News
Navigating growth and purpose: my professional journey
Toufiq, a UK Civil Service professional, draws on global experience in engineering, business, and leadership. A School of Business graduate, he ranked first in his class and continues to shape impact-driven careers
Published on 29 September 2025
Choices shape every journey — mine has always been guided by purpose, curiosity, and a commitment to continuous learning. My name is Toufiq, and I am originally from Bangladesh. I currently work in the UK Civil Service, based in Manchester (since 2023).
An engineering graduate, I worked for BASF, a German company, for 11 years, leading teams across South Asia and ASEAN in strategic marketing, specification development, and stakeholder engagement, with leadership shaped by training at IIM Calcutta.
A defining moment in my career was pursuing an MSc in International Business & Strategy at the University of Dundee School of Business, where I graduated with distinction and ranked first in my class. I chose the School of Business for its international outlook, practical curriculum, and reputation for developing future-ready leaders. The programme stretched my thinking, challenged my assumptions, and connected me with a diverse cohort of professionals. Modules in global strategy, business analytics, and leadership sharpened my ability to interpret policy, manage complexity, and lead with purpose. The supportive faculty and collaborative environment built my confidence and clarified my career direction. Beyond academics, I served as a Peer Connector, completed the ASSIST course, and joined the Enterprise Challenge, applying strategic thinking to real-world problems. I also hold an Executive MBA, which enhanced my leadership, commercial acumen, and ability to drive organisational impact.
In the UK Civil Service, I combine analytical rigour and strategic thinking, collaborating across teams and managing complex stakeholder relationships to deliver impactful public service outcomes. I enjoy making a real difference with purpose-driven colleagues and am enhancing my leadership and governance skills through the UK Civil Service Leadership Development Programme at the University of Cambridge.
My advice to future students is to embrace challenges, plan carefully, and never fear failure. Lifelong learning and purposeful choices have helped me align my career with impact. Dundee shaped my goals, and I wholeheartedly recommend this course to anyone seeking growth, resilience, and a global perspective.