Beyond Downe House by Downe House School

Beyond Downe House THIRD EDITION

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Networking and helping others to achieve their career goals will often stand you in good stead for your own future careerâ&#x20AC;? Veryan Palmer (Armstrong DH 2002)

Staying connected It is always a huge privilege to see the range of career paths which Downe House alumnae follow. These are as many and as diverse as the individuals who make up our School community. However, the three things that all our alumnae have in common are their commitment to excellence, to doing their very best in their chosen fields, and their ongoing commitment to Downe House. Each year I have the pleasure of welcoming alumnae back to the School, as parents, as visitors who come to talk to the girls and share their experiences, as well as enjoying a trip down memory lane, or as members of, and contributors to our DH LINKS business and networking community. It is particularly pleasing to see and hear of the ways in which our alumnae support one another professionally with advice, with the provision of internships and also with professional opportunities. This help, advice and support is readily and generously given across the generations and its value cannot be underestimated in our fastchanging and uncertain world. I hope that you will enjoy reading this latest edition of Beyond Downe House. I thank all those who have contributed to it and compiled it. What is certain is that no-one could fail but to be inspired by these individual journeys. The Downe House community is one of remarkable people.

Mrs Emma McKendrick Headmistress

creative

Katie Harland (DH 2007) WHAT CAREER DID YOU SEE YOURSELF IN WHEN YOU WERE 16? I don’t think I

really knew. I wasn’t thinking about a career as I was more focused in the short term on going to university. I knew that whatever I ended up doing, it would have to be creative. A LEVELS: Art, History, English and Design & Technology UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE: Art Foundation at the Slade School of Fine Art

and History of Art at Leeds University CAREER PATH: Following university, I did a creative advertising course

for a year at the School of Communication Arts in London. This taught everything from how to generate 100 ideas in a minute to improvised comedy and meditation, but most importantly, it taught me that you’ve got to be a doer. Take that risk. If you have an idea, do it, or someone else will do it before you. I started as a freelance creative in advertising, generating ideas, writing scripts and art directing anything from apps to TV and print for big brands such as Mini. I then switched to account management, which taught me valuable lessons about managing both people and finances. I worked at Ogilvy & Mather and adam&eveDDB on various clients from Wall’s Ice Cream to SSE Energy. It was here that I had the idea of becoming a shoe designer, having wanted to start my own business since I left university. So I then moved into retail as a Fashion Buyer at Fenwick to learn about retail and fashion. CURRENT OCCUPATION: I have now set up my own company called Rogue

Matilda and my second collection is selling in Harvey Nichols. I got British Franchise Association funding to go to MICAM which is a huge trade fair in Milan held in September to sell the Spring/Summer collection into the global market. I have been in charge of everything to do with the company from product and logo design to coding the website and selling the collections to wholesalers and retailers. WORDS OF ADVICE: Get advice from as many people as you can but

ultimately take it with a pinch of salt and make your own call. You will be the only person who knows what your company and brand will stand for so don’t let it become muddled and diluted by other people’s opinions.

“If you have an idea, do it, or someone else will do it before you.”

law

Emily Verity (Radcliffe DH 1996)

Miranda Lewin (DH 2003)

WHAT CAREER DID YOU SEE YOURSELF

WHAT CAREER DID YOU SEE YOURSELF IN WHEN YOU

IN WHEN YOU WERE 16? I didn’t know!

WERE 16? At that stage, I was already thinking

Perhaps an actress? I loved GCSE Drama. In the Sixth Form, I took part in ‘School for Scandal’ and a group of us took the production to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

General Studies

about law, but I saw it as a back-up option if nothing more exciting cropped up. My first work experience whilst at School was shadowing a criminal Barrister at Winchester Crown Court. That was fascinating, but the work experience that sent me down my current path was with a Downe House parent who was a partner at a city firm of solicitors.

UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE: At Edinburgh University I

A LEVELS: Chemistry, Maths, History and French

studied Biological Sciences specialising in Zoology. I studied Japanese in my first two years because I had spent part of my gap year there.

UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE: History at Durham University

A LEVELS: Chemistry, Biology, Double Maths and

CAREER PATH: I attended “vacation schemes” at several CAREER PATH: After graduating from Edinburgh, I did

the law conversion course at City University. Then I took the Bar Vocational Course at the Inns of Court School of Law. I was fortunate to be offered pupillage at 9 Gough Square, Chambers of John Foy QC as it was then. After a gruelling year of pupillage, I was taken on as a Tenant in 2004 and have practised there since. CURRENT OCCUPATION: I am a self-employed barrister.

I specialise in child protection cases, where children are victims of crime or where social services have become involved in a family to protect the children. I go to court every day around and outside London. I work four days per week and enjoy the flexibility of self-employment as I have three young children.

