The Value of Saying Yes: Turning opportunities into growth

In our latest blog, Undergraduate student Muhoza Baraka shares how saying yes to every opportunity at Warwick helped shape his journey, from a refugee camp in Rwanda, to an internship in the insurance industry.

When I arrived at Warwick, I suddenly found myself surrounded by opportunities I could only have dreamed of. From volunteering and work experience, to securing an internship in the insurance industry, every experience taught me something that couldn't have been learned in a lecture theatre.

Where it all started

Growing up in a Kiziba Refugee camp in Rwanda with over 16,000 refugees, opportunities were limited. We had few resources and an extremely uncertain future. However, I have never let these challenges get in the way of me making the most of every opportunity that comes my way. 

I started by setting up a small business selling milk in the camp and volunteering with World Vision at Umubano Primary school teaching year one students. Those experiences taught me that every opportunity, however small, can shape your journey in unexpected ways. That mindset has stayed with me ever since. 

Saying yes before I felt ready

After finishing my first-year exams, I attended a British Airways open day organised by the WBS Careers service. It gave me the chance to visit and see the hangar, meet professionals, and learn more about various opportunities available in the airline industry. 

Those experiences strengthened my desire to say yes to every opportunity. 

Afterwards, I joined Warwick Volunteers in Leamington. What began as a volunteering activity led me to becoming a project leader for the community gardening project. Through this role, I discovered how much I enjoy working with people, planning activities and making an impact in the community.

What the classroom never taught me

Walking into the insurance industry for the first time, I quickly realised that my professional working life would demand more than just knowledge of my study subject. Every piece of information had a purpose, and every decision had a commercial reason behind it.

I learned that engagement is essential if both people in a conversation are to feel they've gained something from it. It's these genuine, engaging conversations that build strong, meaningful business relationships and leave people looking forward to their next interaction with you.

One of the most lasting lessons came from Kelly, my manager and the Founder and Chief Underwriting Officer at Seraphina, who said "What you like and are interested in, you will be good at it”. She also taught me that it is not about getting the data from an annual report or reading it but about understanding the process and the reason behind the data.

I came away with greater confidence, a deeper commitment to grounding choices in evidence rather than assumptions and a stronger appreciation for the importance of building good relationships. All of this, I could not have gained from a lecture theatre alone. 

The moment that everything changed 

When I was given the opportunity to access education in the camp, it changed how I viewed my future.

However, the truly life-changing moment came when I arrived at Warwick. It gave me access to networks, opportunities, and experiences I could only have dreamed of. From giving a campus tour to Ali McPherson, Managing Director at J.P. Morgan, to presenting my research findings at the URSS Showcase, securing an internship at Seraphina, and being inspired by Kelly, each experience has helped build my confidence and changed how I see myself.

Today, I don't define myself by where I started, but by the opportunities I embraced, the people who believed in me, and the confidence I gained along the way.

Why it’s been worth it 

My internship at Seraphina, a general property insurance company, has been the most rewarding experience of my university journey. It reignited my passion for an industry I knew little about before joining.

Before the internship, my understanding of insurance was limited to the customer perspective. At Seraphina, I gained hands-on insight into underwriting, pricing, market research, and the importance of strong broker and client relationships. The experience also allowed me to see other parts of the industry. I spent time with Pernix, learning about credit risk and political risk insurance, and with Gallagher, where I observed how brokers work with clients and present risks to underwriters.

Throughout all these experiences, one lesson stood out clearly: the importance of relationships and trust. Whilst technical skills matter, success is often built on credibility, communication and the ability to work with others.

What I would tell my younger self

Remain curious, Remain disciplined and never give up.

I was once part of a community where opportunity was limited, but today I am building the skills, knowledge, and networks needed to make a difference.

Every volunteering role, work experience and internship taught me something new about myself and brought new challenges, invaluable learning experiences and the opportunity to lean from exceptionally talented individuals.

How you can get started 

Personally, I found opportunities through networking and by making use of the resources available at WBS. Many of my volunteering and work experience opportunities came from university programmes, careers resources, and simply paying attention to opportunities when they are posted on LinkedIn and the WBS career page.

One piece of advice from my personal tutor has always stayed with me: "When you don't ask, you don't get." This shaped how I network and how I reach out to my networks.

For example, my internship at Seraphina came through networking. At an Ashinaga event, I asked Ed Clark whether Seraphina offered internships. They did not have a formal programme at the time, but he gave me his business card. I followed up afterwards, and that conversation eventually led to my internship.

There is no better time to start looking for work experience. Every conversation, every event and every connection has the potential to lead somewhere unexpected.

Warwick opens many doors—it is up to us to knock on them.