Sometimes the most important career decisions are not part of the original plan. For me, one university event and a single conversation with the team at Iconiq Innovation became the turning point that redirected my career towards innovation, sustainability, and collaborative impact.
The situation before
From a young age, innovation was always present in my life. Members of my family worked on projects focused on creating sustainable and meaningful solutions across architecture and biotech environments. Watching them dedicate themselves to ambitious ideas left a lasting impression on me. Over time, I realised my strengths were more aligned with the people-facing side of bringing ideas to life.
I became interested in Business Law and Intellectual Property because I believed this could be my way of supporting innovative organisations and helping transformative ideas move forward. Law seemed to offer a structured pathway where I could combine analytical thinking with commercial awareness while remaining connected to innovation.
As my degree progressed, the pathway narrowed into more traditional legal careers, yet I increasingly felt that something was missing. The route was clear, but it did not fully align with the personal interests that had inspired me from the beginning.
A major shift came during a placement year at a global energy technology company. Working within a technical environment exposed me to a completely different professional landscape. I discovered how much I enjoyed learning about complex technologies and translating technical understanding into practical business support. Rather than focusing purely on legal theory, I found myself energised by problem-solving and collaboration. That experience became the first sign that my future might sit outside the traditional legal profession.
The moment
When I returned to university for my final year, I began reassessing my long-term ambitions. While I still valued the skills gained through my law degree, I started exploring opportunities that would allow me to combine legal knowledge with business management, innovation and strategic collaboration.
The defining moment arrived during a university careers event designed for law students potentially interested in non-traditional career paths – where Oliver Bennett from Iconiq Innovation was speaking.
Listening to the discussion about the work Iconiq supported immediately captured my attention. The breadth of projects, industries, and technologies the company worked across stood out to me immediately. I was drawn to the type of work the people at the organisation were involved in, combining commercial thinking, innovation strategy and meaningful impact across a wide range of industries.
Curiosity quickly turned into determination. Following the event, I decided to send my CV to Iconiq, driven not only by my academic background but by a genuine enthusiasm that I realised had been quietly developing throughout my studies.
After speaking further with the team, it became clear that this opportunity was a chance for me to reconnect with the personal motivations that had inspired me from the start: sustainability, innovation and enabling meaningful change.
What I did next
I was able to join Iconiq through a rotational internship , spending time across various areas of the business. This experience provided valuable exposure to the wider organisation, but the Innovation Partnerships team stood out immediately.
Within that environment, my transferable legal skills, commercial awareness and natural curiosity aligned perfectly. I found myself thriving in identifying new opportunities and supporting the development of strong consortiums – bringing innovative ideas together into collaborative proposals.
Following the internship and University graduation, I was offered a permanent position as an Innovation Partnerships Executive.
Where I am now
Today, I play a key role in supporting the development of strategic partnerships and helping organisations collaborate effectively to deliver impactful innovation projects. My work allows me to combine analytical thinking with relationship-building while contributing to initiatives focused on sustainability and future-focused solutions.
The lesson
Looking back, this experience reinforced an important lesson for me – sometimes the best opportunities emerge when you step away from a predefined path. Saying yes to something unexpected and having the confidence to explore a direction that felt more personally meaningful, ultimately led me towards a career that reflects both my professional strengths and personal values.
Author: Maria Michalska