City law firms during university holidays. In my final year at Durham, I was offered a training contract by Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP who then sponsored me through the conversion course (or “GDL”) and LPC. I started as a trainee at Freshfields in London and was sent on secondment to their Hong Kong office for the last six months of the twoyear training contract. This was a fantastic experience and I decided to stay in Hong Kong in the Employment, Pensions and Benefits team, as a newly qualified solicitor. I came back to London in 2012 and stayed at Freshfields for a further three years as an Associate in their Employment and Benefits team. CURRENT OCCUPATION: In 2015, I moved to Simmons &

Simmons where I am now a Supervising Associate in their Employment department. We have a large corporate client base and I work closely with the clients’ HR and in-house legal teams.

WORDS OF ADVICE: Find something you enjoy which

is a good match for your gifts and abilities and set yourself to work hard to achieve your goals.

“After a gruelling year of pupillage, I was taken on as a Tenant and have practised there since.” 4

WORDS OF ADVICE: Get lots of work experience. Live abroad, it

is such a fantastic experience and one that you won’t regret. Think carefully about which firm or department you want to work for, as somewhere that seems appealing in the short-term might not suit your long-term career or lifestyle aspirations.

“Live abroad, it is such a fantastic experience and one that you won’t regret.”

law and social enterprise Georgina Bremridge (Smee DH 2000)

WHAT CAREER DID YOU SEE YOURSELF IN WHEN YOU WERE 16? I didn’t have a firm

idea when I was at Downe House. Ironically, I found work experience in my uncle’s law firm rather dull. I wanted to be outdoors in the sunshine and use my languages so I thought about travel journalism. A LEVELS: French, Maths and Chemistry UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE: French and Linguistics at Oriel College, Oxford CAREER PATH: I decided to try law (ignoring any warning signs from my earlier

work experience) and secured a training contract with Ashurst LLP, a global city law firm which paid all the law school fees for my two-year conversion course as well as a modest living allowance. I then worked in the Dubai office for 18 months. After almost eight years at Ashurst, I took a career break and worked on a remote cattle ranch in Argentina for six months and then volunteered on agricultural projects in France and Spain. I returned determined to live a more authentic existence and for me that meant making a positive difference to other peoples’ lives. I undertook a leadership programme for professionals wishing to transfer into the social enterprise sector. My first placement was with FoodCycle which collects and distributes surplus food donated by supermarkets. My second placement was with Big Society Capital, a social investment bank which helps charities and social enterprises access repayable finance. I am not clear about my future career plans yet. I think I am a hippie at heart. A driven hippie. I am excited by ideas around the circular economy (re-thinking waste as a useful resource, eg Bio-Bean turns used coffee grounds into electricity and other usable by-products), renewable energy, reducing food waste and better nutritional education and mental wellbeing for young people. WORDS OF ADVICE: Don’t feel that you have to choose a career to validate

yourself in other people’s eyes. Follow your heart. Work to live, don’t live to work! You don’t need to put pressure on yourself to find your dream job straight off; just try something that interests you and see how you go. Bear in mind that people are finding a fulfilling balance with “portfolio working”, dividing each week between more than one organisation, possibly on a freelance basis.

“I undertook a leadership programme for professionals wishing to transfer into the social enterprise sector.”

entrepreneur

Rosanne Cobb (DH 1994) WHAT CAREER DID YOU SEE YOURSELF IN WHEN YOU WERE 16? I fluctuated between wanting to do sport but also

loving Philosophy and English along with wanting to travel. A LEVELS: Philosophy, French, English Literature and

General Studies UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE: Philosophy at Manchester

University CAREER PATH: I spent my free time at university

snowboarding and playing tennis and gained teaching qualifications in snowboarding, tennis and football. My career path has four interwoven threads of teaching, sports, writing and travelling. I taught sports for about eight years whilst writing a couple of books. I became a class teacher in a primary school for a while and then I set up a new company selling African safari tours. CURRENT OCCUPATION: My company is called Abambo

(www.abambo.co.uk) and I organise safaris for families to sub-Saharan Africa. It is essentially great fun because I deal with people who are optimistic and excited and I am sharing knowledge with them about something that I feel passionately about. I enjoy the puzzle of moving guests around Africa as cost-effectively as possible and choosing accommodation that fits their needs and

personalities. However, it is quite stressful! A lot can go wrong - and does - and my job is to minimise the impact of these obstacles before my guests ever realise there is a problem. I would like to build up Abambo and hopefully sell it and do something else! This may never happen, and that’s ok too, because I enjoy the ‘getting there’ and failure is very much a part of entrepreneurism. WORDS OF ADVICE: You have a LOT of time when you

are young, use it to explore and try as many things as possible. Don’t think that because you don’t excel in a subject at school it means that out there in the world you can’t be an expert. Your classmates at Downe are amongst the best in the country and so it is not an accurate portrayal of your potential. I was never in the first team for any sport at Downe but I have made a career out of teaching sport. The travel business is changing rapidly and I suspect African travel will always need the personal touch because it’s complicated, even though the rest of the world’s travel is being sold online. If you want to get into travel, get out and travel, blog and take photos. And get your web developing/design/SEO skills up to speed as every company needs these skills.

