From determination to marketing success

Amid significant personal and professional commitments, Pareena Naggea-Sharma balanced work, family, and study, emerging with stronger strategic capability and confidence.

• Name: Pareena Naggea-Sharma
• Current Role: Marketing Specialist, Bendigo Kangan Institute
• Program: Part-time Master of Marketing, Melbourne Business School
• Cohort: 2021 – 2025
• Notables: MBS Wellness Club – VP of Marketing

Shaped by family values

Pareena Naggea-Sharma traces her interest in marketing back to the year she graduated from high school in Mauritius, where she is originally from.

“While I was waiting for my A-level results, I wanted to gain more practical experience and get a feel for the professional world,” she said.

She began working as a marketing intern at KPMG, where she discovered a strong interest in the field and was inspired by the guidance of her mentor who helped her see the real impact marketing can have.

“I realised that marketing offered the right balance between creativity and business thinking. It allowed me to apply both analytical and creative skills in a meaningful way.”

Encouraged by her family’s strong emphasis on education, Pareena pursued overseas study after being awarded an International Scholarship for Excellence at Monash University, where she completed a Bachelor of Business and Commerce, majoring in Marketing and Management.

“Education has always been incredibly important in my family,” she said. “My parents made significant sacrifices to support my siblings in our studies, and they always encouraged us to continue learning and developing ourselves.”

Pareena’s father strongly valued education and encouraged her to continue learning and developing professionally.

Sadly, he became unwell while Pareena was balancing work and study in Australia and passed away shortly before she completed her postgraduate degree at Melbourne Business School.

“Education was always something deeply valued in my family, and completing the degree felt personally meaningful, especially in honour of my father,” she said.

Why Melbourne Business School

After completing her undergraduate degree, Pareena began working in marketing within the education sector, initially joining an accounting training organisation. This experience sparked a long-term interest in education marketing and its ability to influence career pathways.

Meanwhile, her husband had completed an MBA at Melbourne Business School and spoke highly of the experience.

“He always described the program as both challenging and really practical,” she said.

Pareena later joined Melbourne Business School in a marketing role, where she worked alongside colleagues who had completed the Master of Marketing.

Seeing how many people in the team had completed the program gave me confidence in its value,” she said. “It became clear how strongly the program had influenced their strategic thinking and approach to problem-solving.”

But it was still a decision that required careful consideration.

“At the time, my daughter was only 18 months old, and balancing full-time work, family responsibilities and study felt like a big commitment,” she reflected.  With the strong support of her family, husband, and in-laws, she felt encouraged to take on the challenge.

But motivated by both personal ambition and her family’s strong emphasis on education and the values of her upbringing, she took the next step.

“I thought, “Let’s just go for it. I knew the program would challenge me and strengthen my ability to think more strategically about marketing decisions,” she said.

Inside the Master of Marketing experience

The Part-time Master of Marketing strengthened Pareena’s ability to approach marketing challenges with greater structure and confidence.“I really enjoyed the case-based learning approach,” she said.

“We analysed real business challenges and developed practical solutions, which made the learning relevant to my work.”

Another aspect of the program that stood out for her was its focus on building the capabilities to work effectively with others.

“Subjects focusing on negotiation, communication, leadership and management were all valuable because they were capabilities I could apply immediately in my professional role,” she said.

“Often those are the skills that can set you apart as well as strengthen our ability to work effectively with other stakeholders.”

Behind the scenes, Pareena also found the School's culture to be incredibly supportive and flexible.

During the program, Pareena welcomed her second child and took a short break from her studies before continuing the degree.

“At one stage, I needed to take time off after having my second child, and the School was great about this,” she said. “Their support made it possible for me to continue the program while managing family commitments.”

Pareena also recalls how responsive her lecturers were when she needed to travel to Mauritius to support her family during her father’s illness.

“That level of flexibility made a meaningful difference,” she said.

Alongside her studies, Pareena supported the student community as VP of Marketing for the MBS Wellness Club, supporting initiatives that encouraged connection and wellbeing.

“In a demanding program, maintaining balance is important, and I found contributing to an initiative that benefitted fellow students to be really rewarding,” she said.

Gaining confidence through knowledge

Now a marketing specialist at Bendigo Kangan Institute, Pareena credits Melbourne Business School with sharpening her strategic and analytical thinking.

“Before the program, my decisions were largely informed by professional experience and knowledge of the market,” she said.

“The Master of Marketing helped me build on that experience, giving me the frameworks and data insights to make more informed, evidence-based decisions.”

For Pareena, developing this broader perspective has been transformative.

“I now take a more structured approach to evaluating performance and identifying opportunities.

“I have a deeper understanding of why certain strategies are effective and how marketing decisions influence broader business outcomes, she said.”

Supporting women in business

Looking ahead, Pareena is passionate about using her marketing expertise to support others, particularly women building their careers or businesses.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, she began coaching women on how to apply marketing strategies to their businesses and gain confidence in their professional direction.

Although a combination of lockdowns, study, and family circumstances required her to pause this initiative, she’s now ready to revisit it with a stronger strategic foundation.

“I found the experience incredibly meaningful, and I could see the real impact that strategic marketing guidance can have on someone’s confidence and direction.

“The Master of Marketing has deepened my ability to break down complex marketing concepts for others and give them more clarity around their business ideas,” she said.

Pareena also enjoys the satisfaction mentoring brings.

“I value being able to support others as they develop the confidence and capabilities to try new ideas. Contributing to the growth of others is something I find genuinely fulfilling,” she said.

For future students

Pareena’s message to future students is to seize the moment.

If you’re considering Melbourne Business School, don’t wait until the timing feels right, there will always be something that gets in the way,” she said.

“My advice is to just jump in and get started.”

For Pareena, who initially doubted whether she could balance the demands of a hectic family life with the academic rigors of postgraduate study, her experience proved that, with determination and the right support, it is possible to achieve both.

“From admissions to the lecturers, it's an incredibly supportive place that’s designed to help you grow,” she said.

She also encourages students to engage fully with the broader MBS experience.

“Make the most of opportunities outside the classroom. Get to know your cohort, participate in student initiatives, and build relationships with people you can learn from,” she said.

“The network and perspectives you gain are just as valuable as the academic knowledge.”

Made. Not born. – Pareena’s interpretation

Pareena believes that Made. Not born. reflects the idea that leaders and professionals are developed through experience, persistence, and a commitment to learning.

“It was a tough decision for me to start the Master of Marketing because I was working full-time, raising a young family, and stepping into an academically demanding environment,” she said.

“But through my journey, I realised that growth happens when you push yourself beyond your comfort zone.

“Every assignment, every challenge, every exam, every interaction with my cohort helped shape who I am today. It has shaped how I approach challenges, helping me become a more strategic marketer and a more resilient individual.”