William and Radhika reflect on UNSW ISA's milestone successes

William: Yeah. We started back in 2024 in December, and we officially launched our first event in March 2025 [...] throughout that one year, we have grown so much! We started with [a] five-exec founding team to a 50-people team in September. By then, we had two flagship events where we hosted a career night. We have like three hundred people show up to that event. Got lots of attention from industry and also the University.

Radhika: Those were big, key events.

William: Yeah. Then in September we hosted UNSW’s first ever international student Got Talent. So it's a talent show for people to express themselves [...] in an artistic way. That's also one of our biggest events. We had, um, over 1,200 people registered and we had packed the room with like seven hundred. We [...] ran out of seats–

Radhika: That event was FULL, I mean–

William: Yeah, it was full. There were people standing.

Radhika: People standing. Popcorn stations overflowing. We're getting photos clicked. It was amazing.

William: Definitely a good problem to have.

Radhika: Yeah...

William: Big questions! So this year [...] we brought on a HUGE team. We have six of us execs and then we have about... *to Radhika* twenty-six directors? 

Radhika: Twenty-five. *nods*

William: Twenty-five directors. It is a BIG year for us. We’ve been using this first term [...] to put in as much planning as possible. Some events that I can give you a general idea of is – you know – Career Night, that worked so well last year. We want to replicate that and make it even bigger this year!

Interviewer: Yeah!

William: We have been talking to other student organisations as well and we will be hosting a New South Wales Career Expo. So it will be a joint initiative with other universities to highlight student employability – especially international students – at Town Hall. That will be coming out soon.

Radhika: Yup!

William: And then we also have plans for the talent show to be run again [...] that's some flagship events that I can think of. *To Radhika* Anything else you want to add?

Radhika: No, I think after last year [...] we understood a lot of things that we did wrong and we learned from it. And so this year we're planning to be as diverse as possible in terms of events. Like, we don't want to lean only into socials. We want [to be] a community where international students benefit from it. Not just socially, but academically and in their future prospects [as well]. So we're trying to have as many events as possible for academics and careers.

William: And also, we want to [ensure] that it is a place for them to connect as well. Not just “Here’s an event and come to our event”, but it's more like you come to our event... you make friends. Because that's what we've seen in the team.

Radhika: Yeah!

William: We keep seeing familiar faces showing up, because their friends are there.

William: I see... UNSW ISA going to [become] one of the biggest societies on campus, one of the most trusted societies on campus and one of the most engaging communities on campus.

Radhika: Yeah!

William: Is that a good statement?

Radhika: Yeah, yeah. I had the same thing in mind in terms of how ISA will become one of the largest societies. In terms of Arc, I'd say they [hopefully] lean more onto us in terms of events and responsibilities, if possible.

Interviewer: Wow, well okay, I hope to see that come to fruition in the future! It sounds very exciting.

William: Mmm. *looks to Radhika* I can start off first – it is definitely hard to be working and studying at the same time, and managing different roles.

Radhika: I think moving countries looks like a very fantastic idea. But when you actually do it and come to a new place where you have no one, it's the strongest and the most difficult thing you'll ever do in your life. Starting from scratch and handling so many things [...] because here you're alone. You have to handle your mental well-being. You have to handle your relationships around you, be it with work friends [...] your [personal] friends, or anyone. And it becomes so difficult to navigate everything at the same time [...] it gets very overwhelming. Because when you're in a new country, you don't have any foundation here. You have to do your best. You cannot slack off.

William: *nods* Mmm.

Radhika: And that's what the pressure becomes as an international student: that you have to give an answer back home [to] “What are you doing there?”. So I think that's one of the thing[s] that goes on in my mind all the time, yeah.

William: Well, I'm currently working in the UNSW Founders team, and this is my – I think – sixth role within the University. I've been moving around a lot. [With roles on campus –] they are available. Are they competitive? Yes. But can we apply and get in? Yes.

Radhika: Yeah.

William: So I think it comes a lot with your initiative, how you showed up. Sometimes you can just be showing up to a networking event and then you met – you know – a potential employer of yours. And then just, yeah. You just ended up working with them later on. So I, I feel like just keep showing up and [...] be in the moment. Be present at events. I think that's how the job market works as well, yeah?

