Before coming to Bath, Duncan had already achieved an engineering degree and a pilot’s license in his home country of Kenya, but felt he had more to learn.
He chose his course in search of soft-skills, and left with friends for life, a love for the English countryside and a graduate job in consulting that’s got him where he is today.
Why did you choose to study at Bath?
I already had an engineering degree from Kenya and was looking for a very specific type of master's. I was confident in my technical engineering skills, but I wanted to move more into management and develop softer skills, like people management.
I was comparing Bath with another option in Sweden. A big driver for me was finding a modern, fit-for-purpose course that combined engineering and management. I was already planning to come to Bath even without a scholarship, but when Bath offered me one, that really made the decision clear.
Did you manage to visit Bath before your studies?
No, I didn’t. I’d never even heard of Bath before I started researching courses and had to explain to my family where it was I was going to be living.
My first impressions were very positive. It was a much bigger place than I had thought, and the architecture was impressive. I loved the contrast of the brutalist architecture on campus – there's lots of brutalist architecture in Kenya – and the Georgian buildings in the city. I have a lifelong love for Bath and hope to move back one day.
Did you have a particular career in mind when you chose your course?
No, not at all. I genuinely had no clear idea what I wanted to do next. I was already an engineer, and the beauty of that is a bit like being a doctor – you already have a career by default. I just didn’t know what came after that. I’d also already achieved my pilot’s qualification by then, so knew I had lots of options.
Honestly, my main goal was to have a good time, learn new things, and figure it out later.
Can you tell us about your experience of studying here? Any favourite memories, or places to go on campus and in the city?
I absolutely loved studying at Bath. I appreciated the way we were treated by the professors and teachers – we were treated like clients, and their job was to understand exactly what we needed from the course and deliver that. That approach made the course genuinely fun.
Outside of studying, I spent a lot of time cycling around the Mendip Hills, walking along the canals, and along the old railway line into Bristol, and of course spending a lot of time in the pubs and bars. Bath was perfect. When I wanted to explore a bigger city, Bristol was just down the road, and London wasn’t too far either.
Another huge highlight was the people. My class was full of international students, and I made friends from all over the world. Many of them I’m still very close to now. Last year I met friends from South Korea and Russia in Seoul, and I flew to a friend’s wedding. These are some of my best friends, some are even godparents to my children.
Were you a part of any societies or sports clubs during your time at Bath? What did you enjoy most about them?
I was a member of the Aviation Society and spent entire weekends flying drones. Aviation had always been a passion of mine, and I’d actually got my first pilot’s licence when I was 17, before coming to Bath.
Describe your career journey since graduating. What is a typical day like in your current role?
I ended up going to a careers event at Bath almost entirely by accident and met someone from EY who was presenting on consulting, something I’d never even heard of before. I still wasn’t sure what I wanted to do next, but it sounded interesting, so I thought, why not, and put in an application. I was accepted onto their graduate scheme, which at the time I thought it would just be temporary until I figured out my next move.
I stayed in consulting and spent a good amount of time at EY before moving on to Alpha FMC and then KPMG. I now work in financial services consulting, mainly supporting wealth managers and banks –helping them run their businesses more efficiently, improve their customer proposition, and adapt to change.
I’m currently a Director at KPMG, which is a leadership role. I’m responsible for leading client engagements, making sure clients are getting value from the work we do, and supporting the teams I work with.
What do you enjoy most about your career? Has anything surprised you?
What I enjoy most is the variety. There’s always something new, and we’re constantly working on different challenges. Most projects last between 12 and 24 months, so it often feels like you have a new job every year or so. I also work with multiple clients at the same time, which keeps things fresh.
What’s surprised me most is how long it’s stayed interesting. I still really enjoy what I do.
What’s the achievement you are most proud of?
I’m most proud of how I transitioned into a new country, a new field, and a new career so seamlessly. It could have been much more difficult, but I’m happy that I’ve built a life and a career somewhere completely new. My life genuinely wouldn’t look like this if I hadn’t made the decision to come to Bath and study my master’s.
What advice would you give to prospective students thinking about studying at Bath?
Absolutely do it. Don’t think of it as just an academic endeavour – see it for what it really is. The academic quality is phenomenal, but just as importantly, it’s an opportunity to make friends for life. Soak up the culture, enjoy the countryside, and challenge yourself. It’s a great course and a great experience.
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