pandemic, and to ultimately succeed.
Use your talent to give to others, and to
contribute to this world. In your student
years learn and get experience. That will
always be your most powerful weapon.”
Find more about GCU London here:
www.gculondon.ac.uk
25
GCU London
GCU London is our postgraduate
campus located in an ultra-modern
environment in the heart of London.
Situated on Fashion Street, in
Spitalfields, one of London’s most
vibrant areas, the campus is close to
the globally recognised financial and
fashion industries. GCU London offers a
unique range of MBA and MSc courses,
high quality teaching and links with
international businesses. Let’s meet
one of our GCU London graduates:
Erika Alvarez is the Founder and
Creative Director of London based
creative studio KOUA MEXICO, which
blends fashion and traditions by
supporting indigenous groups in local
towns in Mexico. She is also taking on a
new project, KOUA STUDIO, a creative
studio for fashion and interior designers
to encourage them to use their
handmade bespoke textiles on their
collections to give economic
opportunities to local communities in
Mexico, and to show more transparency
in their production chain.
Why this career path?
“Fashion is always something I have
wanted to do since I was a child, but
there were not many opportunities in
the industry in my country. It took me a
while to take that journey. Now that I
have my own business/brand, I can’t
imagine myself doing anything else.”
How did GCU London shape your
journey?
“GCU London helped me a lot to build
the business side of my career. Doing a
master’s degree in fashion was the most
important grounding to build my brand
and set a strategy.”
Any advice?
“Definitely follow your heart, your
dreams and your passion. That’s the fuel
that will keep you going in a crisis, in a
advantage in my career as it helped me adapt to the work
environment faster, and expand my skillset in the IT field,
which makes me stand out as a valuable employee on the
market.”
Any advice?
“Please stay committed to your mission. Embrace uncertainty,
it is normal to face challenges. Never let the obstacles make
you give up, just trust the process. Believe in yourself and
never settle for less. Cherish the network you make through
ALC. Build long-lasting relationships, attend those networking
events, and take advantage of career fairs. Sometimes it is not
about what you know, but who you know.”
Find more about ALC here: www.alueducation.com
African Leadership College, Mauritius
GCU is the academic partner of the African Leadership
College (ALC), a pioneering venture created by entrepreneur
Fred Swaniker with the aim of transforming leadership in the
world's fastest growing continent. The College now has
hundreds of students enrolled in degree programmes
accredited by GCU. Let’s meet one of our ALC graduates:
Computer Science graduate Heritier Muhire is a Service Desk
Technician at CompuCom Systems, responsible for managing
their information systems and providing technical support to
fellow employees. While at ALC, Heritier also received a
Santander Magnusson Award to set up a non-profit
enterprise in Rwanda, employing local women to produce
sanitary pads and soaps, enabling them to access these
products and earn an income.
Why this career path?
“I am passionate about technology, and that’s why I pursued
Computer Science. In a digital age, technology is a major part
of people’s lives, it makes it easier, more fun and helps
improve the living conditions. I knew a computer science
degree would open a door for diverse job opportunities across
industries such as software development and allow me to
develop problem-solving, critical-thinking, creativity, and
analytical skills.”
How did ALC shape your journey?
“Through ALC employer partnerships, there is a Mauritius
based technology company that was looking for a computer
science graduate. I applied and got my first full-time job after
graduation. Having a computer science degree gave me a big