Radhika: Yeah. I mean, this question is so relevant to both of us because both of us are working at UNSW and I'll agree with Will – it is very competitive, but at the same time, it depends when you're applying. Students prefer having a job [... on] campus – be it Paddington or Canberra or wherever their studies are. So I personally got my job through the career portal. I joined as a Student Rep with the Societal Transformation and Equity department, but now I'm also working as a research assistant with them.

Interviewer: Amazing!

Radhika: So it all depends on how you present yourself... how you network. And sometimes it's the ‘right place at the right time’ concept where maybe you just went there for a chit-chat and you come back with a job. Yeah. So it's all about networking and all about making sure that you're participating in things. Because I get it [...] you are so stressed, you don't have the time to attend meetings or attend events that are happening at uni. But sometimes it is very necessary for you here to make contacts.

William: [For] sure.

Interviewer: Beautiful advice!

William: Definitely have a...

Radhika: Plan in mind?

William: Yeah, a plan in mind! I think one of the things that I struggle with is that I tend to do things spontaneously. Right? I just like, “Oh, I love these things. I'm just gonna start with it”. But sometimes it is good that we have a plan and a solid team first. The people that you're working with or the people that you're starting a society with is so important. It’s [...] it takes time for you to find the right person. [...] So just have [it] in mind, have that idea, pitch it to the people that you think would do [it]. Sometimes your friends can be good co-founders, as well. *To Radhika* Do you have anything to add?

Radhika: Be very specific. Because there are so many other societies already that exist. If your goals and objectives align with some other society, you're not going to get approved. That is because at this point in time, it is very important for you to be very clear on what you want [...] Why I am so confident about this advice is because at my work, some student rep was trying to start a society related to sustainability and their goals clashed with existing universities. Like they were similar to existing universities so they found it very difficult to get approved. So it's very important that you differentiate on how you want to present your society.

William: Yeah, and also to add to that as well [...] when you start a society, don't think of it just like a token: that “I just want a title”.

Radhika: And if you're taking it just like “Oh, now we just have a society, we'll do whatever we want, whenever we want”. That's not how societies work. Because for ISA [...] now that we've achieved so many things [...] I've heard personally people say that “Oh, ISA has gotten it easy. They got get so much, so many grants and so many things and support”. And I'm like “You've not seen what we did to get those grants. You don't see the struggles”.

Everyone: *laughs*

Radhika: And I just feel sad [...] and after a point, I'm like, “I don't want to justify. You don't know what we went through”. Because it's a journey, you cannot just be like, “Oh, it's over. We have the society”. You have to carry it forward.

Interviewer: I feel like that's when your work starts. That's such real advice.

Radhika: I’ll just say enjoy your time here because once you start your corporate life, you're not gonna get this back. But at the same time, protect yourself. Be it from anything: [...] from people [...] from work, because it's very easy to lose yourself here when you don't have your family around. Even if you do have your friends, they have their own life going on and sometimes you feel like a burden. So don't feel like that. And if you need support, be very open about it because people won't judge you here! Be it from your friends, be it professional – irrespective, just don't keep things inside you!

William: Also to add to that is when you're an international student, it's definitely hard. But just remember that it's only a period of time when you struggle. You will go past it. You can move forward. And it's so important to reach out for support. We have so many support services available and that's [what] many students don't know. If you're struggling to find a job, we have employability who can help you with your resume – for example. AND if you're struggling to find a friend, join an ISA event!

Interviewer: I love the plug!

Everyone: *laughs*

William: Just something fun to share that last year – THAT WAS US. It was like, because we were so new, we were so not established. So we were always looking out for like... collaborations with bigger societies. But this year, our theme has changed a little bit [...] we have our own audience now, and we want to deliver the best events or the best initiative that we could. So [...] back to my thing – message for all the presidents out there: I would love to connect and have a chat to you [about] how you run your society. We'd love to chat.

Radhika: Yeah!

Interviewer: No, I love that, like kind of bringing the wider community together as well.