“I enjoy the puzzle of moving guests around Africa as cost-effectively as possible and choosing accommodation that fits their needs and personalities.”

interior design

“I am enjoying learning as much as I can from a very talented designer.”

Tamara Lancaster (DH 2007)

WHAT CAREER DID YOU SEE YOURSELF IN WHEN YOU WERE 16?

Wedding dress design! This had been my passion from the age of about 10 but when I was about 17, I realised I wanted to go into Interior Design. A LEVELS: History of Art, Art and Philosophy and AS Level

English UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE: Art Foundation at Oxford Brookes

followed by History of Art at Bristol University. CAREER PATH: After graduating from Bristol, I moved

to London and got a job at Colefax and Fowler in their showroom selling furniture and fabrics. I then went to work for a small property development company called Fiona Wigan Designs which specialised in high-end residential flats in Chelsea and Knightsbridge. During this time, I enrolled at Kensington and Chelsea College for an evening course in Interior Design and Advanced Vectorworks as I think it is really important to have a basic understanding of this design software. After just over two and a half years at Fiona Wigan Designs, I went back to Colefax and Fowler to work in one of the decoration teams at Brook Street. CURRENT OCCUPATION: I am currently working as Interior

Designer for Ben Pentreath, an architecture and interior design business in Bloomsbury. Ben works on a variety of projects in the UK and we are very involved in the projects. People often ask if I want to start my own company and perhaps I will one day, but I’m not in any rush because I am enjoying learning as much as I can from Ben who is a very talented designer. WORDS OF ADVICE: Do as much work experience as you

possibly can in the field in which you want to work. It is so important to build up a good CV, which will impress future employers when you go for interviews. An internship is even better than a week’s work experience, so if you get the opportunity, go for it! I also believe that you can learn just as much in a job as sitting in a classroom, so don’t be disheartened if you can’t go to KLC or the Inchbald, the two main interior design schools in London - I didn’t! While it may be slightly scary being thrown in at the deep end, that’s the way you learn!

â&#x20AC;&#x153;My first job was a two-year internship position at Newmarket Equine Hospital, the largest equine hospital in Europe.â&#x20AC;? 8

veterinary

Olivia Bell (DH 2005) WHAT CAREER DID YOU SEE YOURSELF IN WHEN YOU WERE 16? I wanted to be

a vet from a very young age! A LEVELS: Maths, Biology, Chemistry, General Studies and AS Level Art UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE: Veterinary Sciences at University of Bristol CAREER PATH: I suppose it is worth mentioning that around the time of UCAS

applications, I had a career plan U-turn when I decided that being a vet wasn’t for me and that I was going to go into the City. I did a four-month internship at PricewaterhouseCoopers which I enjoyed, but afterwards whilst I was travelling, I realised that being a vet was in fact my calling. I wrote a long letter to the University of Bristol (where I had gained a place to study Biochemistry) explaining my change of heart, knowing that it was a long shot, but in response to my letter I was invited for an interview. On completing five years of studying Veterinary Sciences at Bristol, I made the decision to become an equine vet. My first job was a two-year internship position at Newmarket Equine Hospital (NEH), the largest equine hospital in Europe. It would have been near impossible for me to get this job without having completed a month long student ‘externship’ programme during my Bristol years. When I started at NEH, I had my options open with respect to my career path after the two years, whether it was to go on to complete a residency in a particular discipline, or to become an ambulatory ‘GP’ vet. CURRENT OCCUPATION: In April 2014 I began my current job, which is as an

Equine Ambulatory Veterinary Assistant at Donnington Grove Veterinary Surgery in Berkshire, only a few miles from Downe House School! I spend the majority of my working hours on the road visiting racing yards, private homes and everything in between. On top of my normal working days, I have to perform regular ‘out of hours’ duties where I am on call for emergencies through the nights and weekends. On occasion, I spend some time in the hospital where hundreds of horses undergo a range of surgeries each year. WORDS OF ADVICE: Think long and hard before you embark upon a career

as a vet. It requires years of studying and it is hard work, usually long hours with additional out-of-hours duties and not outstanding pay, considering the amount of studying you will have completed. That said, as long as you are prepared for what a career as a vet entails, it is a rewarding occupation with many positives, such as no day ever being the same, a build-up of trust with clients, and most importantly the feeling of preventing suffering. My advice would be to talk to as many people as possible involved in the industry before you make any decisions.

