Khushi Makhani (commerce)
Khushi Makhani (she/her) is drawn to the complexity of projects—it’s what led her UVic’s commerce program. It’s also what led the international student from India to co-op work term as a business development intern with the Victoria Hand Project, a health technology non-profit that builds prosthetic care capacity in communities around the world.
A passion for details
Khushi has always been interested many different fields, and she wanted a degree that would let her explore them all.
“What drew me to business is how widely it spans—it's connected to almost everything, from marketing and finance to how nonprofits and social enterprises run, and it's so closely tied to real life,” says Khushi.
“Every idea, every organization, every cause runs on some version of it. That intrigued me. It felt like a degree that would teach me a way of thinking I could take anywhere, and being at UVic has let me actually test that, through my classes, my co-op, and the roles I've taken on around campus.”
An international perspective
Khushi was a recipient of a $90,000 international scholarship, which was a big part of why she chose UVic.
“I'm very grateful for it, and it's been my pathway to studying and working here internationally,” she says.
Moving across the world on her own has taught Khushi how to adapt, ask for help and build community from scratch. This led her to take on another role—community leader with the UVic Residence team.
“Being an international student from India is a big part of who I am here,” she says. “I know what it feels like to arrive somewhere new and not know anyone yet. Growing up in India also shaped how I see the work I do now. I've seen how much difference access to the right resources and support can make in people's lives, and that perspective is something I bring with me into everything, whether it's my co-op, my classes, or the roles I take on around campus.”
Blending academics with hands-on experience
Gaining practical, hands-on experience during her degree has helped Khushi put her business skills into practice with real employers.
“UVic has one of the strongest co-op programs in Canada, and I wanted a degree where I could get real work experience alongside my classes, not just learn everything in theory,” she says.
“My work term at Victoria Hand Project has been exactly that. Also, getting to study on an island is very cool.”
Trying different roles through co-op
As a business development intern, Khushi has been able to contribute to a variety of initiatives, including leading fundraising initiatives in Kenya, contributing to a partnership that provides prosthetic hands to Palestinian refugees in Egypt, and setting up an Open House to celebrate the Victoria Hand Project’s 11th anniversary.
Khushi was initially hired for a four-month work term but was invited to stay for an additional term.
“My role sits across outreach, fundraising and strategic communications,” says Khushi. “The first four months were really about finding my grounding, taking on a mix of smaller tasks across different teams and learning how everything fits together. The second four months were where I got to go deeper, take on bigger projects, and work on things tied to the organization's long-term goals.”
Making an impact as a student
Khushi has seen first-hand how every role can make a difference—especially when it comes to outreach and access.
“The biggest surprise has been how much impact you can have, even as an intern,” says Khushi. “I used to think meaningful change came from big titles or big budgets. But at Victoria Hand Project, I've seen that a well-written outreach message or one thoughtful piece of content can be the reason someone finds the care they need.”
“That became real for me while I was helping design the campaign for our recent expansion supporting Palestinian refugees receiving prosthetic hands in Egypt. When I saw the interviews with patients receiving this care and heard how some of them had found the program through word of mouth and social media, it hit me in a way no report or number ever could. Our team's outreach work was part of how they got there. It made me take every small task a lot more seriously.”
Exploring career options
For Khushi, her co-op position has given her the opportunity to put her academic skills into play, as well as helping her zero in on what she wants for her career.
“It's given me range, and it's given me depth, and I think you need both early on,” says Khushi. “This co-op experience has helped me figure out what kind of work I actually enjoy and where I'm strongest, which isn't something you can learn from a classroom alone.”
“If there's one thing that I know for sure after these eight months, it's that I want to build a career with organizations driven by social purpose—places where doing good and doing good business go hand in hand.”
The impact of co-op
“This experience has completely changed how I've grown professionally this early in my career,” says Khushi. “I've had the best mentors at Victoria Hand Project, people who created a space where everyone feels encouraged to share their ideas, and who took those ideas seriously. They were always there to answer my questions, and they never once made a question feel like a silly one to ask. That kind of environment has made all the difference in how much I've been able to learn.”
Khushi’s role at Victoria Hand Project was originally posted for graduate students, but she took a chance and applied—and encourages other students to take similar risks.
“Put yourself out there, even when a role feels like a stretch,” she says. “Looking back, it's been the most fun 8 months I've spent at any organization, and every task taught me something about my own skills and what I actually enjoy doing. You're going to be working for a long time, so it's worth figuring out what you love. Give yourself permission to explore while you can.”
Looking towards the future
Khushi plans to build a career in social finance or business development with organizations working to create real, measurable social impact.
“I want to keep working at the intersection of business and social impact, using strategy, communications and outreach to help organizations reach the people who need them most. My time at Victoria Hand Project has shown me that a lot of real change comes from behind-the-scenes work, like sending the right email or building the right partnership.
“My co-op has confirmed that this is the kind of work I want to keep doing.”