Anastasija Paranova graduated in 2014 with an upper second-class honours in Business and International Relations BA (Hons). Anastasija is the founder of her company Important Internships.
What attracted you to business and international relations?
Ever since I can remember, I was always interested in business and in how and why it worked so well for some people. I had my first enterprise at the age of 17 – this is when I came to an understanding that in business not only numbers are important. The world is turning faster every day and to be successful we need to broaden our horizons every day.
Can you tell us a bit about your background?
I am just a simple Latvian girl with a dream, a dream to make this world a better place! I love psychology and people. I believe that everyone deserves a chance and that everyone has a talent that’s unique to them. I have a hobby – I am a semi-professional singer and I still perform because my mum asked me not to leave this. I would like to believe that I practice what I preach.
How did you find your course at London Met?
The course was very practical and very closely related to real-life situations. In my first year, I was very lucky to get a chance to shine with a local charity that was about to grow bigger. I started as a Senior Management Team Assistant and gradually moved into a Personal Assistant’s role. There were numerous occasions when my tasks at work would match my tasks for the class in the same week. So my course was definitely a great start to my career!
What was your highlight at London Met?
My highlight at London Met was my last year’s Strategy Development module. My tutor, Mr Barry Dwyer was an absolute legend! He was equipped with a lot of real-world experience and was able to share it with us in a very engaging way.
Describe your experience in one word?
Life-changing! This course definitely helped me to get on in life much quicker than I expected. My mindset changed over the years and I was able to develop myself and my ideas very quickly. I have also learned how to engage with different kinds of people from completely different cultures and backgrounds and I enjoyed it a lot!
How has the course prepared you for the world of work?
I would say that the main thing was that the course allowed me to develop different levels and forms of communication skills. The atmosphere is very relaxed at London Met and allows you to see and perceive things in a very easy, “consumable” way. My time at university was enjoyable and I learned a lot!
What are your plans now?
I have recently launched an internship management agency that provides bespoke services to both employers and potential interns. At Important Internships, we work with everyone 18+ with any level of qualification and a real passion for an industry they want to enter. We are the only company amongst our competitors to operate on our own philosophy – everything that we do is accomplished by talented interns! We just recently launched a new team of business development interns who will be ready to help anyone to enter and manage an internship.
What is a typical day at work for you?
There’s never a typical day at work! Every day is so different and that’s the beauty of it. I get to meet so many amazing people, learn about different industries and broaden my knowledge on various subjects everyday. I love what we do and I think we are doing it great!
