F M Farhan Faiyaz
All the subjects involved projects that you can put in your portfolio.
I did my bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, but I had a knack for business. During my undergrad, I ran two small companies — a tutoring company and an apparel business. In 2020, I launched a philanthropic venture called the Porikolpona Foundation in my home country of Bangladesh. While working on those projects, I saw how data played a role in shaping or making decisions. I decided I wanted to pursue a master’s degree in something that had a good balance between data science and business.
I looked into an MBA, but then I came across this business analytics program here at UTS. I saw that there was a good balance of practical experience — you learn something and then you implement it in real life. All the subjects involved projects that you can put in your portfolio. There’s interrelation between the different subjects, too — you can use a concept from one course and implement it in another. They don’t teach you anything you don’t need because the programs are really suited to the needs of industry. Nothing you learn is obsolete.
The UTS Business School also has affiliations with major consulting firms. They have a competition where you become like a real consultant for the company. You work on a business problem and then present your findings to an industry panel. I think that’s a pretty good way to grow your network.
I’m still running the Porikolpona Foundation from here in Sydney. My degree is really relevant to that work, too. Fundraising has been a very important aspect of running the foundation, and it has been interesting to see how data can actually influence fundraising and how people perceive our campaigns.
My intention after I graduate is to join a tech company as a data analyst and see where it goes. I plan to keep the Porikolpona Foundation running, but there are loads of other things I want to do as well. There are lots of opportunities here in Australia. My long-term plan is to run my own business, but for now, I want to explore the start-up ecosystem here in Australia. That’s my plan.
Farhan received a 2023 Diana Award for his work with the Porikolpona Foundation. These international awards recognise impactful social or humanitarian contributions made by young people around the world.
