Meet Ruchira: Our New Marketing Intern from Queen's

As we continue to expand, we're excited to introduce Ruchira Rangaprasad, a passionate Marketing Intern joining us as a placement student from Queen's University, Belfast. Ruchira brings vibrant energy and a wealth of experience to our team. Discover more about her journey below.

Tell us a bit about yourself. What sparked your interest in marketing, and how did it lead you to where you are today?
 

Hi! I’m Ruchira Rangaprasad, and I’m currently a Marketing Intern at Grand Scale, where I’m completing a fantastic placement as part of my Master’s in Marketing at Queen’s University, Belfast. I’m an extrovert through and through—always the loudest voice in the room, often cracking jokes that might make you groan, but I absolutely thrive on interacting with people. There’s something magical about connecting with others, hearing their stories, and sharing experiences that really lights me up. I’m a natural-born chatty Kathy, and I’ve always loved being around people, learning from them, and building relationships.
 

My journey into marketing has been an exciting rollercoaster. I moved to Belfast in September 2023, and before that, I was working at an Influencer Marketing agency, which, let me tell you, was an absolutely fantastic job! My role was all about playing matchmaker between brands and influencers, ensuring that the partnerships we created were not just effective but truly magical. It was in that role that I realised how much I loved the process, the strategy, and the creativity involved, and that’s what pushed me to further my education with a Master’s in Marketing.
 

At Grand Scale, I’m getting the chance to look at marketing from a completely new perspective—at a higher, more strategic level. I’m learning how to leverage strategic communications to ensure that all of our target audiences really understand and connect with what Grand Scale is all about. It’s a thrilling challenge, and even though I know I’ve still got a lot to learn, I’m incredibly excited about where this journey is taking me.
 

What are you most excited to learn or accomplish during your time with Grand Scale?
 

I’m absolutely buzzing to dive deep into strategic marketing and marketing automation and discover how Grand Scale supports spinouts, start-ups, and scale-ups to commercialise, launch, and accelerate growth internationally. As a start-up founder myself, every day at Grand Scale is a masterclass in market research, and I’m soaking up every bit of knowledge like a sponge. I can’t wait to bring these insights back to my own business—it’s like building a toolkit of superpowers!
 

On top of that, I’m really eager to explore marketing at a strategic level. My role mainly involves social media and communications, but what’s even more exciting is the opportunity to be hands-on with customer engagement, developing customer personas, and applying a scientific approach to every marketing decision we make at Grand Scale. The more I learn, the more I see the incredible value of letting data, numbers, and tested strategies guide our actions—this has been a game-changer for me. I’m thrilled to be contributing to Grand Scale’s growth, and I can’t wait to see the impact of my work as we push new boundaries!
 

What inspired you to become an entrepreneur and start building your own business?
 

Entrepreneurship has been in my blood from a young age. I vividly remember when I was around 12 years old, I stumbled upon a YouTube tutorial on making slime and thought, “I could totally sell this at school!” So, that’s exactly what I did. I even managed to convince my parents to give me some seed capital—no small feat! Looking back, that was my first taste of being my own boss, and I loved every minute of it.
 

I’ve always had this burning desire to chart my own path and create something from scratch. Seeing incredible examples around me—like Leanne and Ro, the founders of Grand Scale—has been so motivating. Watching them, along with other entrepreneurial leaders who look like me and share my background, has made me realise that this dream is not just possible, but within reach. That visibility is incredibly empowering.
 

I’m also incredibly lucky to have a co-founder who shares my passion and vision. Together, we’ve been pouring our hearts into building our business, and there’s been no looking back. The journey has been full of challenges, no doubt, but each one has only made us more determined. We know where we want to go, and we’re committed to working tirelessly until we get there.

What drives your passion for marketing and supporting entrepreneurship, particularly within underrepresented groups?
 

What drives me is a deep-seated hunger to achieve more, to break barriers, and to become someone that others can look up to. I genuinely believe that marketing is a powerful tool—one that everyone needs, whether it’s for their business, their personal brand, or even just navigating the world more effectively. Understanding marketing allows you to position yourself or your business in the best possible light, and I’m endlessly passionate about mastering this craft so I can help others do the same.
 

Coming from a family of entrepreneurs, I’ve seen first-hand the power of forging your own path. My great-grandpa, grandpa, and dad have all been entrepreneurs, and while the traditional expectation might be that my future husband would carry on that legacy, I’m here to show that I don’t need a husband to do it—I’m more than capable of doing it on my own. One of my favourite quotes is “Be the change you want to see,” and that’s exactly how I approach life. If there’s a change I want to see in the world, I’m determined to be the one to make it happen, especially when it comes to breaking new ground for underrepresented groups. If I can inspire even one person to pursue their dreams, it will all be worth it.
 

What advice would you give to fellow young entrepreneurs who are just starting out?
 

If I could give one piece of advice to young entrepreneurs, it would be to have a crystal-clear understanding of your goals and work relentlessly toward them. It’s easy to get distracted or to wake up one day and feel like taking a break, but that’s when you need to dig deep and push through. That kind of determination is what separates those who achieve their dreams from those who don’t. Whenever I’ve wanted something in life, I’ve never let anything stand in my way, and I believe that’s the mindset you need to succeed. Knowing your priorities and staying laser-focused on them is the first, crucial step.
 

I also believe in knowing your worth and never letting anyone convince you otherwise. I hear all the time that there’s no such thing as failure—just new opportunities to learn—and that’s a mindset I hold dear. It’s so important not to get discouraged by setbacks or harsh feedback. Instead, use those moments as fuel to improve what you’re doing. That’s a powerful shift in perspective that can make all the difference.
 

And lastly, don’t forget to have fun and love what you do! When you’re passionate about your work, it doesn’t feel like work at all. There’s always a reason behind where you are and what you’re doing, and I truly believe that good things will follow when you’re doing what you love—even if the road gets a little rocky at times. Embrace the journey, and remember to enjoy every step of the way!