Portrait photograph of: Ben Yakas

Ben Yakas

Country Of Origin: United Kingdom

Degree: BA Economics and International Relations, 2019


Business Development Representative , Amazon Web Services


Why did you choose to study at LUMS?

Lancaster University Management School has a fantastic reputation, and this is demonstrated by the fact that many of their programmes are highly ranked within the UK and across the world by leading rankings. This was a real driver in my decision to choose LUMS.

What was the best thing about your course?

Due to the nature of my joint honours, I was provided with great flexibility to choose a range of modules across two broad disciplines, with the ability to choose modules that took a more intuitive approach or those that focused predominantly on mathematics and statistics. 

What/who inspired you most at LUMS and why?

The LUMS Careers Service was essential in inspiring me to start making decisions as to what my career path might look like. In particular, they provided great support and learning on the current job market, how to prepare for applications and interviews as well as how to streamline interests and goals into specific job roles. 

Describe your time at LUMS in three words.

Engaging, exciting and fulfilling 

What are your best memories of your time at Lancaster?

Being part of the Men's Hockey Club and playing at a high level of competitiveness, learning about areas that were of genuine interest to me and laying the foundations to my future career.

What are the best things about living in the Lancaster area?

Lancaster is very much a student community, and I never felt unsafe or unwelcome. Friends are close and you're never far away from anything. 

Which parts of your Lancaster experience were the best preparation for your job?

The social aspect of the university helped develop my interpersonal skills, which are essential for any job role. I also developed key soft skills such as time management, organisation, and teamwork.