Diary of an Associate: Anika

Introduce yourself...

Hi! I’m Anika, a second-year BSc Psychology student at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience. I’m currently the Communications and Engagement Associate at the Entrepreneurship Institute.

My favourite emojis are 💜 and ✨!

Why did you apply to be an Associate at the Entrepreneurship Institute?

I’ve always been passionate about storytelling and knew I wanted to explore the communications field more deeply. As a psychology student, I’ve learnt all about how people think, connect, and make decisions - this role felt like a great way to bring together my academic background and creative interests.

The Entrepreneurship Institute is buzzing with energy, full of big ideas, and genuinely focused on making an impact - I knew I wanted to be part of that. The role would push me to think out of the box, communicate effectively, and grow in confidence, all while being part of a vibrant and supportive team.

You're studying BSc Psychology at King's. How has being an Associate complemented your degree?

Studying psychology has given me a solid understanding of behaviour, communication, and motivation - which turned out to be super useful when writing captions, planning campaigns, or trying to get people excited about an event. I’ve drawn heavily on my understanding of how people think and connect whilst being an Associate.

On the flip side, being an Associate taught me things I’d never have picked up from a textbook, including how to run a social media campaign, lead a panel discussion, or adapt when your perfectly planned schedule suddenly goes sideways (it happens). It made everything I’m learning in my degree feel a lot more relevant and exciting.

How were you able to balance being an Associate alongside your studies? Any top tips?

To stay organised, I relied a lot on time-blocking and working in themed ‘focus sessions’ - such as carving out mornings for uni work and afternoons for EI projects.

My top tip? Don’t underestimate the power of a good to-do list (I swear by Notion and Google Calendar) - and always communicate if you’re feeling stretched. The EI team is incredibly supportive.

Now you’re reaching the end of the Associate role, what are your top 3 highlights?

1. Working on social media content for EI events. From posting live at the Idea Factory Pitch Off to wrapping up Change our City Challenge with an Instagram Reel - I got to dive into some fun and fast-paced content creation. 

2. Collaborating with the other Associates. We all brought different strengths, and it was energising to be part of such a driven team.

3. Connecting with founders and hearing their stories. I loved this part. Getting to hear about the messy, exciting, and brave parts of building something from scratch was incredibly inspiring. Their passion and resilience really reminded me of why I was drawn to this space in the first place.

How will you use the skills and experiences you’ve gained as an Associate going forward?

Working as an Associate has made me way more confident - not just in writing and marketing, but in speaking up and thinking creatively. Going forward, I’m really interested in working somewhere that brings my passions of psychology, entrepreneurship, and social impact together - this role gave me a taste of that and helped me realise my goals for the future.

Being a part of so many incredible events and working under the guidance of the Communications and Engagement team at the Entrepreneurship Institute has been genuinely formative. The experiences I’ve had, and the lessons I’ve learnt, are things I’ll carry with me well beyond this role.

And finally, what would be your one piece of advice for future Associates at the Entrepreneurship Institute?

This is a role where you grow by doing - so take initiative, bring your ideas to the table, and actively engage with the inspiring community around you. 

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Each year, the Entrepreneurship Institute offers flexible, part-time and paid roles to current King’s students. Read more about our Associate positions.