Making an impact through business
Meet the UNSW Business School staff, students and alumni driven to shape a better future.
Now more than ever, people are looking to the global business community to lead the way in tackling the grand challenges that face humanity.
Undertaking a business degree at UNSW offers more than a qualification – it opens students up to a world of opportunities, where they can learn, practice and ideate a better future for all.
We caught up with some of our UNSW Business School community – staff, students, researchers and alumni – to see how they’re leveraging their expertise to make an impact. From economic researchers to entrepreneurs, explore the many ways you can apply your business studies in the world around you.
Yenni Tim
Senior Lecturer, School of Information Systems and Technology Management
Yenni believes the true power of information systems and technology lies in their capacity to help people solve immediate and pressing problems in the real-world.
“My research addresses a specific question: how can we design and use digital technologies effectively to cope with major external shocks?”
“I think most of us can relate to this area of research now more than ever – our shared experience through the COVID-19 pandemic has vividly highlighted our reliance on digital technologies in navigating through crisis situations.
"Through my research, I am exposed to pressing issues and grand challenges, and I get to work with, and learn from, academic and industry practitioners from various fields to address these problems together (by designing and implementing digital technologies). It is a challenging yet stimulating and rewarding experience.”
Thomas Houlden
Economics (Honours) alum | Graduate Analyst at the Commonwealth Treasury
Tom, who now works as a Graduate Analyst at the Commonwealth Treasury, influencing policy decisions in Australia, saw studying economics was a way to improve the wellbeing and lives of as many people as possible.
“Knowledge and education are really important, because I think you need to understand the world to know how to change it.”
“I’m interested in how we (as individuals, organisations, and governments) can make decisions that can lead to a better future. Economics is about how can best use the capacity that we have as an organised group of people. Thinking carefully about this capacity can help us to make better informed decisions about how we can build a society that supports happier lives.
UNSW gave me the technical skills to succeed as a professional economist, but it also gave me the broad perspectives in economic issues, which I take into my role at the Treasury. The thing I’m excited for most about this role, is the ability to weigh in on some of the biggest questions that face Australia – particularly how we can use our country’s resources to improve the welfare of all current and future Australians.”
Angela Chen
Bachelor of Commerce (Finance) / Law
With a double degree in Commerce and Law, Angela is inspired by the diverse experiences she's had while studying at UNSW and the web of opportunities that lie at the end of her studies.
"The opportunities that come with studying a business degree are endless; from launching a philanthropic start-up of your own business. UNSW Business students learn all the relevant skills and foundations to create positive initiatives and to give back to wider society in their own unique ways."
"I hope one day to become an entrepreneur or CEO as I love leading and working with people collaboratively to achieve a shared goal.
Holly Richards
Master of Business Administration (MBA Executive) | Founder, Club Melon
Following a ten-year career as a successful journalist, Holly enrolled in her MBA through the Australian Graduate School of Management (AGSM) at UNSW. The program helped her realise that she was driven to lead her own business in an area she truly cared about. In 2020 she launched size inclusive activewear brand, Club Melon.
“As my studies progressed and the pandemic gave me time to really reflect on what I wanted my life post-MBA to look like, I realised I wanted to start my own business.”
“I picked the issue of sports bras after finally learning to embrace exercise during lockdown but being unable to find one in my size. While creating a solution for yourself can be a bit tricky sometimes with checking your own biases, it means I am so deeply connected to my potential customers and the problems they have.
The UNSW Founders team and their programs have been instrumental to Club Melon’s progress so far. I first entered the New Wave program in August 2020 after losing all my freelance journalism work due to COVID and my team ended up winning the pitch competition. From there we made the top ten of the Peter Farrell Cup and took part in the 10X Pre-Acceleration and New Wave U.S. Bootcamp.
I only recently found out that after consulting, entrepreneurship is one of the top career paths MBA graduates take so in hindsight I see how my choice makes sense. The MBA, particularly my final Executive Agenda Year, was able to be tailored to my business, so I was able to use the brains of brilliant lecturers and my classmates to help solve some of Club Melon’s tough early-stage problems.”
Shanzeh Malik
Bachelor of Commerce (Marketing)
For Shanzeh, a Bachelor of Commerce was a way to understand and make a positive impact on the commercial world around her.
“I am inspired by the fact that there are so many possibilities under the commerce degree, both local and global.”
“I have met so many inspiring and memorable people since studying at UNSW. Whether it be peers or staff, everyone is so friendly and willing to help you achieve your goals. This is something I was introduced to when I attended Open Day in year 12 and now, three years into my degree I can confidently say this supportive culture is what defines UNSW.
While there is a common misconception that commerce and the business industry only care about money, I think that this industry has so much influence in the way organisations act, fund and advocate for social and environmental change.”
William Tu
Actuarial Studies/Bachelor of Commerce (Finance, Business Analytics)
Will’s uni experience has been defined by people. Not only through the people he’s met and connected with, but also the realisation that through his double degree in Actuarial Studies and Commerce he can empower people and companies to make positive decisions.
"I always call the people I meet at UNSW my second family away from home. Joining clubs and societies at uni was lifechanging. To have the opportunity to meet so many like-minded and ambitious individuals has encouraged me to strive for success, and the support that is around you only pushes you further."
"Whether it's aiding superannuation models to help fund people's retirement, insurance policies to make sure people are protected from risk, or providing insights from companies through data analytics --- these all ensure that people and consumers are placed as a priority."
Timothy Neal
Senior Research Fellow, School of Economics
Tim’s economics research focuses on pushing the boundaries of data analysis within economics – covering econometrics, statistics and even machine learning.
"The whole point in analysing data is to try and understand how the world works."
“Data has become ever present in our society, and in no other time has the proper interpretation and analysis of it become so important. I see the role of my area of specialisation, whether it be called econometrics or data analysis/science, is to help facilitate governments and businesses bring about change. Only with clear information and a good understanding of the world, can a government or business be aware of the consequences of their decisions and the opportunities that exist to have a positive impact.
All of us want to make our own mark on the world, economics has a great deal of potential to help solve the large problems our world will face. Some of these problems are becoming increasingly urgent, particularly the state of our environment, and it is my hope that universities can nurture a new generation of passionate economists who can help bring about much needed change."
Sebastian Yves
Bachelor of Information Systems | Sales Process Specialist, Qualtrics
Sebastian’s degree taught him about information systems, business and technology – but he also learned the critical importance of empathy and communication for success in any career. He translated these skills into his side hustle as a professional photographer and current role with global data and experience management company, Qualtrics.
"The courses I undertook as part of my degree enabled me to better appreciate the necessity of empathising with users and focusing on individuals' needs.”
“I discovered my passion for communicating and understanding people's needs by working with them to make a difference and empower others to do the same. Business and technology are intertwined. I've learned from my classes and personal experience that digital transformation assists in the progress of many challenging processes, the automation of operations, and the elimination of inefficiencies to make people's lives simpler and better.”
How will you make your impact through business?
The UNSW Business School offers a wealth of undergraduate and postgraduate programs --- allowing you to design your own unique study path. With an array of specialisations to choose from, you can drive change in an area you're truly passionate about.
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