Mandeep Sodhi
Where is your home country?
India
What languages do you speak?
English, Hindi and Punjabi
Where do you live now?
Sydney
What was the name of your course?
Bachelor of Internet Science and Technology, Executive MBA
When did you graduate?
2003 and 2014
What is the name of your education institution?
University of Wollongong
I was able to raise capital for my start-up, thanks to the booming start-up ecosystem in NSW, which led me to follow my ambitions and dream to run my own company.
Student life
Tell us about your experience studying in NSW
My experience studying in NSW has been amazing. The diverse and inclusive culture made me feel welcome from Day 1. With people representing every nation, ethnicity, race, religion and culture, there is a richness and complexity to the culture of NSW that significantly added to my academic experience. I studied at University of Wollongong which is in the beautiful south coast of NSW. If you love the outdoors, you’re never more than a few minutes away from fantastic hiking, climbing or camping in south coast. The flexibility to pick different tutorial times and subjects allowed me to balance my social activities with study load.
What was the highlight of your experience studying in NSW?
When I interacted with new people with different philosophies, perspectives and customs, I gained a comprehensive understanding of basic human viewpoints and became better equipped to function successfully, post-graduation, in a variety of environments. In addition to the diversity, I always felt NSW as a safe and friendly location to live and study.
What opportunities has studying in NSW given to you?
I always wanted to start my own business and through the network I formed while living in NSW, I was able to launch my first start-up in 2008. Prior to starting my own business, I was able to tap into industry placement and work experience available to international students by registering myself at the industry events. The mentoring sessions available from university mentors certainly helped getting yourself ready for the work life, post-graduation.
What is the best way to develop a social life in NSW?
Join student societies and clubs where you can meet like-minded people. It was also a great way for me to know more about myself and what I really enjoyed doing. You will find your own tribe at some point and that's the beginning of your social life and meeting lifelong friends. Don't forget to attend Campus events. They are a lot more fun.
Career goals and advice
What are you doing now in your career?
I now run a software start-up called Effi. This is my fourth start-up. In addition to running my start-up, I advise other start-ups. I continue to keep myself involved in the start-up community and assist other founders in whatever free time I get.
Why did you decide to follow your chosen career path?
I started my career in banking and finance but the lack of challenges and slow execution in the corporate world led me to fast track my ambitions to start my own company. I was able to raise capital for my start-up, thanks to the booming start-up ecosystem in NSW, which led me to follow my ambitions and dream to run my own company.
Can you share any career advice for current students or graduates?
My career advice for current students would be to get out of your comfort zone and network as much as you can especially with people in the industry you want to get into. Attend the industry events, talk to people at the events where they are most likely to engage outside of their work and volunteer your help (paid or unpaid). Charitable events and voluntary work can also help you build your network quickly.