“I Didn’t Have It All Figured Out” — And That Was the Point. Jiya Patel’s UNSW Journey

On 31 March, Jiya Patel, a third-year UNSW Business School student, took to the stage as the guest student speaker at our latest Meet the CEO event. Featuring Michael Dorrell (UNSW BCom ’98, LLB ’97), Chairman, CEO and Co-Founder of Stonepeak, in conversation with UNSW Emeritus Chancellor David Gonski AC, the evening brought together alumni, industry leaders and students for a discussion centred on career, conviction and long-term thinking.

Currently studying a Bachelor of Commerce and Design, Jiya represents a generation of students who are navigating the intersection of creativity and business with both curiosity and intent. Her journey into UNSW Business School began with the Girls in Business Camp, an experience that sparked her interest in the possibilities of business and ultimately shaped her decision to pursue her degree through the Gateway Admissions Pathway.

Since then, Jiya has become deeply embedded in the UNSW community. As a Women in Business Ambassador, Start@UNSW Peer Mentor, and active participant in initiatives such as the Co-NNECTIONS program, she is committed to supporting equity students and fostering a sense of belonging across campus. Her leadership is grounded in lived experience — particularly her own transition into university, where uncertainty became a catalyst for growth, exploration and confidence-building.

Jiya’s story is one of full-circle impact: from a Year 12 student discovering business for the first time, to now actively shaping the experiences of others within the UNSW community. Her perspective highlights the power of access, community and participation in building not just career readiness, but a genuine sense of belonging and how to build solid foundations for long-term success in both university and beyond.

In light of the invaluable advice, lessons and encouragement Jiya spoke of in her speech, the UNSW Business School EDI team has republished with permission Jiya’s Student Ambassador Keynote speech.

Good evening everyone,

I’m honoured to be standing here with the opportunity to share my story and how UNSW has supported me in becoming who I am today.

My name is Jiya Patel, and I’m currently in my third year studying a Bachelor of Commerce and Design under the UNSW Business School. I have recently stepped into the role of Women in Business Ambassador, alongside my involvement as a Start@UNSW Peer Mentor, an Ambassador for Student Equity and Arts, Design and Architecture, and I am a member of the UNSW Co-NNECTIONS program which helps equity students build professional skills for our future careers.

But let’s start from the very beginning. My story with UNSW started before I even enrolled into the university.

In Year 12, I had the opportunity to attend the 2023 Girls in Business Camp. At the time, I remember registering for the program with my friends, with no idea that I would end up studying at the UNSW Business School because of it. I didn’t have a clear idea of what I wanted to study, and the camp was the first time I was exposed to the multitude of opportunities in the world of business.

I also hadn’t chosen Business Studies or Economics for the HSC but I could genuinely picture myself in that kind of environment. An environment that values curiosity, collaboration, and allows students to explore so many different pathways.

That experience stayed with me, and when it was time to apply for university, it was all I could think about. I accepted my early offer into Commerce and Design through the Gateway Admissions Pathway and I’m loving it!

In 2024, or the year “Jiya made it”, as I like to call it, was when I transitioned into university. I was surrounded by students from diverse backgrounds, all navigating their own journeys, and that made the experience feel exciting and reassuring at the same time.

Time went by, and I had made it, but now what? Like many students, I didn’t begin university feeling completely certain about where my future would take me.

Coming into a Commerce and Design double degree, I was drawn to the idea of combining creativity with business thinking - but I wasn’t entirely sure where I would end up. And I think that uncertainty is something many students experience, even if we don’t always talk about it. I then realised the biggest thing about university - how much growth happens outside of the tutorial rooms and lecture theatres.

I remember attending one of my first industry events at uni and started second guessing myself

- how do I initiate conversations? Am I asking the “right” questions?

But when I started speaking with industry - it was completely different to what I expected. They were incredibly open. They didn’t just talk about their successes. They shared their uncertainties, the changes in direction, their squiggly careers, and the moments where they didn’t have everything figured out.

That has stayed with me to this day. It made me realise that there isn’t a single, linear pathway to success - and that having an incomplete career plan is actually a part of the process.

Similarly, I wanted to give back the support and encouragement I received from UNSW by getting more involved outside of my studies.

Through my role as a Start@UNSW Peer Mentor, I have been able to support first year equity students in navigating their own transitions into university - at the same stage where I often felt uncertain myself.

Through the UNSW Co-NNECTIONS program, I have had the opportunity to engage more directly with industry, gaining insights into different career pathways and building confidence in professional settings.

And now, as a Women in Business Ambassador, I’m so grateful to be part of a community that focuses on empowerment, representation, and creating opportunities for students to grow. It’s a complete full circle moment knowing that I can contribute to the same kind of experiences that once shaped my own decision to come to UNSW.

Regarding my future, I’m still exploring the destinations in my career map, but I have developed a strong interest in finance, innovation and strategy - where business thinking connects with creativity and problem solving. I also want to continue contributing to the UNSW community with the belief that confidence doesn’t come from having everything set in stone.

It comes from experience. From a sense of belonging. From feeling connected to what you do.

From your willingness to step into opportunities, even when they feel unfamiliar.

The biggest opportunities are not just in the degrees we study, but in the communities we become a part of. Communities that encourage exploration, build confidence, and make the transition from university to industry feel less intimidating.

And I feel like these are things UNSW has given me from the very beginning.

Thank you all for letting me share my story, and I hope you have a wonderful evening.