Hi, I’m Trisha Malkani from Mumbai, India, and I graduated from Warwick Business School in 2020 with a degree in Management with Marketing. Today, I run my own branding and marketing agency called Spicey Guava. The idea behind it is simple: no more boring brands. We help businesses build strong identities and show up online in ways that feel bold, memorable, and true to who they are. Even though it’s been less than six months since launch, it’s already grown into an exciting mix of hospitality, lifestyle, beauty, and F&B clients across India and the UK - and honestly, watching it take shape has been one of the most rewarding chapters of my career.

Why Warwick and Why This Course?

Warwick stood out to me for two big reasons: its reputation and the course. I knew I wanted to work in marketing, but I also knew I eventually wanted to be an entrepreneur. So I didn’t want a course that was too narrow - I wanted a degree that helped me understand how an entire business works.

Management with Marketing felt like the perfect balance. It gave me a broad foundation across strategy, operations, finance, people, and innovation, while still allowing me to specialise in marketing, branding, and consumer behaviour. I really appreciated the flexibility to customise modules based on what aligned with my interests and future plans.

Favourite Learning Moments

Modules that genuinely shifted what I think included Design Thinking for Digital Innovation and Brand Management. They were easily my favourite modules, as they blended creativity and theory, making me realise how branding is equal parts strategy and storytelling.

Another unexpected favourite was Finance in New Ventures. As someone who loved the creative side of marketing, finance initially felt like unfamiliar territory, but this module changed that. It taught me how to budget, forecast, evaluate business ideas and think through scaling - all things that help me build my own business today.

I also loved the structure of our seminars at Warwick Business School. The smaller groups meant discussions felt more personal and interactive, and you could actually debate, question, and collaborate with your cohort and teachers. It made all the theory and class notes I took come together.

Internships, Campus Life and Finding My Path

During my time at Warwick, I completed a summer internship every year. My first was at a startup, my second was in marketing for a private wealth management firm, and the third was at a larger corporate marketing organisation - which eventually turned into a full-time role. Those experiences helped me apply my knowledge in different working environments and gave me a realistic sense of where I thrived.

Outside academic life, I was very involved across campus life and absolutely loved that part of university. I joined TEDxWarwick, Warwick Entrepreneurs, Enactus Warwick, and became a Brand Ambassador for both WBS and The Economist. Balancing deadlines, society roles, and internships taught me how to manage time, communicate clearly, and lead teams - long before I realised entrepreneurship would require all of that and more.

I brought everything into my interviews - class projects, society roles, event organising, all of it - and that became my biggest advantage. Job applications can feel daunting, but being actively involved on campus meant I had real stories and experiences to talk about and confidence to share them,  which helped me present myself as a strong, capable candidate.

Life After Warwick

After graduating, I spent seven years working in London across three very different environments. I began at a startup, where I learned to be resourceful, fast, and hands-on. From there, I moved into a corporate marketing firm, which helped me refine structure, planning, and long-term strategy. Eventually, I joined a global recruitment firm, where I worked across communications, branding, and storytelling at scale. Each environment taught me something different and played a crucial role in shaping the kind of work I enjoy today and the way I now approach building my own business. Alongside my full-time roles during those years, I began freelancing as a marketing consultant in London’s F&B space. As the demand grew and projects took off, it felt like the right time to return to Mumbai and launch my own agency.

When I did, I reached out to Warwick alumni who had built their own businesses, and those conversations became invaluable. Hearing from people who had built something from scratch - and succeeded - gave me clarity, direction, and confidence.

Looking Forward

My plan now is to continue growing Spicey Guava, take on larger branding mandates, explore international partnerships, and build a strong niche in hospitality and experience-led brands. I don’t know exactly where it will go - but I’m excited to find out.

Final Reflection

Warwick wasn’t just where I studied - it’s where I grew, experimented, and built the foundation for everything I’m doing today. Looking back, Warwick was the right choice for me. It gave me the balance of structure, freedom, and challenge that I needed at that stage of my life.