Tell us about your journey since graduating from LSE
After completing my MSc in Global Politics at the LSE in 2019, I didn’t have a perfectly mapped out plan, but I knew I wanted to work in the public sector and create meaningful impact, having previously undertaken placements in the EU and the UK Parliament. A few months later, I joined the UK Affairs team in the Government of Jersey’s London Office, an experience that became the cornerstone of my early career.
In this role, I gained a strong grounding in core government and diplomacy skills. As Jersey is a UK Crown Dependency, I collaborated extensively across UK government departments and Parliament, advising Ministers, and shaping policy and strategy, on defining challenges including Covid-19 response, EU Exit and climate diplomacy. This experience gave me first-hand insight into how the UK government operates behind the scenes and ultimately inspired my decision to join the UK Civil Service Fast Stream, the UK Government’s leadership and development programme for graduates and early career professionals.
Joining the project delivery track of the Fast Stream has provided me with the opportunity to integrate policy insight with hands-on delivery experience. I’ve taken on range of diverse postings that each presented unique challenges. At the Department for Transport, I managed the governance and assurance of a multi-million R&D portfolio, directed novel R&D projects including a cross-sector roadmap for Transport Digital Twins, and led the Secretary of State’s first SME trade mission to the OECD’s International Transport Forum during the UK’s Presidency.
In my second year, I returned to a policy role in the Department of Health & Social Care’s Anti-Fraud Unit, where I strengthened my skills in leading complex, politically sensitive communications for Ministers and senior officials, helping shape strategic decision-making and strengthen counter-fraud policies across government and its arm’s-length health bodies. I later went on secondment to The Sparkle Foundation, an international NGO supporting children and communities in Malawi through education, health, nutrition, and community programmes, where I led UK fundraising, and co-developed a novel social enterprise in Malawi, collaborating with teams across countries and sectors to deliver.
My third year posting took me to the Home Office as Project Manager in the Police and Public Protection Technology Unit, where I led the strategic transition of a complex digital identity programme for 150+ policing and law enforcement agencies into a permanent national service, establishing delivery structures from the ground up in a high-ambiguity environment. I’m now in my final posting at the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government, working on the launch of a National Housing Bank and applying everything I’ve learned to a major national programme with wide-reaching policy and operational impact.
If you could tell your younger student self one piece of wisdom, what would it be and why?
Don’t rush, and don’t put too much pressure on yourself to have everything figured out. Career progression isn’t linear- it’s shaped by the roles you explore, the risks you take, and the lessons you learn along the way.
As a student, I used to think career progression and leadership were all about achievements and outcomes. While these matter, I’ve come to see that true leadership is rooted in resilience, namely in how you respond when things don’t go to plan, how you adapt to ambiguity, and how you grow through discomfort. Many of your most formative experiences will come from stepping outside your comfort zone and working across different roles, organisations, and with people who challenge your thinking.
And most importantly: don’t compare your journey to others. Everyone moves at their own pace, shaped by unique opportunities and challenges. Focus on building the skills, values, and mindset that feel authentic to you. The destination will come, but it’s the journey that will give you the confidence and ability to lead with purpose and impact.
How has studying in the Department of Government helped you since graduation?
The emphasis on writing and research in my MSc Global Politics programme strengthened my ability to critically analyse evidence, synthesise large volumes of information, and distil complex policy issues for diverse audiences. Equally important was the theoretical grounding I gained. Engaging with debates around globalisation, governance, and the shifting international order taught me to step back and see the bigger picture, a skill that has been essential in my roles across the Jersey government and UK government. It has enabled me, in each role I have undertaken, to develop and deliver policies, projects, and programmes in a way that connects immediate priorities to wider political, economic, and social priorities, while balancing short-term pressures with long-term strategic considerations.
The programme also helped me significantly enhance my intellectual adaptability. Covering a wide range of complex topics in a short space of time taught me to rapidly familiarise myself with new issues and frameworks. This adaptability has been crucial to my success on the Civil Service Fast Stream, where I have been required to rotate frequently between roles and departments and quickly get up to speed on unfamiliar and complex policy areas, often with little prior background knowledge.
What’s the one piece of career guidance that has most impacted you?
One of the most impactful pieces of career guidance I’ve received is that imposter syndrome is normal, but it doesn’t have to define your journey. For me, two practices have made all the difference: seeking out mentorship and taking time for self-reflection.
Mentorship has given me guidance, perspective, and encouragement from people further along in their careers. My mentors have helped me spot opportunities I might have missed, given me the confidence to take on new challenges, and reminded me that I belong in the roles I’m pursuing. Self-reflection, meanwhile, has helped me recognise my own achievements, appreciate the skills I bring, and honestly assess where I can grow, without letting self-doubt hold me back.
These two practices have been transformative for me, helping me navigate imposter syndrome, embrace opportunities I might have shied away from, and continue growing in my career with confidence.
What’s been the highlight of your career so far?
The highlight of my career so far has been leading the Jersey Government’s first-ever participation at UNCOP26 and overseeing the UK’s extension of the Paris Agreement to Jersey. It’s been inspiring to see the Government continue to build on this foundation by engaging in subsequent UNCOP conferences and embedding climate diplomacy across its work. Knowing I played a part in shaping this legacy, and that it continues to influence the Island’s approach to climate policy and international engagement, makes the experience especially meaningful, particularly at a time when urgent global cooperation on climate change has never been more important.
What is your fondest memory from LSE?
My fondest memory from LSE is the intellectual freedom my programme provided me with to dive deeply into my research interests in foreign policy and diplomacy, guided by professors who are leaders in their fields. I loved engaging in lively debates with classmates from all over the world, exploring ideas in seminar discussions, and working closely with professors on essays and my dissertation. My favourite modules included Nationalist Conflict, Political Violence and Terrorism, taught by Professor James Hughes, and War, Peace and the Politics of National Self-Determination, taught by Professor Sumantra Bose. Growing up with familial roots in Kashmir, these courses gave me the chance to reflect on the historical and political complexities connected to my own family’s story, and to see how academic theory could help make sense of real-world challenges. The combination of personal connection and rigorous study made my time at LSE profoundly meaningful and has continued to shape both my perspective and my career.
LSE is celebrating 130 years this year. If you had one birthday wish or tradition for LSE, what would it be and why?
If I had one birthday wish for LSE, it would be to create an annual ‘Global Futures Summit’ where students, faculty, and alumni come together to explore pressing policy challenges from around the world. It could be a vibrant space to share research, debate ideas, and learn from each other’s experiences, strengthening the LSE community while generating practical insights for tackling global issues.