engineering

Victoria Barbour-Smith (DH 2012) WHAT CAREER DID YOU SEE YOURSELF IN WHEN YOU WERE 16? As my best

WORDS OF ADVICE: Grab every

subjects at school were Maths and Physics, someone suggested I look into engineering as a possible career and so I decided that it would be amazing to be an aerospace engineer or to work with a Formula 1 team.

opportunity that comes your way, and be organised. Never let someone make you believe that you’re not good enough. There have been times when the maledominated world of engineering felt impenetrable but I’m not going to give up. I’ve found that a lot of enthusiasm and a desire to learn can get you a long way.

A LEVELS: Pre-U Maths, Further Maths and Politics. UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE: General Engineering at University of Cambridge CAREER PATH: I chose Cambridge because you can study General Engineering

for two years before you decide on a specialism. At the start, I was certain that I would head for aerospace engineering but during the summer holidays, I went on an eight-week placement to Ecuador to work with a charity called TECHO, which builds transitional housing for rural developing communities. By the time I returned to the UK, I knew that I wanted to be a structural engineer. I then set about finding work experience and secured a placement at the Arup Group, a global civil and structural engineering firm in Edinburgh to which I was extremely fortunate to return for an internship the following summer. CURRENT OCCUPATION: After graduating, Arup offered me a post as a Graduate

Engineer in the Bridges Department based in London working on a number of different projects to ensure that I gained enough experience to become a Chartered Engineer. The projects ranged from big projects such as Crossrail to small projects such as checking national rail bridges for signs of deterioration. At some point, I hope to be able to work in one of Arup’s offices in China to put to use the Mandarin that I learnt with Mrs Healey at School. Looking further into the future, I also hope that one day, I might be the engineer responsible for a large infrastructure project on the scale of the Forth Replacement Crossing.

“I hope to be able to work in one of Arup’s offices in China to put to use the Mandarin that I learnt with Mrs Healey at School.”

medicine

Neda Hasan (DH 2008)

Harriet Edgar (Wells DH 1995)

WHAT CAREER DID YOU SEE YOURSELF IN

WHAT CAREER DID YOU SEE YOURSELF IN WHEN YOU WERE 16?

WHEN YOU WERE 16? I always knew that

At 16, I wanted to be a Forensic Pathologist (like someone out of ‘Silent Witness’)

it was going to be either economics or medicine, and because I was a peopleperson and a caregiver, I focused on medicine.

A LEVELS: Biology, Chemistry and Physics UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE: Medicine at Guy’s and St Thomas’

A LEVELS: Chemistry, Biology,

CAREER PATH: After medical school, I did three six-month

Economics, Maths and AS Level Physics

House Officer placements before going to the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst for military training to be a professionally qualified officer. Following six months of training, I was posted to an infantry regiment in North Yorkshire, the 1st Battalion King’s Regiment as their Medical Officer. During this two-year posting I went on an operational tour to Iraq for six months in Operation Telic.

UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE: Medicine at

Imperial College, London CAREER PATH: After completing my medical studies,

I spent two years at the Royal Berkshire Hospital and Wexham Park Hospital as a Foundation Doctor, moving around departments including adult medicine, neonatology, A&E and surgery. In August 2016, I moved back to the Royal Berkshire as a Core Medical Trainee, which will lead to me becoming a Medical Registrar in two years, and then a Consultant five years after that. WORDS OF ADVICE: There is a lot of negative press

regarding the NHS these days. Morale is at its lowest, and it can sometimes feel disheartening but don’t ever lose sight of why you chose medicine. There are not many jobs where you can drive home thinking that you have saved the life of a tiny baby or made a real difference to the quality of an elderly person’s life.

I then continued my medical training in anaesthesia as an Anaesthetic Senior House Officer at Frimley Park Hospital in Surrey and then an Anaesthetic and Intensive Care Senior House Officer at Derriford Hospital, Plymouth. After completing my primary anaesthetic exams, I continued as an Anaesthetic and Intensive Care Specialty Registrar (SpR) in the Wessex region. Following more exams, five years of Anaesthetic SpR training, and having three children(!), I received my Certificate of Completion of Training in May 2015 and took up the post of Consultant Anaesthetist at Salisbury Foundation Trust hospital and have been there ever since. CURRENT OCCUPATION: As a Consultant Anaesthetist, I spend

most days in the operating theatre reviewing patients before their operations and administering their anaesthetic during the operation. I also have a role as an Obstetric Anaesthetist providing pain relief for women in labour and anaesthesia for women having a surgical or instrumental delivery. As a Consultant, I am involved in training Junior Doctors and medical students and have a role in service development. WORDS OF ADVICE: If you are interested in Science, then

“Because I was a people-person and a caregiver, I focused on medicine.”

