Q&A: How GSK Unlocked has helped Hassan to step out of his comfort zone & achieve his goals
By: Iryna Krupnyk
Tags: Coaching, Inclusion, Diversity And Inclusion, Development, Diversity

Q&A: How GSK Unlocked has helped Hassan to step out of his comfort zone & achieve his goals

In 2020 GSK Unlocked has given 20 ambitious young adults from socially and ethnically diverse backgrounds insight and skills that will help them prepare for a successful professional journey. With support from 38 GSK volunteers, they learnt about GSK values, developed personal and professional skills and were partnered with their very own GSK buddy and coach. Iryna Krupnyk Follow Dec 9, 2020 · 5 min read

Name: Hassan Alradhawi

University: Queens Mary University of London

Degree: BEng Chemical Engineering

Career ambitions: A role in engineering, business or finance

How did you hear about the programme?: Was looking for opportunities at GSK and found GSK Unlocked online

Hassan, thanks for speaking with us about your experience on GSK Unlocked. Could you tell us a little about yourself first?

I was born and brought up in North West London. I live in a family of six — two brothers and a sister. I went to a state school and sixth form — not the best around, but they did the job.

In the sixth form, I took Biology, Chemistry and Maths because I initially wanted to pursue a career in dentistry. My brother is a doctor, so my parents were hoping to have another son as a dentist. But it wasn’t something I really wanted to do. I realised that with dentistry I would be restricted to a specific career path and at that point, I was still unsure of my career ambitions.

I decided to pursue a Chemical Engineering route instead. I loved the change! Chemical Engineering has really broadened my horizons due to its multidisciplinary nature and it has given me the opportunity to seek employment in various fields.

What were you hoping to get out of GSK Unlocked?

I first learnt about GSK when I was looking for work experiences back in the sixth form — it was a big name that came up in my research. When the GSK Unlocked programme opportunity came up, I knew it was for me.

Primarily I was looking for career guidance from the programme. With my degree choice, you have many options, from engineering to finance and economics. I had no idea what I wanted to do after finishing university — it was one of the main reasons I applied for this programme, to get more focus on my future career path.

The coaching part of the programme also fascinated me, as I have never had a coach before. The idea of coaching was a bit weird for me at first as I didn’t really know what it meant, but I really enjoyed it. My coach turned out to be a really nice person, very relatable and made me feel at ease. Having someone who has worked at GSK for over 10 years, sharing their experience with me, has been invaluable.

Did GSK Unlocked meet your expectations?

The programme was better than I expected, especially as it has been run online.

I didn’t expect to meet so many professionals from GSK who seemed genuinely willing to help, and not just turning up at events to speak to us. I’ve realised that no one was there to put us down, they are there to guide us. One of the best things I’ve got out of the programme is making connections with new people.

I went on to connect with some of the speakers on LinkedIn. One of them had a background in Chemical Engineering, so I decided to seek further advice from them about their journey to GSK. If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t have anyone else to ask about their experience.

The buddy experience has also been of great help. You get to speak to someone close to your age, so you can relate with them more, and understand their journey to GSK and their experiences working there.

What was your favourite part of the programme?

The coaching sessions. They were of massive benefit as they allowed me to develop both personally and professionally. They prompted me to get out of my comfort zone and try new things which I have struggled with previously due to a mental barrier I set for myself.

Something I never speak about, and only coaching had bought it out of me, is getting out of my comfort zone. It’s not something I normally do, I’m generally a shy person. My coach prompted me to do different things to get out of my comfort zone, and we made a plan, a list of things, of how I can do that. I kept my coach updated regularly on how I was getting on.

We spoke about presentations being a large part of my course. Every week there’s a presentation to be delivered, and it’s something I’ve really struggled with. My coach has helped me get over that fear of presenting.

To work on my communication skills I have also grabbed the opportunity to do this Q&A. It’s not something I would have done in the past, but I felt I needed to get out of my comfort zone and just do it! I feel that this alone shows how I have gained more confidence.

What would you say to your peers about GSK?

I got the sense that GSK really does ensure diverse talent gets recognised and by running the GSK Unlocked I feel that they went out of their way to promote and develop diversity. The programme was centred around finding a diverse group of students and providing them with the opportunity to develop — I thought it was quite unexpected for such a global company to provide this sort of opportunity.

The programme itself allowed me to see what large organisations are like and gain an understanding of the values needed in a professional working environment. The expectation sessions on Courage, Teamwork, Development and Accountability helped me to get an understanding of what it means to be a part of GSK.

How has being on the programme helped you with your future career plans?

I now feel more confident, not only in myself but also in my knowledge of the professional world. I know what skills I need to have to succeed in my career.

I’ve reaffirmed my decision to go into engineering, business or finance as I have the chance to utilise the multidisciplinary skills I will gain through my degree course.

Before GSK Unlocked I was already considering an industrial placement, however, the programme has confirmed my desire to attain this position at GSK. I now feel better equipped to get an internship, placement year or graduate role in a leading business. In fact, I have applied for a Chemical Engineering industrial placement at GSK and am currently awaiting a response from the assessment centre.

Thanks for being part of GSK Unlocked, Hassan. We’re looking forward to hearing the outcome of your application for the industrial placement at GSK.