Starting over: How one Monash graduate rebuilt her career in a new country

30 June 2026

When Reema Banerjee relocated to Melbourne to enrol in the Monash Global Executive MBA, she had to rebuild her professional identity from scratch. Now she is using that experience to help others make the transition.

Reema Banerjee was more than a decade into a career in digital marketing and e-commerce in India when she chose to move halfway across the world to enrol in the Monash Global Executive MBA.

“I realised I was operating on autopilot - I was doing the work, but not always understanding the broader business impact of what I was doing,” Ms Banerjee said.

“I decided I needed to sharpen my business acumen, and that ultimately led me to Australia and the Monash GEMBA.”

She knew the transition would be challenging, but she did not expect to be starting from zero.

“There were moments when I genuinely thought I might have to return home, but I kept telling myself I would continue trying until I knew I had done absolutely everything I could,” she said.

The realities of rebuilding

Despite senior roles with eBay and six years leading digital marketing for Disney's children's network in India, Ms Banerjee found her experience carried little weight in the Australian job market.

“I thought I would be able to leverage my previous experience, but I struggled to build momentum,” she said.

“I couldn't land roles because I didn't have local market experience. I started applying for very junior positions and went for a number of interviews, but I just couldn't convert them. That was really tough.”

The problem was not capability - it was visibility and access.

“One of the biggest barriers international graduates face is the perception that we don't understand the nuances of the local market,” Ms Banerjee said.

“But skills are transferable, and capability can transfer across different markets and industries.”

From student to practitioner

It was through sustained engagement with the Monash Business School community that Ms Banerjee began to gain traction.

She threw herself into consulting projects, mentoring programs, and industry events to build the local presence her credentials alone could not provide.

“I attended every networking event, I volunteered, and I did everything I could to stay visible and connected,” she said.

In November 2023, those connections led to an internship with Melbourne-based executive leadership consultancy Future Leadership.

By January 2024, she had converted it into an ongoing role as Digital Marketing Coordinator, responsible for end-to-end marketing operations.

“Monash had so many opportunities and resources, and I made sure I used every avenue,” she said.

“The informal networks through Monash were absolutely critical in helping me create my first real opportunity in Australia.”

Paying it forward

Earlier this year, Ms Banerjee returned to Monash Business School as an alumni panellist, speaking with students preparing to enter the workforce.

“I feel very passionate about empowering people who are now in the same position I was in a few years ago,” she said.

“I believe I have a story that can give people hope, and I wanted to create that sense of energy and encouragement for others.”

Her advice to international students is to focus on resilience, consistency and contribution.

“When you are networking, approach it with curiosity and a willingness to learn, and a 'give before you take' mindset,” she said.

“Be resilient. Resilience is what carried me through those years. It is much easier said than done.”

The GEMBA, she said, changed more than her career.

“It made me a better professional, but also a better person,” she said.

“The leadership lessons really forced you to reflect on who you are, while also giving you practical frameworks that I was applying almost immediately beyond the classroom.”

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