Medicine is a great career. There are a lot of exams to take so you need to be able to cope with exam pressure. There are many career options after completing a medical degree, not just the obvious ones. It is a fantastic, varied and rewarding career which I would highly recommend.

consultancy

Eleanor Dudley-Williams (DH 1997) WHAT CAREER DID YOU SEE YOURSELF IN WHEN YOU

WORDS OF ADVICE: Do as much work experience as you

WERE 16? I really wasn’t sure. I was fairly certain I

can but don’t let companies take advantage of you by not paying you. Network as much as possible - almost all my jobs have come through personal connections. Even when people annoy you at work, try to keep good relations as they often seem to turn up later on – it’s a small world! As soon as you have any work experience, create a LinkedIn profile and constantly update it – this is where prospective employers look for staff. Have an opinion on your industry, start blogging and tweeting!

didn’t want to go into a corporate environment and wear a suit! I was interested in art, politics, fashion, music, entertainment and voluntary work – all the usual stuff. A LEVELS: English Literature, History of Art, Politics

and General Studies UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE: Politics at Newcastle

University CAREER PATH: During my gap year, I did a three-

month secretarial course and worked as a PA for a PR Recruitment company in London and then I worked as a temp during the holidays in all sorts of random companies across London which gave me loads of experience. After university, I got a job as a Lifestyle Manager, managing the affairs of people who didn’t have time to do it themselves, but was made redundant after a few months. I didn’t mind as I found the work a bit tedious! At a dinner party, I met a woman who was high up at Coca-Cola and she gave me some contacts at their advertising agencies. That led to a meeting with Kevin Jackson and Michael Miley at Joshua agency who liked me and gave me a job. For the next 14 years, I worked at several marketing agencies and ended up specialising in live events and experiential marketing. CURRENT OCCUPATION: I work for a brilliant

consultancy called Barfly doing business development and project direction – the company focuses on research for drinks brands, working with bartenders all round the world to uncover trends and test new products. As an aside, I do a lot of voluntary work with those less fortunate (homeless, dementia sufferers, disadvantaged families) which I love.

“I was fairly certain I didn’t want to go into a corporate environment and wear a suit!”

horseracing Emily Scott (DH 2008)

WHAT CAREER DID YOU SEE YOURSELF IN WHEN YOU WERE 16? I had absolutely no idea! My head was in my books and

I didn’t look beyond that. My family did suggest being a vet as a possibility and they certainly tried to steer me clear of a career in racing. A LEVELS: Biology, Chemistry, Maths and AS Level

Geography UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE: Natural Sciences at Durham

University

“Each horse has twenty owners so I am always on the phone or travelling to race meetings to look after our clients.”

CAREER PATH: After graduating, I got a place on the

Darley Flying Start, a two-year international thoroughbred management training course on which only 12 graduates get offered a place. It really was the most amazing two years and I travelled across the globe to do work placements in New York, at The Hong Kong Jockey Club, The Dubai Racing Channel and Highclere Thoroughbred Racing. CURRENT OCCUPATION: During my final placement at

Highclere, I was offered a job as Racing Assistant at Highclere Thoroughbred Racing who specialise in putting together groups of people to share top quality racehorses. I spend much of my week visiting yards and trainers to provide regular updates for our clients. Each horse has twenty owners so I am always on the phone or travelling to race meetings to look after our clients. Although my future goal would be to become a Racing Manager, I think that at the moment I have my dream job. WORDS OF ADVICE: Choose a career that is about more than

putting bread on the table. Pursue your passion and don’t let others discourage you. I attended a careers workshop where the first speaker slapped a copy of the Financial Times onto his hand to grab everyone’s attention and said, “Unless you want to read the Financial Times in the first twenty minutes of your day, you should not be looking at a career in the City.” That was a light bulb moment for me - in the first twenty minutes of my day, I always read the Racing Post and so I knew that was the industry I should work in. It was that simple for me.

“It’s a real challenge doing your own thing but so much fun and incredibly rewarding.”

entrepreneur

Harriot Pleydell-Bouverie (DH 2003) WHAT CAREER DID YOU SEE YOURSELF IN WHEN YOU WERE 16? I think I wanted to be a lawyer, specifically a criminal

barrister. It was definitely the focus of my studies initially and I never wanted to close that door. But I also wanted to be a scientist and an artist... (so I didn’t really have a clue). A LEVELS: Photography, History, Chemistry and General

Studies UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE: Art and Design Foundation and

Fine Art HND at Kingston Art College CAREER PATH: Half way through my degree at university,

I realised that I didn’t want to work in the creative world. Art was an escape for me, but not a career. So I left early to work in the City. And then I jumped around a few firms over four years but never really settled. Despite the great experience and varied work, I longed to start up a company and be in what I thought of as ‘real’ business. Eventually in 2010, I left the City to set up an online jewellery boutique called De Bouverie. I call this time my ‘MBA for entrepreneurs’ as I made every mistake in the book and got almost everything wrong but I learned so much and enjoyed every second.

