university life and learning how to navigate a completely new system. By my second year, however, subjects like entrepreneurship, start-ups, finance, and innovation no longer felt intimidating. Instead, they became areas that genuinely excited me. I started understanding not only the theory behind business, but also how these ideas connected to the real world.

My third year, however, challenged me the most. The expectations from our lecturers became much higher, and meeting those standards required discipline, consistency, and real commitment. At the same time, I become determined to achieve strong results and gain as much experience as possible before graduation. Because of that, I tried to involve myself in every opportunity that could help me grow.

During this period, I became a Student Voice Leader, which gave me the chance to contribute more actively to the university community. Shortly afterwards, one of my lecturers approached me with an opportunity that immediately caught my attention. I was invited to join a special online class made up of only fifteen students from three different countries and multiple campuses.

Without hesitation, I said yes.

A global learning experience 

The Global Consultancy Challenge module was unlike anything I had experienced before. It brought together students from different cultures, perspectives, and educational backgrounds in one truly global classroom. More importantly, it reflected what international business collaboration looks like in real life.

One of the most inspiring parts of this experience was our lecturer, Sabrina Akbar. Her passion for the module was visible in every session, and throughout the process she became a real source of inspiration for me.

What also stood out was the way our lecturers Rory McConnon and Vikram Gungah encouraged us to think globally while also sharing their own professional experiences in such an honest and supportive way. Rather than teaching only theory, they created scenarios that reflected real-world business challenges and pushed us to solve them collaboratively.

Navigating international teamwork

What made this module even more meaningful was the way it respected cultural differences and created an inclusive environment for everyone. During the project, some students were celebrating Easter while others were observing Ramadan, so our lecturers prepared the schedule in a way that respected both occasions.

The structure of the lessons and deadlines was planned thoughtfully to make sure every student could participate comfortably while balancing their own cultural and religious commitments. This approach made the module feel genuinely global and supportive, and it showed how important inclusivity and understanding are within the Middlesex University community.

I worked with a student from Mauritius campus and a student from Dubai campus on a consultancy project focused on helping a Caribbean elective business expand into the U.S. market. While the project itself was exciting, it also came with real challenges. Time differences between countries, different working habits, and communication styles sometimes made collaboration difficult. Certain applications did not work properly in Dubai, while some tools we used were completely unfamiliar to our teammate in Mauritius. At times, we found ourselves reteaching the same systems to one another repeatedly.

Lessons beyond the classroom

Looking back, those moments were some of the most valuable parts of the experience.

They taught us adaptability, patience, and how to function as a truly international team. In future careers, situations like these will be unavoidable. What matters is learning how to communicate effectively, solve problems together, and remain solution-oriented under pressure.

This module gave us much more than academic knowledge — it gave us a professional mindset.

Building a genuine sense of teamwork was also incredibly meaningful to me. I even had the opportunity to meet my classmate from Mauritius in person, and from the moment we met, working together naturally and staying focused on our goals already felt like a success. By the time we reached our final presentation, we felt proud of what we had achieved because we knew how much effort every member of the team had invested.

Turning dreams into reality

One of my favourite artists once said:  

“İstikrarlı hayal hakikattir.”

“Consistent dreams become reality.”

Since my very first day at university, I have carried many dreams with me. Some of them I held onto very tightly. One of those dreams was earning qualifications and experiences that would genuinely help shape my future.

Today, I have a Global Consulting Challenge certificate created through collaboration across three different Middlesex University campuses.

For the younger version of myself, the nervous girl who arrived at university full of uncertainty and fear, this achievement means far more than a certificate. It is proof that growth takes time, adaptation is possible, and dreams really can turn into reality.

About the author

Feyzagul is a third-year BA International Business student with a strong interest in music, art, and creative projects. In her free time, she enjoys singing, playing the guitar and piano, and painting. She is passionate about approaching business creatively and hopes to develop meaningful projects in the future. Feyzagul believes that building a successful business is itself a form of art. She is also passionate about community and charity work and enjoys connecting with people from different backgrounds.