Queen's Business School

We are delighted to spotlight Neha Hendre, a final-year Business Management with Placement student. Neha has secured a full-time position as a Channel Readiness Associate at Cummins in Darlington, following the successful completion of her placement year with the company.

Reflecting on her time at Queen’s, Neha credits the opportunities to gain real-world experience alongside her studies for helping shape her career path.

"The biggest turning point for me was my placement year. It helped me apply my degree in a real business setting, led to a part-time role during final year, and ultimately to my graduate job. That progression has been the most rewarding part of my journey."

During her time at Queen’s, Neha also completed a Queen’s-funded summer internship in Belfast, took part in a summer programme in the United States, and particularly enjoyed the Managing Data with AI module, which she continues to draw upon in her work today.

"Queen’s gave me a mix of academic learning and real-world experience that helped me discover what I enjoy and set me up well for my future career."

It is fantastic to see Neha secure a graduate role before completing her degree, and we wish her every success as she begins this exciting new chapter with Cummins.

If you are interested in recruiting a placement student like Neha or to find out more on how to secure a placement, visit: https://ow.ly/INNZ50ZfxAE

We are delighted to share the fantastic news that Queen’s MBA alumnus Karthik B Rajendra Prasad, founder of KARB AI, has been named Digital Startup of the Year for Northern Ireland at the 2026 UK StartUp Awards.

KARB AI has been recognised for its innovative AI decision layer, which is transforming ecommerce advertising across Meta and Google platforms. Founded by Karthik in June 2025, KARB AI provides a specialised platform that enables ecommerce businesses to audit, optimise, and scale their Meta advertising accounts in minutes. By reducing the need for manual analysis and delivering actionable optimisation insights, the platform helps brands achieve greater clarity and stronger returns on their digital marketing investments.

Reflecting on the award, Karthik said:
"Winning Digital Startup of the Year for Northern Ireland is a significant milestone for us as KARB AI approaches its first anniversary. This feels incredibly special, and I am honestly still trying to process it. There have been many moments when I did not know what I was doing—late nights, self-doubt, mistakes, awkward first pitches, limited resources, and a lot of figuring things out along the way. But I kept showing up because I believed in what I was building.
The MBA played an important role in shaping how I think about business and entrepreneurship, and I am delighted to be able to celebrate this achievement."

As the Northern Ireland category winner, KARB AI will now go on to represent Northern Ireland at the UK StartUp Awards National Final, which will be held this September.
We congratulate Karthik on this outstanding achievement and wish him every success in the final.

We recently welcomed MBA students from Brunel Business School to Queen’s Business School, where they joined our MBA cohort for an insightful visit focused on Belfast’s dynamic economic landscape.

Led by Professor Richard Ramsey and MBA Programme Director Professor Julie McCandless, the session sparked valuable discussion, knowledge-sharing, and new connections between students from both institutions. These experiences highlight the power of collaboration, global perspectives, and professional networks in shaping future business leaders.

Thank you to the Brunel Business School MBA students and Programme Director, Fiona Denney, for visiting us. We look forward to continuing the conversation and strengthening connections across our MBA communities.

We are proud to celebrate our alumnus, Harry Nicholson, who graduated with an MSc in Business Analytics in 2024. Today, Harry is a Modelling Analyst at Nationwide Building Society, working remotely within the Retail, SME & Non-Financial IRB Modelling Risk team.

Reflecting on his time at Queen’s, Harry credits the MSc Business Analytics programme with playing a significant role in shaping his career and developing both his technical and communication skills.

"The course gave me strong exposure to statistical modelling, machine learning, and data analysis, while also teaching me how to present complex findings in a way that non-technical stakeholders can understand. It also gave me experience working on real-world analytical problems, which helped build the foundation for my current role working within credit risk modelling and IRB analytics at Nationwide Building Society."

For prospective students considering the programme, Harry offers this advice:

"Focus less on just learning the tools and more on understanding how to communicate the insight behind them. The MSc in Business Analytics at Queen’s will give you strong technical foundations in areas like statistics, machine learning, and data modelling, but the real value comes from being able to explain what your results actually mean in a clear, simple, and business-focused way. If you can combine technical ability with strong communication and storytelling, you’ll get far more out of the programme and stand out in your future career."

It is fantastic to see Harry applying his analytical expertise in the financial services sector, and we look forward to following the next stages of his career journey.

To find out more about postgraduate degree opportunities, visit: https://ow.ly/xv7K50Zao5u

Meet Tran Trung Phuoc Ngo, a recent MSc Business Analytics graduate, whose ambition to develop in-demand analytical skills has shaped his exciting postgraduate journey.

“Recognising the growing global demand for business analysts, I chose to pursue business analytics to build the skills needed to succeed in a data-driven world. I wanted to invest in myself and gain practical expertise that would prepare me for opportunities not only in the UK, but internationally. Studying at Queen’s was an easy decision. As a Russell Group university with an outstanding reputation, it offered the academic excellence I was looking for, while Belfast’s welcoming atmosphere and quality of life made it the perfect place to call home.”

