Recent University of Sydney Commerce graduate Ricky Rangra divided his New Colombo Plan experience between 2 Asian business hubs: Singapore and Malaysia.
Starting in Singapore, Ricky studied finance and business courses at the National University of Singapore. Ricky also prioritised connecting with the local business community and joining Toastmasters to strengthen his public speaking. Through the speaking club, he met one of his professional mentors, a former CFO of one of Australia’s Big 4 banks who now runs a private equity firm in Singapore.
After 6 months in Singapore, Ricky moved to Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia to undertake an internship at the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade) as a business analyst, helping facilitate trade agreements between Australia and the rest of the world. Ricky worked within the ASEAN team on the consumer, agriculture and beverage portfolio, helping, for example, Australian avocado farmers bring their produce to the Southeast Asian market.
In Malaysia, Ricky was also involved with international summits and trade missions. He worked on an Australian trade tour to Malaysia, where around 20 executives from the Australian maritime industry met with industry representatives, and the Malaysian government, to discuss maritime decarbonisation. 'As a young person interested in foreign policy and international affairs, this was amazing to help plan,' says Ricky.
As in Singapore, Ricky made time to meet with people in the diplomatic community, to find good mentors, and to socialise outside of his work. With a desire to continue his commitment to community service, Ricky volunteered at a local food kitchen that supported individuals experiencing homelessness, 'I'm conscious of the fact that being on an Australian government scholarship means that you can be somewhat insulated. It’s important to go into the community and to try to get under those layers.'
As a Sydneysider who is an avid AFL fan, Ricky joined the Malaysian Warriors AFL Club, playing for them on their tour of Vietnam. Ricky found sport to be a wonderful way to make new friends from different parts of the community. 'Sport is a great way to connect with people and make you feel like you are part of something,' he says.
Language was also an important factor, and Ricky studied both Mandarin and Bahasa Malaysian as part of his NCP experience. Already fluent in Hindi and Punjabi due to his family background, Ricky believes that knowing a language helps you to strengthen your understanding of the way a particular society and its culture works. 'Being familiar with the local language makes you feel as if you're embedded within the social fabric of the country that you are living in a little bit more,' Ricky says.
Now working for an international American-based consulting firm, Ricky believes that his NCP experience has set him up well for the future. 'I’ve come out of the experience feeling incredibly inspired and now see things from the lens of a much bigger picture than I did when I was a student' says Ricky.
Ricky is back in Australia and remains in contact with the friends, colleagues and mentors he met during his year overseas. 'I’ve been very fortunate to have senior business leaders and diplomats help guide my journey, and that’s something that I wouldn’t have been privy to without the NCP,' he says.
'When I look back at my NCP experience, it was the best 12 months of my life, without a doubt.'