- Programme studied and graduation year: BSc Management, 2002 and MSc Management with CEMS, 2003
- LinkedIn profile
Lorraine has spent over 20 years focusing on creative and communications focused work. She has worked for brands and organisations such as L'Oréal, YSL Beauty, Stella McCartney and Amnesty International. Lorraine lives with chronic pain due to a rare connective tissue condition called Hypermobile Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, which she raises awareness of through her writing, social media and website.
Current job title and description of what this role entails:
I am currently a content creator with a focus on creation, communities and connection. I love creating content for me and my clients with audio, word and much more, to help them connect and celebrate themselves and connect to their target audiences.
Tell us about your career journey since graduating from LSE?
I’m a proud generalist which means I have had a very random career. I’ve been able to slot in so many creative and production roles because of this skill.
I started on the Marketing Graduate Scheme at L’Oreal, working in both Paris and London. I then moved into the luxury beauty industry at YSL Beauty and Stella McCartney, where I worked on the UK PR launch for her skincare range. I then switched into a more media production role at Amnesty International working on the release of the Annual Report for a global audience.
After about five years at Amnesty International I decided to pursue a freelance voice-over career. I trained, set up my business and website, and worked on many voice-over genres including video games, audiobooks, adverts, e-learning, telephone messages, and so much more.
I then focused on content creation for clients, including producing full marketing and communications frameworks for websites, blogs, press releases, social media and so much more.
In addition to this I have published a book about chronic pain as well, called The Surrender Agenda.
How has the programme you studied helped your career since you graduated?
There are two areas which the programme has helped me. Firstly, the LSE network and community - it has been so wonderful to be part of such a great group of people for many years.
Secondly, the rigorous study and learning meant that I find it easy to consume huge amounts of information and distill this easily into coherent information for many different target audiences.
Today, I am working with CEMS to set up the first CEMS Community Support Group for those with disabilities or life-changing conditions. Being part of the LSE and CEMS Communities has really helped me in terms of resilience, changing my mindset about my condition and using pain as my purpose to support others.
What's the best piece of career advice you've received?
Keep being curious about yourself and your skills. Be open to opportunities and change.
What's the greatest challenge you've had to overcome?
It has been knowing how to deal with changes in both my professional and personal life.
For example, when I was diagnosed with Hypermobile Ehlers Danlos Syndrome. This involved many visits to the doctor, with no resolve. However, thanks to social media in the Covid-19 lockdown, I found a community of people sharing their own tissue issue stories, and I advocated for myself and finally received my diagnosis. For some context Hypermobile Ehlers Danlos Syndrome is a genetic connective tissue disorder and affects my joints, tendons, muscles, tissues including organs. It also results in POTS (Postural Tachycardia Syndrome) and MCAS (Mast Cell Activation Syndrome), as well as other issues.
I realised that I had been living with this for over 40 years and pushing through, causing more pain and more injuries. I tried for years to keep up with my peers until I realised that I had to do what was healthy for me and my body, encouraging the transition into the freelance space. This allowed me to save energy, work from home and put myself first.
My chronic pain inspired me to write a book called “The Surrender Agenda”, published in 2024 and is a witty journey about how I learnt to accept and love the pain.
What are your hopes for the future?
I hope that we soon see a world where those with all types of disabilities and conditions are fully catered for by organisations, transport and facilities, not only in terms of accessibility but in terms of acceptance, time, respect, employment and help as standard.
Anyone can become disabled at any time for any reason, and the true measure of an evolved society is one where everyone and their needs are considered and built in rather than as an afterthought or not at all.
Share with us your fondest memory of the Department of Management.
My fondest memory is the people, the professors, the lecturers, the teachers, the staff, all of them showed real passion and inspired me so much during my time there.
I love going back and seeing what’s new or changed and it is wonderful to see that passion and interest in management!
If you would like to be our Alum of the Month or if you would like to nominate a Department of Management alumni, please email dom.alumni@lse.ac.uk.