Alumni

Thalia Ignatova

Career Path: Freelance Digital & Growth Marketing Consultant
Location: London, UK

After graduating from EBM I took a few months off during the pandemic and returned back home to Bulgaria where I worked in the digital marketing department of DSK Bank. I decided I wanted to pursue a postgrad degree, so I applied to King's College London and started the MSc in Digital Marketing.

What are you doing now?

Currently, I work as a freelance digital marketing consultant with a number of UK based start-ups. I am based in London, but enjoy the freedom my job provides and travel a lot.

What was it about Northumbria that made you decide to study here?

The reason I chose to study at Northumbria is very much connected to the course I wanted to pursue. I was set on studying entrepreneurship, but I also wanted to avoid the rigid and structured format of standard uni courses. I was looking for courses in the UK and came across the EBM program at Northumbria. It seemed like a natural fit.

What was it like studying at Northumbria?

I enjoyed the variety of teaching formats offered by my course. My course focused a great deal on team-work and team projects. I remember I was very shy and dreaded all team activities, but by the time I graduated I found it was the team projects I learned from the most.

How connected was your course with industry?

At EBM we were hands-on and involved in real-life practical business situations on a daily basis. I believe the guest lecturers from the North East start-up community were particularly inspiring and motivated everyone on the course to push through and give it their all. Working on our own business projects and using them as case studies for our assignments helped me find value and see it more than simply "coursework".

What was the best thing about your course?

The people and the opportunity to travel. At EBM we could apply travel funds based on organised trips related to our business interests' and industries. The memories and experiences are priceless.

How did studying at Northumbria help you achieve your career goals/ give your career an edge?

Studying at Northumbria and being on the EBM course really allowed me to understand where my passions and strengths lie. I was able to build experience and confidence in the start-up world, which paved the way to my current career path. Running a business while completing my uni assignments definitely prepared me better for all challenges faced after graduating.

Which skills/knowledge did you learn on your course that you use most now throughout your career?

I would say I developed a very "do-it-yourself" attitude and mentality. This has helped me be autonomous in my job and has helped me build perseverance in stressful moments.

What did you enjoy most about your time at Northumbria University?

The people at Northumbria were friendly, real, and will stay with me forever. It was a big change moving to the North East, but Northumbria felt incredibly welcoming.