Rethinking how to build a career: Sara's learnings from a UNSW alumni

"What stood out to me was that the definition of success should be something that is allowed to change over time."

Published on the 10 September 2026 by Sara Kanderia

Sara Kanderia

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Co-NNECTIONS (CoNX) is a unique professional development program for students from underrepresented backgrounds at UNSW. This is Sara's professional development story.

No single career journey is ever perfect or to plan. But, maybe that is exactly how it should be?

Success never has one fixed meaning. It is continuously shaped by our experiences, goals and priorities changing with time. Instead of waiting for one’s career to bloom miraculously, why not start from where we want to see ourselves? Why don't we work backwards to gain relevant skills and take on useful opportunities to support the journey?

In this dynamic world where AI is rapidly growing, the focus should be less on what AI can replace, and more on what we as humans uniquely bring to the table.

It is quite easy to look at someone else’s LinkedIn page and underestimate our own journey by comparing what they have done that you have not. When I arrived in Australia about five years ago, I had no extracurriculars or experiences to speak of that I could get credits for at my new Australian school.

Starting with a new curriculum, it was not uncommon for me to feel like high school was a race. Plus, I had to get a headstart, always. The race never ended even after reaching university; rather, it felt more extended and competitive as everyone spoke mainly of the same milestones – get HDs, get an internship, and of course, get it right every time.

Meeting and chatting with UNSW alumni, Andy Huynh

My interview with Andy Huynh made me question the idea of this race and reconsider what the finishing line truly was.

Andy graduated from UNSW with a Bachelor of Commerce, majoring in Marketing, and is a Brand Manager at WBS Technology. During university, he participated in Co-Connect (now known as Co-NNECTIONS), which included the Co-Connect Leadership Camp, and opportunities to engage with UNSW’s industry partners. He describes himself as a big go-getter: “I want to be ambitious and make sure I’m meeting where I see myself in life.”

His optimistic and determined outlook on his professional journey definitely shines through. I found it quite inspiring from my first meeting with him, where he was on a panel.

As a university student struggling to find direction, this often tends to hinder my journey as taking action can seem confusing and dreadful. However, talking with someone as highly motivated and driven as Andy has prompted me to pause and self-reflect on my learning with an open mind rather than rushing to act.

Here are three impactful things I have learned from my discussion with Andy.

Andy speaking at a UNSW event.

There is no fixed definition of success

Success means different things at different stages of one’s journey.

For Andy, success in high school meant getting through the HSC. At university, success was making sure he was learning, growing, networking and completing his degree, all while getting a degree-aligned job.

Now, success has once again changed for him and includes studying more, trying to reach his next promotion and improving his network.

What stood out to me was how the definition of success should be allowed to change over time. This also ties with having a growth mindset rather than a closed mindset, which is one of the most important changes I made in my journey.

During my first year, I viewed success primarily from an overly perfectionist perspective, and I found myself at a dead end eventually when faced with the reality of not always getting HDs or successful interviews and so on. However, when participating in the Leadership Foundations program at UNSW, I was introduced to the concept of a growth mindset. My decision to reframe my failures and mistakes as stepping stones was impactful as my idea of success broadened and my path now had multiple possibilities.

So, letting your meaning of success evolve should not be considered as failure but as an act of reflection. As Andy puts it:

"[Changing your definition of success] means you’re learning, changing your perspective and gaining new experiences.”

Instead of waiting to reach your goal, work backwards

One of Andy’s approaches I really found quite fascinating was his approach to career planning.

Rather than setting goals and waiting to reach them, he takes a more intentional approach by asking himself, “Where do I see myself in the future?” and applying a 10-year framework.

For example, if he were aiming to become a Marketing Director, he would look at job descriptions for that role on websites like LinkedIn and Seek, and identify what relevant skills and experience are required. He then works backwards and considers what opportunities to take on in his current position to gradually build those skills.

I personally struggled a lot with the concept of planning and found it quite overwhelming due to the plethora of platforms and tools that an average student has to use these days. So hearing such a unique approach, one that focuses not on building up a plan but rather breaking it down into logical, real-time steps resonated with me deeply.

Working backwards is something I will definitely apply in my own career planning, as it considers not just where you want to be, but also how your current self will get there step by step rather than with overwhelming choices.

Focus less on what AI replaces and more on what you bring to the table

When I did the Professional Development (PD) Series with Co-NNECTIONS and volunteered with the Wellness Warriors and Suggestion Box, I discovered my love for interacting with diverse individuals, my passion and determination, and my curious nature. More importantly, I realised these were unique strengths that I brought to teams and workplaces.

I will continue discovering what makes me authentic, but now I will do so equipped with understanding and belief in my own strengths as what backed my journey rather than fearing what AI might replace.

What ultimately stuck with me was what Andy advised thinking about: