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Diary of an Associate: Zeenath

Zeenath Lahrie

Neuroscience and Psychology BSc, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience

05 June 2025

Zeenath joined the Entrepreneurship Institute as an Associate to explore opportunities outside her degree. Keep reading to find out what she learnt!

Introduce yourself...

My name is Zeenath and I am a 2nd year student studying Neuroscience and Psychology BSc. I joined the Entrepreneurship Institute (EI) as a Ventures Associate in 2024!

 

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

I joined the EI because I wanted to branch out my experience beyond academia, and there was no better way of getting started than the opportunity to explore a world beyond my course!

I joined the EI because I wanted to branch out my experience beyond academia!–

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

Initially I thought my role as a Ventures Associate and my course were mutually exclusive, with zero overlaps. However, the longer I worked, the more I realised how I was able to leverage skills I developed from my degree as a Ventures Associate. For instance, the transition from researching psychology theories to conducting desk research on entrepreneurship are not as different as one would think!

On the other hand, working as a Ventures Associate helped me to develop soft skills such as building confidence to speak with a range of audiences, which became very helpful when preparing for presentation assignments on my course. 

 

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

Being an Associate is pretty flexible. To balance your work as an Associate, I would recommend keeping a planner to make sure you remember what shifts you've signed up for! The EI team are extremely appreciative about circumstances and commitments - just be open about your schedule and commitments to your manager so they can best support you.

The longer I worked at the EI, the more I realised how I was able to leverage skills I developed from my degree as a Ventures Associate. –

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

  1. Interacting with start-ups – from healthcare to AI, there are so many bright and exciting individuals with even more exciting ideas!

  2. Meeting new friends – it was an amazing opportunity to build long-lasting connections and meet people beyond my degree.

  3. End of Programme Pitch Competitions – it's always very exciting to see the founders pitch their ideas after curating them for months, and also meet like-minded individuals who are passionate about start-ups.

I really enjoyed interacting with the start-ups at the EI – there are so many bright and exciting individuals with even more exciting ideas!–

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

Working as an Associate made me realise how important it is to branch out beyond academics. It has been one of the key reasons why I have decided to spend my placement year in a government role - so I can see what different opportunities are out there!

Working as an Associate made me realise how important it is to branch out beyond academics.–

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

My one piece of advice? Don’t be afraid to step outside of your comfort zone! Entrepreneurship is all about trying new things, so even if you don’t have any experience, don’t feel afraid to try it out.

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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.

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