For Yukta pursuing a postgraduate diploma in Marketing and Brand Management at Kingston University, London, was a natural next step after having spent four years working across India’s beauty, wellness and e-commerce sectors with companies such as PharmEasy, Nykaa and Reliance Retail’s Tira Beauty.
The Mumbai-born marketing professional felt that adding an international academic experience would complement the practical knowledge she had gained on the job and help her prepare for bigger responsibilities in the future.
“At my last role, I got an understanding that I needed a relevant professional degree as well, which would help me in climbing the career ladder. That’s why I decided to go abroad,” she says in an chat with The Global Indian.
Building a foundation in marketing and e-commerce
After graduating with a degree in Mass Media (Advertising), Yukta began building her career in the beauty, wellness and e-commerce sectors. Over the next four years, she worked with leading consumer businesses, gaining experience across category management, brand operations and marketing.
The fast-paced nature of the industry taught her how to juggle competing priorities and adapt quickly. One phase from those early years remains particularly memorable. During a major sale event, she found herself managing her own responsibilities while simultaneously guiding two newly joined interns.
“Initially, I got overwhelmed because every small query came to me and I was wondering how I would manage everything,” she recalls.
As things progressed, she learned to strike a balance between the two roles. “I think I managed it quite well and I was appreciated for that” Looking back, she sees the experience as one that strengthened her confidence and taught her the value of staying organized while supporting others.
By the time she joined Reliance Retail’s Tira Beauty as Assistant Brand Manager, where she worked with a portfolio of more than 35 brands, Yukta had developed a solid grounding in the and a clearer understanding of the direction she wanted her career to take.
Choosing to learn again
Although she was progressing professionally, Yukta felt there was value in complementing her work experience with a formal degree in the area.
That led her to Kingston University in London, where she pursued a postgraduate diploma in Marketing and Brand Management.
Moving abroad was also her first experience of living independently. “It was the first time that I’ve been alone and definitely a more independent experience for me,” she says.
The experience taught her to balance academics, part-time work and everyday responsibilities while adapting to life in a new country. “I have definitely grown more as a person in my personal life as well and professionally as well. Overall personality growth has happened.”
Experiencing a different way of learning
One aspect of studying in the UK that stood out to Yukta was the emphasis on discussion and conceptual understanding.
“Our professors never told us to just write things down and learn them by heart,” she says. “They wanted us to understand concepts and apply them.”
She also appreciated how open professors were to hearing different viewpoints. “They were very open to feedback and new approaches.” The experience broadened her perspective and helped her think more critically about brands, consumers and changing market trends.
Finding a different work culture
Alongside her studies, Yukta worked part-time at Boots in London, where she experienced a workplace culture that differed from what she had previously known.
One incident left a lasting impression. “There was one particular instance when a task was not completed and I said, ‘It’s okay, I’ll wait back.’ But my manager said, ‘Absolutely not. Your shift has ended. You can come back tomorrow.'”
Coming from the demanding environment of e-commerce, she found the emphasis on work-life balance refreshing and gained a new appreciation for setting healthy boundaries.
Exploring the next phase
After completing her course, Yukta has returned to India and is exploring the next phase of her professional journey. She is also pursuing a certification in AI in Marketing, reflecting her belief in continuous learning.
Outside work, she enjoys creating beauty and lifestyle content. “I love shooting videos. I am a beauty fanatic,” she says with a smile.
Looking back on her experience abroad, Yukta describes it simply. “Overall, I think the experience was fantastic. “Today, with experience across companies such as PharmEasy, Nykaa, Tira Beauty and Boots, along with international academic exposure from Kingston University, she hopes to continue building a career in brand management and e-commerce while remaining open to learning and new opportunities along the way.
- Follow Yukta D’Sa on LinkedIn