Daa relished every experience including industry and research internships, a sustainability study tour in Amsterdam, and mentoring Black and ethnic minority students.
As he prepares to take up a graduate role as an Operations Consultant with the Kaizen Institute, he acknowledges how these different chances have shaped his personal and professional development and helped him grow into the person he is today.
“Because I dipped my toes into every pool, I knew which one I wanted to swim in,” he said. “Every experience was valuable and there’s not a single one I would undo.”
He says that all of these opportunities helped him build a wide range of skills, including communication, teamwork, critical thinking, and data analysis.
A graduate career
For Daa, his graduate role at the global consulting firm Kaizen Institute, in London, meets his key ambition by fulfilling his desire to travel and work across industries.
The role involves working with different companies and sectors both in the UK and overseas to improve their processes in areas such as how they operate, manage people, and deliver results.
He believes that the experience he gained at Southampton from his group project, internships, and working with others, helped him secure the position. “My degree gave me the foundation, but learning to communicate effectively helped me convey my skills to the interviewers. That made a huge difference,” he said.
Choosing Southampton
Southampton’s strong academic reputation and facilities initially attracted Daa, and it was the environment that convinced him it was the right place for him.
Speaking to academics and seeing the campus made it clear that this was somewhere I could grow, not just academically, but personally.
Daa, MEng Chemical Engineering
During his time at Southampton, Daa benefited from being involved in the Ignite your Success programme both as a recipient and as a mentor.
As a participant in the programme, Daa received a bursary, secured internships, and completed a fully funded study trip to Amsterdam to explore global mobility and sustainability. He also became a Certified Carbon Literate Citizen.
He also took part in the student-led Awarding Gap project that aims to reduce the gaps that exist between Black and marginalised minority Ethnic students and white students.
Gaining experience
While at Southampton, Daa completed multiple internships. He also spent time on a research internship with Southampton’s Electrochemistry department where he explored sustainable ammonia production using electrochemical methods.
Daa encourages students to embrace opportunities even when they feel uncertain.
University isn’t just about what you learn, it’s about how you apply that thinking in the real world.
Daa, MEng Chemical Engineering
