The Undergraduate

What is it really like to leave home and study in the United States? How do you know when it’s time to change career paths? Is pursuing a creative career still worth it today?

In this episode of "The Undergraduate", I sit down with Monika Zgurova, a University of Miami graduate, Forbes 30 Under 30 honouree, and marketing consultant, to discuss her journey from moving alone from Bulgaria to the United States at 18 to building a successful career in marketing.

Together, we talk about:
• What studying in the USA is really like
• Expectations vs. reality of university life
• The future of careers in marketing
• Whether you should pursue a creative career
• Changing your degree and finding the right path
• Homesickness, independence, and moving abroad
• Advice for students who feel lost about their future

🎙️ As always, thank you so much for listening, and I hope you enjoy the episode 🤍Follow "The Undergraduate" for more conversations with students and professionals sharing the lessons they wish they had known before university.

In this episode, I’m joined by Claudia Torrico, who started out studying Language, Literature and Civilisations and later transitioned into a Master’s in Accounting, Control and Finance before going into banking.

We talk about what it’s like to choose a degree at 18 without really knowing where it will lead, and what happens when your interests shift over time. Claudia shares how she moved from a humanities background into finance, what that transition actually looked like, and how she approached building a career in a completely different field.

We also get into her experience studying abroad, the realities of moving countries for work, and how to deal with things like homesickness and maintaining relationships while building a life somewhere new.

This episode is for anyone who feels unsure about their degree, is thinking about switching paths, or just trying to make sense of how their choices now might shape what comes next.

In this episode I’m speaking with Stoyan Ivanov, who started out studying Law at Coventry University, went through exams, internships, and working in a law firm… and then ended up building something completely different.

We talk about what choosing law actually looks like in reality, the pressures and expectations that come with it, and what it feels like to realise you might not want the path you originally chose. From there, the conversation moves into starting a business while still a student, moving back home, and navigating uncertainty when things don’t go to plan.

Along the way, this episode also turns into a broader conversation about decision-making, taking risks, and figuring things out in your early 20s, not just in your career, but in life more generally.

In this episode, I’m joined by Barbara Russo, an Imperial College London Civil Engineering graduate who now works as a structural engineer. Originally from Italy, she moved to the UK for university and has since lived and worked in three different countries.

We talk about what it’s really like to study engineering at a place like Imperial, how internships shape your early career, and what happens when university ends and the “real world” actually begins. Barbara also shares her experience entering a male-dominated field and the mindset that helped her navigate it.

If you’re studying engineering, thinking about studying abroad, or just trying to figure out what life after university might look like, this episode is for you.

In this episode, I’m joined by Aleksandar - Imperial College London graduate in Civil Engineering who finished first in his cohort, later transitioned into data science, and eventually made the decision to leave London and move back to Bulgaria.

We talk about what academic success actually feels like behind the scenes, the pressure of doing well, and what happens when the path you chose stops feeling right. We also get into changing careers, redefining what success means over time, and the very real question many students abroad face — whether to stay or go back home.

Starting university (or even just thinking about it) can feel overwhelming. Everyone seems like they know what they’re doing, but the truth is - most of us don’t.

In this first episode, I talk honestly about why I started this podcast, what undergrad has actually been like for me, and the things I wish someone had told me earlier. This isn’t about perfect advice or having everything figured out - it’s about sharing real experiences, mistakes, and lessons so you don’t feel like you’re going through it alone.

If you’re a high school student, undergrad, or young adult feeling unsure, behind, or just a little lost, this podcast is for you.