Alumnus Rishi Raithatha

Tell us about yourself and your work (where you are/ where in the world etc)

I currently work as a Senior Advocacy Manager for the GSMA in London. The GSMA is the mobile industry’s trade association, and has a large department - known as Mobile for Development - that looks at how mobile technology can be used to improve socio-economic outcomes in low- and middle-income countries. Within this department, I work for the Mobile Money Programme.

My role involves using evidence and policy to advocate for the use and growth of mobile money services in Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America. Mobile money is a type of financial service where people who lack a bank account to make and receive payments use a mobile phone. This is different from mobile banking, which is simply another channel that branch-based banks (or in some cases, branchless banks) used to enable access to traditional banking services.

Working for the GSMA has been an enriching experience. I have contributed to some incredible projects, published numerous articles and travelled extensively. For instance, I transited through Nairobi six times between November 2018 and February 2020. I have also had the opportunity to represent the organisation at international events, both in person and virtually. In many ways, it has been a dream job.

How long it took you to find your first job after graduating? Was there a connection between your internship and your first/current job?

I had managed to secure my first role even before I completed my Master’s degree at the UG. Before coming to the Netherlands, I spent the summer interning for the UK’s National Audit Office. In the UK, it is common for companies to use internships to identify potential graduates. Accountancy and consulting firms routinely do this. While the National Audit Office did not offer a graduate role in the same way, I was encouraged to apply for their graduate scheme in the future.

Initially, I was not keen to do this career path as I would set my sights on looking for work in The Hague or Brussels, or perhaps even apply for a PhD. However, I struggled to carve out a meaningful opportunity through any of these routes. I was also worried about finishing my degree and struggling financially. So, I felt that I could at least apply to work at the National Audit Office as a “back up”. Being a former intern, the recruitment team at the National Audit Office was able to “fast-track” the early stages of my application.

Why did you choose your study programme at the time? Do you still use skills and knowledge from your study in your current work? What have you learned other than academic skills?

My undergraduate degree was in Economics and Politics at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. Going on to study a Master’s degree in International Relations seemed like a logical next step - especially given my interest in international security, the politics of postcolonial societies and political economy. My aim at the time was to work for the UK Foreign Service or within the international relations space. I chose the UG because I was keen to study abroad, something that I could not do through my bachelor’s degree. Only students taking a language as a joint major could go on exchange abroad.

The beauty about the International Relations Master’s degree at the UG is that it prepares students well for a varied career in a range of industries and job functions. My own example is a case in point. The course required students to learn to create written representation, through position papers or briefing notes. We were also exposed to debating or advocating certain positions, which may have not aligned with our own values or beliefs. The course also mandated and encouraged teamwork, especially around problem-solving. My current and last two or three roles have required me to perform each of these activities, which shows that these skills are important to roles in all types of sectors.

Academic skills are useful to a point. It would have made little difference had I applied to work for the GSMA or any of my prior jobs with a PhD or with an MA. Perhaps a PhD might have been useful if my area of expertise aligned with the sector or content in a research-heavy role. One other routine issue in the business world is academic writing. While such prose works well to create written arguments in essays, papers or journals, it does not work well in a business setting. For years, I struggled to shake off the writing style developed at university. In some ways, academic writing at UG required less verbiage or jargon because English was often a second language for most; it made sense to write as simply as possible to get your message across.

Tell us about your student days? Were you an active student?

I lived in Groningen for exactly one year and made the most of it. I attended every scheduled class, mainly out of a fear of failure, but also because I was keen to immerse myself in the Dutch university system. At the same time, I was also preoccupied with extracurricular activities: I was the Secretary-General for The European International Model United Nations 2010 conference, I helped Professor Jan van der Harst organize a seminar on EU-China relations, and supported Bastiaan Aardema in organizing the NOHA field trip to Georgia (which I go to go on too as my reward!).

My degree offered students the chance to take on an internship and use this experience to obtain academic credit. I interned at the Centre for European Security Studies on Lutkenieuwstraat, where I learnt about security sector reform in the Western Balkans, Turkey and Georgia. I got to travel to Croatia and Georgia (again), and even spoke on behalf of the organisation at a careers event. Internships do not come better than this. Finally, one of my finest moments as a student at the UG was when The Economist published my witty letter on what makes a state. The letter was posted on one of the walls in the Faculty of Arts!

How does your career link up with your studies, and which aspects do you see recurring?

I have had the opportunity to represent my organisation and the mobile money industry at international events and forums. I recently spoke on behalf of the industry at an OECD Working Party, which is the sort of opportunity you crave as an International Relations graduate. Furthermore, I spend a lot of time advocating for particular initiatives or positions, so it helps to have been trained in how to develop a convincing argument. But most importantly, through the varied nature of both of my degrees, I have managed to develop an expertise on initially unfamiliar topics or projects.

Have there been subjects, experiences or persons within your study that have stayed with you or inspired you? Share some anecdotes with us!

Of the many lighter moments, one in particular comes to mind. All international students on the International Relations course were invited to a welcome meeting at the start of the academic year. One of the professors introduced the course and life as a student in Groningen. He explained that the Netherlands is a coastal country with little wind shear, so investing in a warm jacket would benefit us all, gazing at me while he emphasized this. At that moment, I can remember all other students wearing a jumper or a jacket - except me. I turned up wearing a t-shirt. I felt so silly about this that I went to H&M immediately afterwards and bought a thick jumper! As for the professor, he ended up supervising my thesis and served as a reference for many years. I hold him in high esteem.

You can find Rishi on LinkedIn and his website.