Alumni in profile

For graduate Saradha Cabral, the decision to come from Sri Lanka to study at Deakin has provided a great springboard to develop what is now a burgeoning resume.

"I decided to come to Deakin Burwood to study business because I wanted international exposure and further personal development. I had to decide between the USA and Australia for my undergraduate studies and Deakin was a more affordable choice to study overseas at that point in my life," Saradha said.

"Though I had previously travelled extensively, moving away from home and coming to Australia to study was a big step in the right direction for me as I learned to be more independent and confident. I enjoyed the cultural mix and academic challenges presented at Deakin. The academics and students there are also from a very diverse range of backgrounds which I found interesting."

"My course helped me to think more logically business-wise and better understand people dynamics. This experience has helped me immensely in my career and personal life so far and I believe Deakin was the starting point," he said.

After completing a Bachelor of Commerce in 1999 with majors in marketing and management, Saradha returned to Sri Lanka to work for nearly five years before deciding that a move to the United Kingdom would be the best way to progress his career.

"After many years of working in Sri Lanka, I was given the opportunity to head a new company in 2005. Though this was a great career opportunity, I decided I needed a bigger challenge in a more mature and fast-paced market and decided to move to the United Kingdom."

"I initially undertook an MBA at Brunel University in West London - a place where my father had previously studied during the 1970's. I recently completed this course with a distinction average and I'm now employed as Business Development Manager for an international Web Content Management Systems provider in the UK market called Sitecore UK Ltd."

"My employment at Sitecore entails strategising to obtain new business, client relationship management, and marketing and communications strategy development. I am finding the various challenges of my current job very stimulating, especially the innovation and creativity required to produce successful marketing campaigns," he said.

Saradha said he has enjoyed a wide-ranging career so far where he has worked successfully in many different sectors and giving him the opportunity to travel to various countries.

Since 2000, Saradha has worked as a:
• Product Development Merchandiser for MAS Holdings, a joint venture between a large US apparel manufacturer producing lingerie for Victoria's Secret
• Brand Manager for Reckitt Benckiser (Sri Lanka) which is one of the leading manufacturers of cleaning products in the world
• Senior Consultant and then as Division Manager for global advertising conglomerate, Leo Burnett Worldwide in Sri Lanka,

"My career as made me also work across a number of industries ranging from, fashion retail, telecommunications, healthcare, financial services and state businesses. My work has also enabled me to travel across the world as well."

As for his immediate future, Saradha has some clear goals in mind.

"I want to excel in the marketing and advertising sector in the United Kingdom and work for one of the top 10 advertising businesses in London. I also want to continue to pursue my passion for sport, painting and photography," he said.

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