For Harvinder Kaur, choosing a career in communications was never a simple decision: it was one shaped by ambition, detours, and the weight of societal expectations.
“I always wanted to work in mass communications since I was young,” she shares. “But everyone warned me that there isn’t a future in communications, that I wasn’t going to get job offers or opportunities.”
Reluctantly, she diverted onto more conventional paths, first studying law, then business—neither of which resonated with her. “I knew that if your heart isn’t in something, you won’t give it your best,” she reflects.
The turning point came during her foundation studies, where exposure to a range of subjects finally reaffirmed what she had always known. Communications wasn’t just an interest, it was where she excelled.
Graduating with a communications degree brought clarity, but not immediate certainty. In the episode, she recalls her internship experience where she faced a common challenge; being under-briefed, underutilised, and unsure where she fit in.
Rather than disengage, Harvinder pushed back constructively. The result was a defining moment: being entrusted to run an event almost entirely on her own.
“I did everything. The guest list, the ideas, speaking to the sponsors and the venue,” she recalls. “The turnout of participants was way more than expected, so it became a proud moment for me during my internship.”
Today, Harvinder sees her future firmly rooted in branding and advertising. Whether as a marketing manager, creative lead, or even a director, her motivation remains consistent: to work in a role that challenges her, fuels her creativity, and allows her to continuously evolve.
“I don’t want to wake up in the morning to work at a job that doesn’t fuel me,” she says. “Whether it’s in advertising or event planning, I want to do what I’m good at, so I have to start by marketing myself.”
Listen to her story in the latest episode of The NexGen Show, a weekly podcast hosted by Malaysian advertising veteran Prof. Harmandar Singh that highlights young talent in the media, marketing, and advertising space.
New episodes drop every Sunday, 7PM on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.
Share Post:
