Why did you choose to study at UEL?
In year 2010, UEL was the only university that offered Master of Science in Applied Positive Psychology (MAPP), not only in the England, but the whole Europe. There’s no doubt then as I was clear this is the pathway I want to pursue to help individuals.

What is your one special memory of your time at UEL?
When I was taking breaks from writing thesis or assignments in Dockland campus and looking at the planes landing and taking off. It was purely calming and beautiful, especially during the sunset.

What have you done since graduating from UEL?
After that, I continued working with students in Nursing and Midwifery as a Graduate Teaching Assistant at Middlesex University for 2 years. I developed workshops in overcoming stress at workplace and Positive Mindset in dealing with daily struggles. Then, I continue pursued PhD in Health Psychology in Germany and developed my expertise in applying Positive Psychology in sustainable health behaviour change to improve one’s health and wellbeing. I am constantly working in creating the awareness of prevention physical and mental illnesses by living a balanced healthy lifestyle with aligning self, body and mind. After gaining my PhD, I was working as a Post-doc Researcher and Lecturer in Department of Social Science of Sport in University of Münster, Germany.

I worked with young sports enthusiasts with some of them who couldn’t pursue their career as professional athletes due to injuries. I helped them to discover new career pathways by identifying their strengths and developing core skills in labour market, employability, and personal development, as well as Diversity and Inclusion. I continued my research works in mindfulness practices among athletes and their health and well-being.

What is your current job role? And what does it involve?
Aiming to practically helping more individuals, I left my academia role and I am working as a Manager MBA Career Center at one of the best business school in Germany, continue helping young professionals of MBA students to discover their potentials by overcoming self-doubt, and finding their future directions. Meanwhile, I am building my own business in consulting companies to help employees, especially leaders, to find and build a balanced leadership, as well as cultivate positive workplace that will improve their health and wellbeing.

How did UEL help you get to where you are now?
It provides a wide range of choices and opportunities that meet different interests and needs. Besides, it offers support to help people in discovering their best possible selves which helped me a lot and I continue using my knowledge in Positive Psychology to help more individuals and organisations.

What advice would you give your younger self?
Be bold, not overthinking and not self-doubting. Although I would say I have made the most of it, I wish my younger self would hesitate less, and take more actions instead. At the end, no pain no gain.

What advice would you give to UEL current students preparing to graduate?
Be proactive and take initiatives in exploring yourself and who you really are, including your values, strengths and your “unique selling points”. Keep on trying and widen your horizons and do not limit yourself. Fully utilise the available resources and networking.

Tell us something about yourself that most people don’t know:
Speaking 7 languages have been very useful and meaningful in both my personal and professional life. It’s a great tool to reach people with stories in the world when I travel. Besides, I love music, singing and yoga. I am also actively finding creative ways to create awareness of mindfulness practices should not be limited on meditation, but it can also be through all kinds of body movements, creating arts and handcrafts, and etc. I constantly organising such workshops in where I live now in Düsseldorf, Germany but also virtually.

If you were to do it all again, would you still choose UEL?
Definitely