What has your career path (in and out of the LSE) been like to date?
I’m definitely one of those who identifies with the ‘crazy paving’ approach to career paths. After an intensive but massively enjoyable five years in advertising at the likes of the Guardian and the Daily Telegraph, I decided to make a leap to Higher Education. The move was mainly driven by the desire not to have to work seven days a week and be constantly up against multi-million pound targets and also finding a whole new set of challenges in my current role. The basic skills have remained a constant, however different the job titles may seem; it’s about building relationships, creating value, and solving problems to reach a target audience.
How long have you worked at the LSE?
I’ve just passed my two year anniversary in post, which is worrying as I still always need to ask directions for where to find Finance and any room in Clement House.
What does your job entail?
My job is all geared towards finding more opportunities for more students in more interesting roles. Managing relationships with existing employers, building relationships with new ones, and also delivering market leading events to help connect recruiters with our talent here at the school make up the bulk of my role, but that doesn’t mean I don’t get to be involved with other activities and projects. For the past year I’ve been instrumental in delivering our entrepreneurship program, which led to us providing over £50k of investment to student led businesses and also volunteering to support young people who have been to prison get back into the work place and meaningful employment.
What bits about your job get you out of bed in the morning?
I really thrive on finding opportunities that are slightly out of the box of the usual LSE graduate plan. Whether that’s anti-terrorism roles overseas, creative marketing posts in boutique agencies, or journalism jobs in world leading titles, I enjoy opening students eyes to the massive amount of choice they have as students from a world class institution. The second main driver for me is also shaping employers perceptions about the LSE student stereotype. We do have incredible accountants, bankers and consultants, but being able to flex our creative muscle is also extremely satisfying.
What's the best thing about working at the LSE?
I feel the default answer should be ‘the people’, and I do love ‘the people’ but in order to not be totally predictable, I’m going to choose something else. I love the diversity of thought, approach and talent here at the school. With such wide ranging skills and ‘past lives’ I feel we’re unique in being able to share knowledge and experiences, to be forward thinking and innovative in our delivery to help mould the leaders of tomorrow.
What advice would you give to people who want to join us at the LSE?
Don’t be scared off by the intellectual prowess that the LSE has. I have neither a Nobel Peace Prize nor a PhD, but one of the great things about the school is working with people who do, and helping those who may at some point in the future. I remember the slightly confused looks of my friends when I said I was coming for an interview (for confused, read doubtful), but I feel the diversity of thought, experience and approach really helps us to be market leading as a globally revered institution.