From Coventry University London to global stages: Sadakat Aman Khan's story

Introduction

Have you ever wondered what pursuing your passion in a new country and culture could lead to? Coventry University London alumnus and Global Business MBA graduate, Sadakat Aman Khan, shares his inspiring story of life after graduation. From his early beginnings in Malda, India, to becoming a rising figure in the Indian classical music world and touring Europe with his harmonium, Sadakat explains how his ambition and confidence grew during his time as an international student at Coventry University London.

Why Coventry University London?

When reflecting on his time studying a master’s, Coventry University London stood out to Sadakat for its international focus. Meeting students from a wide range of backgrounds, seeing so many different cultures, and being on a course with a truly global outlook encouraged him to embrace his own cultural identity.

“Being in such an international environment was invaluable. I was surrounded by students from across the world, which taught me cultural sensitivity, collaboration, and the ability to think beyond borders.”

Alongside academic knowledge, the MBA also strengthened Sadakat’s leadership, professionalism and cross-cultural communication skills. The course focused on how to operate in markets across the globe and engage audiences with differing interests, cultures and personalities. He now carries these qualities into his global music career.

Sadakat’s growth on campus

From the moment he joined the Coventry University London community, it was clear that Sadakat wanted to achieve more than just a master’s degree. He became a Student Ambassador, representing the university at events throughout the year, welcoming new students, and helping bring the campus community together. He also highlights the support from tutors, who encouraged him to explore his passions and gain the confidence to celebrate his cultural identity. These experiences made his time at Coventry London really memorable and helped him build important connections with fellow students from around the world.

Carrying tradition across continents

Sadakat’s musical journey is nothing short of inspiring. By combining the global business knowledge that he gained during his MBA with his passion for Indian classical music, he has built a career rooted in cultural pride. After graduating, he quickly began sharing his art with big audiences. He has since performed across the UK and Europe, delivered a TEDx Talk in India, published a book on heritage and music traditions, and achieved many other milestones. He regularly looks back on his time at Coventry University London as a defining part of his development:

“I often reflect on how much my time at university contributed to who I am today. No matter how far my musical journey takes me, Coventry University London will always remain a source of inspiration, confidence, and pride.”

Where it all began

Indian classical music has been a huge part of Sadakat’s life ever since childhood. Growing up as the son of a renowned musician, he credits much of his passion and talent to his father:

“My story begins in a home where music wasn’t a subject; it was the language everyone spoke. My father believed that ‘if you respect the note, the note will respect you back.’ That single sentence shaped the musician and the human I eventually became.”

This early foundation, combined with the support of the international community at Coventry University London, taught Sadakat how important cultural identity and heritage are. It gave him the confidence to share his art with new audiences who might never have listened to Indian classical music before. For Sadakat, success has never been just about personal achievement; it’s about a bigger mission: introducing the harmonium and the beauty of this music genre to audiences across the world and helping to celebrate this tradition globally.

A message to current students

Sadakat’s story carries an important message to international students: no matter how far you are from home, you can take pride in your heritage. With the right amount of confidence and passion, you can head out on your own unique career path, just like he did. The international exposure and opportunities at Coventry University London provide a brilliant starting point for this kind of journey. Something else to consider is that combining paths that seem very different (like business and the arts) is not only achievable, but it can also be very powerful.

Looking ahead to the future

Sadakat feels very grateful for everything Coventry University London has given him and how much it has helped shape his journey. He describes it as a place that strengthened his confidence and encouraged him to carry his culture, with pride, onto global stages. His journey shows that Coventry University London is more than a university; it’s a whole community that encourages students to grow and pursue their dreams, even across borders! Sadakat continues to share Indian classical music with new audiences everywhere. He hopes his story will encourage other international students to follow in his footsteps and explore all the possibilities that studying in a new country can create.