I am mostly on the sales side, working with stockists to improve our sales whilst also developing new products and flavours to suit their needs. I would love to build the company into a global brand, which improves the quality and sustainability of the food we eat every day. My dream would be to help shape the future of food, through either my current company or through pro bono work alongside it. WORDS OF ADVICE: If you want to pursue a career in

food, just go for it. There is so much going on in the food industry at the moment, from manufacturing to start-ups to larger graduate schemes. I’d recommend you jump in, roll your sleeves up and get involved. If you want to start up your own business, then my advice would be the same - just do it and don’t look back. Make sure you speak to as many people as you can and make friends with other entrepreneurs - they’ll be your team when things get tough. It’s a real challenge doing your own thing but so much fun and incredibly rewarding.

Then I was challenged by friends to make some marshmallows and that was when I realised my real love lay in combining food and business. In 2013, I closed De Bouverie down and set up Mallow & Marsh. Two years on, we are an international brand and our marshmallows are stocked in supermarkets across the country. I wouldn’t change my experience for anything because each decision led to where I’ve got to today. CURRENT OCCUPATION: I’m an entrepreneur in the world

of food. I call myself the ‘Chief Whisk’, as there’s no job title out there to explain what I do. I am sales, operations, marketing, brand, design, mentor, friend, boss, accountant, chef and box packer all rolled into one. Day to day,

hospitality Veryan Palmer (Armstrong DH 2002)

WHAT CAREER DID YOU SEE YOURSELF IN WHEN YOU WERE 16? Hotelier. Generations of my

family have been in the hospitality business and I grew up working part-time in my parents’ hotel during the school holidays. A LEVELS: Geography, Politics, Sports Science and General

Studies UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE: Business Management at

University of Exeter CAREER PATH: I really enjoyed the Leith’s course at School

and during my university holidays, I worked as a chef for families across Europe. My first job was as receptionist at the 5* Goring Hotel in London where I trained for nearly three years moving up to be Head of Reservations and Revenue Management. My next role was in marketing and sales at The Headland Hotel in Cornwall, where I became General Manager in December 2010. Two years later I was appointed Operations Manager at Cliveden House in Berkshire, which was a challenging but enjoyable role, as the hotel had just been bought out of administration and was undergoing extensive refurbishment. CURRENT OCCUPATION: I am now General Manager at

Christ’s Hospital School in West Sussex and oversee catering, security, cleaning and events at the School with a brilliant team of Department Heads managing day-to-day operations. My focus is on finance and strategic planning along with innovation and improvements. It is all about looking after people and providing the very best service you can. There really is no difference between a five star hotel and a boarding school! WORDS OF ADVICE: A positive attitude and a great smile will

take you everywhere! Networking and helping others to achieve their career goals will often stand you in good stead for your own future career.

“It is all about looking after people and providing the very best service you can.”

journalism

Alix Culbertson (DH 2007) WHAT CAREER DID YOU SEE YOURSELF IN WHEN YOU WERE 16? I am very happy to

say that I am one of a very few people I know that knew from the age of 13 that I wanted to be a journalist. A LEVELS: Drama, English and Politics UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE: Politics at Leeds University CAREER PATH: During my studies, I was involved in the

student newspaper and broadcasting and I did as many internships in newspapers as I could. After university, I started the NCTJ (National Council for the Training of Journalists) Multi-Media Journalism course. This four-month intensive course was very practical and gave me the skills I needed for journalism. I started a training placement at the Fulham Gazette, a weekly local print and online newspaper which gave me a superb grounding in local journalism. CURRENT OCCUPATION: I work for the Daily Express online.

Not only do I work on one big story each day that I must get online quickly but I also search for other stories and all the time I’m on the hunt for exclusives. It’s varied in terms of the news but also the format, as with online reporting you must keep in mind SEO (search engine optimisation), filling the photo galleries, finding links to video clips everything is monetised so the emphasis is on driving more clicks. Working in online news is fast-paced and exciting, but I miss the chance to get out and interview people and the opportunity to find and develop stories. I am working on a proposal to travel to Lebanon to report on the refugee crisis with Médecins Sans Frontières and I have recently done some broadcast work with Channel 5 and ITV, which is something that I hope to develop further for my career. WORDS OF ADVICE FOR ANYONE WANTING TO GO INTO JOURNALISM: Get as much experience as you can. Use every

contact you can. Don’t be afraid to contact people – even people you don’t know. I would recommend a degree course in something you care about rather than a pure journalism course.

