Raghav Motani

Why did you choose UTS Business School for your studies in Marketing?

Looking for a marketing masters degree across Australia was challenging as many universities offer the course "Master of Marketing". When choosing the course, my main objective was to look at course structure not university rankings. The UTS Master of Marketing is well structured, and there are many new subjects like innovation and entrepreneurship included. When I compared it to other universities; it was much more detailed and not only talked about marketing but also gave an understanding of what to expect from the degree. Selecting a degree based on its structure and not uni ranking is important because that will define who you are in the corporate world after you graduate.
Other factors that played a role in my decision were the University's location, connections to the corporate world and the number of extracurricular activities UTS offers. Activities and programs such as UTS SOUL, UTS BUILD, UTS Startups, UTS Students' Association, Activate UTS and many more make me feel that I have chosen the right university for me.

What is the most useful thing you have learned from your degree so far?

Managing my time and how to prioritise work based on importance. I am currently working as an SEO Specialist for a client in Sydney. Working in the corporate field and being a full-time international student is a challenge. I am also involved in various organisations as a volunteer both at UTS and externally. Doing a masters and being in various leadership positions involves lots of responsibility, time management and deadlines to meet. I have found that the solution to managing my time effectively and efficiently is having a well-maintained calendar that considers the time I spend in various areas including at uni and beyond.
The most rewarding aspect of my degree so far has been capturing what I learned from my studies and implementing the concepts in my day-to-day work and the various community organisations I volunteer with. 

You’re a recipient of the Betty Makin Award for “Young Community Champion” from the City of Sydney. How did you get involved in volunteer and community work at UTS?

UTS has many different areas of volunteering that students can get involved in such as UTS SOUL, UTS BUILD, UTS Students Association, Activate UTS and more. I wanted to put myself in the community and meet new people. Volunteering was a way to reduce my stress, get away from technology, spend time with members of the community and learn from them. Education is important, but equally, so is practical knowledge. As a marketing student, if I want to work in marketing in Australia, I need to get to know local businesses and people, what they like, how they spend their days etc. Through volunteering, I've gotten to experience these areas and my passion for serving the community in general. 
So far I've volunteered over 350 hours across 6 different organisations including as a mental health first aider for Kookaburra Kids, a UTS peer networker, a Red Cross emergency and disaster community RED-iness member, a volunteer community manager for TED X Sydney, a well-being representative with Activate UTS and as a representative for International Students on the UTS Student Council.  

What would your advice be for someone who is thinking about studying Business at UTS?

Say yes to the different opportunities available to you at the university level. The opportunity does not only have to be in the Business field, because anything you get involved in will help you build transferable skills. UTS has many extracurricular activities compared to other universities and many ways to get involved in the areas you're passionate about. Set goals for what you want to achieve both at university and outside university. To achieve your goals you'll need to be organised and prioritise the activities that are most important to you. 
I think that it's better to work really hard while at uni so you can explore all of your areas of interest. That way you can hopefully have a career in an area that you're passionate about rather than feeling like you have to work for the rest of your life doing something you don't enjoy.