“One of the most rewarding aspects of my time at Queen’s was the opportunity to challenge myself beyond the classroom. Taking part in the Datathon was a real highlight, allowing me to work with talented students, apply my analytical skills to real-world problems, and even take home a prize. Alongside experiences like this, the course helped me build valuable connections with academics, classmates, and industry professionals, giving me the confidence and knowledge to pursue my future career in business analytics.”

Tran Trung Phuoc’s journey at Queen’s highlights how postgraduate study can combine academic excellence, practical experience, and professional development to prepare students for successful careers in a rapidly evolving industry.

To find out more about postgraduate degree opportunities, visit: https://ow.ly/eu5750Z7vQB

We were proud to host the first day of the BDO Northern Ireland Business Insight Programme, welcoming over 100 Year 13 students for an inspiring and educational experience.

Key Highlights of the Day:
Laura Jackson FCA, Partner & Head of Audit at BDO, shared insights into her journey to becoming a Partner and outlined the aims of the Business Insight Programme.

Professor Danielle McConville, Head of Accounting at Queen’s Business School, introduced students to the academic pathways available at QBS and the exciting opportunities within the field of accounting.

We were delighted to welcome Sam Shephard, founder of Juice Jar, who joined BDO representatives to discuss his entrepreneurial journey and present this year’s case study focus.

Students applied their learning in real time by working on the case study, sharpening their analytical, teamwork, and business problem-solving skills.

It was a fantastic opportunity for students to explore real-world business scenarios and discover potential career pathways through study at Queen’s Business School.

It was a pleasure to welcome so many prospective students and their families to Queen’s Business School for our Undergraduate Open Day.
Visitors had the opportunity to learn more about our undergraduate programmes in Accounting, Finance, Actuarial Science, Economics, Business Management, and International Business with a Language, while exploring what life at Queen’s has to offer.

The day was filled with insightful conversations, engaging subject talks, and opportunities to connect with our dedicated academic staff and current students, who were on hand throughout the day to offer advice, share their experiences, and answer questions.

Thank you to everyone who joined us. We hope you enjoyed your visit and gained valuable insights into studying at Queen’s Business School. We look forward to welcoming many of you back to campus in the future.

Professor Alex Wilson and QBS alumnus Conor Sharkey recently took part in the panel discussion "Still Human: Thriving Alongside AI at Work" at Northeastern University London, which explored how artificial intelligence is transforming the workplace and the skills that will remain essential for future graduates.

As organisations increasingly seek graduates who can combine business expertise with an understanding of emerging technologies, initiatives that bridge these disciplines are becoming more important than ever.

To support this growing demand, Queen’s Business School and Northeastern University London have launched a new Dual Master’s in Global Business and Artificial Intelligence, designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills needed to lead in an AI enabled world.

To learn more about the programme, visit: https://ow.ly/4Efg50Z7vTj

We are proud to celebrate our alumna, Irma Umair, who graduated with an MSc in Human Resource Management in 2023. Today, Irma is a Doctoral Researcher at Loughborough University, where she also serves as a University Teacher and Research Associate, pursuing her passion for research in Work, Organisation, and HRM.

After a successful career in industry and a break from formal education, Irma chose Queen’s Business School for its reputation for research excellence and its ability to provide the skills needed to return to academia.

"Having been away from academia for some time, I needed to rebuild my research capabilities. The practical focus on research methodology, proposal writing, and critical analysis gave me the skills and confidence to pursue a PhD. I owe a great deal to Dr. Shuang Ren, whose innovative teaching methods challenged us to think critically while preserving our originality. The research training at Queen’s is truly unparalleled."

Irma credits the MSc Human Resource Management programme with helping her secure offers from four universities for doctoral study, including two Russell Group institutions, and providing the foundation for her academic career.

For prospective students considering the programme, Irma offers this advice:

"A Master’s at QBS is not just a degree; it is a roller-coaster journey defined by curiosity, emotional growth, and academic success. If you embrace the challenge, it will provide the ultimate kick-start to your career in the real world."

It is wonderful to see Irma’s continued success in academia, and we look forward to following the next stages of her journey.

To find out more about postgraduate degree opportunities, visit: https://ow.ly/1IjO50Z6yHu

Meet Tate Gavin, a recent MSc Marketing graduate, whose passion for understanding consumer behaviour and culture has shaped an exciting postgraduate journey.

“Choosing to study Marketing at Queen’s allowed me to build on my undergraduate background in Sociology and explore how people interact with brands, advertising, and consumer culture in greater depth. My interest in marketing originally stemmed from my undergraduate dissertation. That experience sparked my curiosity about the power of marketing and motivated me to pursue a career in the field.”

“One of the biggest highlights of my time at Queen’s was the Global Experience Trip to Paris with Queen’s Business School, where we visited internationally recognised brands and organisations including Cartier, Fragonard Parfumeur, Yves Saint Laurent, and STATION F. Alongside this, working on live promotional campaigns and completing my dissertation on inclusivity and authenticity in feminist advertising helped me develop practical experience and refine my career ambitions in consumer research and brand development. My time at Queen’s has given me the confidence to turn my academic interests into a future career path.”

Tate’s journey at Queen’s reflects how postgraduate study can turn curiosity and passion into meaningful career direction.

To find out more about postgraduate degree opportunities, visit: https://ow.ly/wvJT50Z4iwp