“Working in online news is fast-paced and exciting.”

art

Jessica Janson (Carlisle DH 1998) WHAT CAREER DID YOU SEE YOURSELF IN WHEN YOU WERE 16? Being a hotshot in the City! I didn’t quite

manage it… but having an art gallery was always my dream. A LEVELS: Maths, English, Latin, Art and General

Studies UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE: An Art Foundation at

Cheltenham & Gloucester College (on the advice of my art teacher, the wonderful Mrs Rowse, to whom I’m eternally grateful) followed by Classics at UCL. CAREER PATH: A very circuitous one. I qualified as a

solicitor, working in private practice in Westminster. Following a Diploma in Art Law, I moved to a niche media firm in Covent Garden. I left the law in 2009 to work full-time in contemporary art, variously as an artist agent, gallery manager and art consultant. Although I didn’t stay a lawyer, my legal training has proved immensely useful. CURRENT OCCUPATION: I set up my own business in

2014 and established a gallery programme presenting exhibitions first in Knightsbridge and then in Marylebone. No two days are the same - I could be visiting an artist in their studio, having lunch with a client or sitting in the gallery doing paperwork. My aims for the future are to gradually build the gallery profile. In the long term, I would love to set up an artist residency somewhere abroad. WORDS OF ADVICE: Working with artists is enormously

rewarding, though not for the faint hearted! Running a gallery is not a job; it is a way of life.

“Having an art gallery was always my dream.”

artificial intelligence Fiona McNeill (DH 1993)

WHAT CAREER DID YOU SEE YOURSELF IN WHEN YOU WERE 16? No idea -

something flexible and interesting with lots of travel! A LEVELS: Maths, Further Maths, Physics, Chemistry, General Studies UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE: Pure Maths at University of St Andrews CAREER PATH: I moved to the University of Edinburgh to do an MSc

in Artificial Intelligence and then, after a year of travelling, I returned to Edinburgh to do my PhD. I worked as a Researcher for a few years before moving to Heriot-Watt University to be an Assistant Professor in the Computer Science department. CURRENT OCCUPATION: I do research on dynamic data interpretation and

machine-assisted communication during disaster response. I collaborate with colleagues around the world and travel a lot. I also lecture and supervise students, and do a lot of work in supporting women in computing and outreach into schools, especially in deprived areas, to encourage participation in Computer Science. I run the First Lego League in Scotland, a robotics competition for 9-16 year olds. WORDS OF ADVICE: Academia is all about collaboration and working

with people. Build good relationships with your colleagues/lecturers (depending what stage you are at). Be enthusiastic, have good ideas, participate - this will make progression much more likely. You also need to have strong grades! You need to be tough in academia and learn to deal with failure - most good conferences and journals have a 20% acceptance rate and grant applications have a 5-20% acceptance rate - if you’re not failing a lot, you’re not aiming high enough. Getting research jobs and eventually academic jobs can be difficult and you need to be flexible and robust. But it’s a fantastic career!

“I do a lot of work in supporting women in computing and outreach into schools.”

The aim of DH LINKS is to offer careers-based networking opportunities for any current pupils or alumnae - if you can offer support with any of the following, please email Mrs Alexandra Barlow at foundation@downehouse.net • • • •

Work shadowing or internships Careers talks Hosting a Cluster Group Career advice and guidance via email or telephone

education

Harriet Atkinson (DH 1990) WHAT CAREER DID YOU SEE YOURSELF IN WHEN YOU WERE 16? I always

wanted to work in the visual arts as I was a very keen visitor of museums and galleries. A LEVELS: English Literature, History, History of Art, General Studies and

French AS Level UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE: Joint Honours in English Literature and History

of Art at University of York CAREER PATH: After university, I enrolled on a Masters in the History

and Theory of Art Museums, at the Courtauld Institute. At the time, the National Lottery was in its early days, and the money from ‘good causes’ was suddenly flooding the arts sector and I decided to become a Grants Officer at the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF). I was seconded to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, advising Ministers on lottery policy and subsequently worked at the Association of London Government, leading a team allocating arts grants. At this time, I realised that I wanted to focus on research and working at the DCMS during the Millennium celebrations had made me think about why governments invest in culture and so this became the subject of my PhD, which I undertook at the Royal College of Art and the V&A’s joint History of Design department. CURRENT OCCUPATION: I am now a History of Art and Design lecturer

at Brighton University and my year is split between teaching and developing my own research and writing. I have written a book called ‘The Festival of Britain: a land and its people’ and edited ‘The Bloomsbury Encyclopedia of Design’, ‘Design and Popular Entertainment’ and ‘The Banham Lectures’. I am currently writing a new book called ‘Modernism, Propaganda and the Public: exhibitions since 1914’. I am extremely happy where I am – I have the scope to do the things I love and am developing new research and writing projects that will keep me busy for the next couple of decades. WORDS OF ADVICE: Working in academia is fantastically rewarding but it

is a vocation, which you should only pursue if you accept that you will almost always either be working or thinking about work. Ideally get your PhD before you are 30, to give you time to establish your career with a permanent position before you start a family. I started my PhD at 30 and establishing a career in academia took longer because I was juggling it around part-time work and looking after my three children.

