From student to marketing manager - my IDP journey to Melbourne

“My journey with IDP began long before I joined the team in Melbourne for work. It started a few years back when I was working in a healthcare setup in Delhi and walked into an education fair conducted by IDP. This was how my dream of studying at the University of Melbourne became a reality.  

I remember attending the fair and applying for the university, motivated by the fact that I did not even have to pay the application fees. My IDP counsellor, Mariah, helped me navigate the application process, the visa, the SOP – all of it. She walked hand in hand with me, making the entire journey a breeze. 

I was over the moon when I heard I had been accepted into the University of Melbourne. And I have Mariah and IDP to thank for making it all possible! 

The next two years - I studied Marketing Communications at the University of Melbourne and graduated with my Masters in 2018. After working two years post-graduation, a recruiter from IDP reached out to me. Remembering how IDP had played a monumental role in helping my study abroad dream come true - I was already in love with IDP and joined the IDP team with much enthusiasm, knowing I too could make a difference in someone’s life.  

Working at IDP has been a full circle moment for me. I'm always excited that I have the opportunity to help students throughout their study journey, from their arrival in the country to when they graduate through the right content strategy. As an international student once myself, I understand the challenges that students face, and I'm passionate about making their study journey smoother. 

What I love most about #idplife is the people. One of my most favourite people to work with has been Emily McIvor – who is more of a friend than a manager. I’m constantly learning about people leadership from her. And, of course, my team members whom I enjoy hanging out with regularly. Work friends are an essential part of our lives, and it's great to have that connection in the workplace.

Being happy at work is not only fulfilling but also helps heaps with productivity.  

To add to this - I also love public speaking and enjoy coaching people on building their personal brands. I have enjoyed hosting speaking events with my alumni around personal branding quite a few times and find the topic quite fulfilling. I find that these interactions also help me gain fresh and unique ideas for upcoming content directly from students. Plus, it feels incredible to play a role in guiding them and experiencing their energy! 

In general, I have learnt that in the digital and AI age, it's essential to be open and swift about learning new tools and techniques. There is no time to hold back and sit on things – being a perfectionist can hold you back. I find that you have to jump on things to stay ahead, especially when dealing with social media. 

Speaking of jumping on trends - one of my teams’ most significant recent achievements was the launch of our TikTok account. This channel was an initiative through which we successfully engaged our younger audience in the market.

Another important project close to my heart and the team’s is the IDP Student Stories launched earlier this year. Through this project, we encourage IDP students to share their study abroad journey and get featured on our channels, at the same time, motivating prospective students. So far, we have inspiring student stories from around the world including Vietnam, China, India, and Cambodia. 

In 2022, I was also a part of the first IDP Brand Ambassador Program where we as a group told stories of what it’s like to work at IDP – giving the world a glimpse of our work life. The audience loved our content so much that it increased IDP Education’s LinkedIn followers by over 53% - in just 6 months. It was quite an achievement and goes to show how exciting life at IDP is. 

And last and most importantly, another very exciting project I’m currently working on is our podcast – IDP Real Talk for international students. This podcast features interviews with former international students and international education experts who share their personal experiences and insights on life as an international student in Australia. The podcast is accessible on Spotify, iTunes, Google Podcasts, Amazon Podcasts, iHeartRadio, and other major platforms.

Overall, I can see myself working at IDP for many years to come. International education is the right space for me, and IDP is the best place for me. I look forward to continue to learn and grow in the years to come.” - Prachi Tyagi, Marketing Manager