Who says men can't multitask?

Nottingham University Business School student Rohan Midha is Co-founder and Director of a growing start-up technology business and on the verge of completing an MSc in Corporate Strategy and Governance yet still finds time to compete as an elite badminton singles player (currently ranked seventh in England), proving that it is possible to juggle numerous demanding work and life commitments… but not without a good dose of sheer hard work!

In 2014, Rohan graduated from university in Leeds with an undergraduate degree in Business and Management. He had his heart set on being an Investment Banker but everything changed after returning from spending the summer at Camp America in the USA following graduation, when he narrowly missed out on the investment banking internship he wanted.

PMYB

Rather than dwell on this, Rohan’s natural entrepreneurial spirit prompted him to join up with his friend, Chris Wilson and PMYB was born.

This year alone, 23 year old Rohan has secured a major investment into his start-up company PMYB, from a group of private investors. PMYB works with online influencers to promote their clients' products and brands.

PMYB now works with hundreds of online influencers i.e. people with a large following on social media channels, blogs or YouTube videos. In one of Rohan’s current projects he is working with Facebook and YouTube sensation, Brad Holmes, with the task of promoting ‘GradDNA’, a mobile app that matches students and graduates with suitable graduate jobs.

During the development stage of his company, Rohan was granted a scholarship which allowed him to undertake the MSc Corporate Strategy and Governance at Nottingham University Business School.

“Without the scholarship I don’t think I would have done an MSc, but it has really helped me with the work I am doing in my role as Director at PMYB.

“My studies at Nottingham have definitely helped me with the financial side of the business, pitching to investors and being able to manage several things at once. I have had to deal with a demanding course, which has been challenging at times, especially with training and competing in badminton at an international level, but it’s all helped me to be a better businessman now.”

In March, Rohan reached a career high ranking of sixth in men’s single badminton having won a silver medal at the British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCs) national finals and reaching the quarter finals of the men’s singles in the English National Championships and only losing out to England number one Rajiv Ouseph.

Building networks

Rohan said he felt privileged to study at the University of Nottingham and be taught by some of the best academics in their fields.

“Some of the people I have met at the University have been the most knowledgeable people I’ve met. It’s really nice to be associated with them.”

“If I was to give advice to anyone starting a degree at Nottingham, it would be to work hard, but don’t forget to make time to build friendships and network with others as much as possible. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, is that having contacts and people skills is just as, if not more important than your academic ability.”

In the next few years, Rohan plans to continue with the business and make controlled growth one of their main strategies.

“We add loads of value to businesses with our disruptive strategies, and I think that’s what differentiates us from the rest.  I know there are other social media influencer agencies out there, but the relationships that we have with our influencers are strong which is the most important thing in this industry.  We work with people all over the world, so I’m often on the phone late at night, and I want to continue with this kind of approach as we keep on growing.”

We wish Rohan every success with his business venture and badminton.