“I have the scope to do the things I love and am developing new research and writing projects that will keep me busy for the next couple of decades.” 19

broadcasting and business

Natalie Wheen (DH 1964) WHAT CAREER DID YOU SEE YOURSELF IN WHEN YOU WERE

CURRENT OCCUPATION: At 69, I am an olive farmer and

16? Something in music because that was what everyone

London

producer of very fine organic extra virgin olive oils. It is a full-time occupation from physically harvesting the fruit/milling and bottling in December and January to marketing and selling the olives, which includes travelling abroad to trade shows in Asia. I never knew anything about business but find it fascinating – especially meeting fellow small business people from very diverse backgrounds.

CAREER PATH: I started my career at the BBC in 1968 as a

WORDS OF ADVICE: Get as wide a perspective on the world

Programme Operations Assistant which involved editing tapes, playing records and a lot of sitting about on standby. I very quickly moved on to be Assistant Producer in the BBC TV Arts and Music Department. Next, I became a Music Producer at BBC Manchester and then joined Radio 3 and I was commissioned to do a major series on 20th Century American Music – the first time the UK had heard a great deal of the music I programmed. I worked on a weekly programme called Music Now and after six months I resigned from the BBC to continue working freelance on this contract, eventually becoming the Programme Editor. We examined and exposed the political and establishment controls on the arts world – it was very exciting to have questions asked in the House of Commons about the skullduggery we uncovered. The next step in my career was to present a number of shows including Radio 3 Drivetime and the Radio 4 Arts Review, Kaleidoscope. I also did some television work including ‘Cardiff Singer of the World’ and the ‘Re-opening of Glyndebourne’. In 1999, I moved to Classic FM where I programmed shows for an audience almost 10 times as big as the Radio 3 audience, and stayed there until the schedules were ‘refreshed’ and it was time to move on.

as you can before making any career choices. It doesn’t really matter what you study at university, you need to keep your imagination sparking at the possibilities that could open for you at any time. Indeed it doesn’t even matter if you don’t go to university, lots of people have discovered better options by jumping into the world as soon as possible. And always be positive about any experience – it’s all grist to a full and rich life.

said I should be doing – and I didn’t really know anything else – or have anyone who could offer me or advise me on other options. A LEVELS: English, Music and French UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE: Music at the University of

I started producing organic extra virgin olive oils in 1996 on the Greek island of Lesvos…a business which grew quite naturally – becoming my sole occupation when I eventually left Classic FM.

“At 69, I am an olive farmer and producer of very fine organic extra virgin olive oils.” 21

education

Isabel Acton (Dettmer DH 2005) WHAT CAREER DID YOU SEE YOURSELF IN WHEN YOU WERE

CURRENT OCCUPATION: I am a Year One form teacher with a

16? To be totally honest, I didn’t have a clue. My priorities

class of five and six year olds. My day starts at 8.10am when the children arrive at school. They begin with a 30-minute activity such as handwriting before the school day officially starts. I teach all the core subjects, with six 45-minute lessons split through the day. The school day ends at 3.30pm and after this time I run a bookworm club. This involves choosing a book to focus on and preparing activities for the children to work on based on the chosen story.

at that time were exams and holidays and I didn’t give my career any thought. A LEVELS: Spanish, English, History of Art and AS Level

Geography UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE: Sociology at Bristol University

followed by a PGCE at Kings University CAREER PATH: I graduated in 2009 and worked as a

Learning Support Assistant, supporting a lovely autistic pupil in a south London State school. After a year in this role, I embarked on my PGCE and looking back, this year was invaluable as it gave me the time to find out whether I really wanted to be a teacher. I was placed in two schools during my PGCE training and at that time the credit crunch was in full flow and demand for male teachers was incredibly high. As a newly qualified teacher we were advised to take the first job we were offered and not to be picky. I was offered a role at a small independent school in London where I still work. I feel very fortunate to be where I am today.

“Get as much experience as you can. Don’t be shy to ask questions.”

I am definitely happy in this role and love teaching children in this age range. I would in the future like to be a Head of Department or perhaps Head of Lower School but I wouldn’t want to move into an office based management role without a teaching element as I would miss being in the classroom with the children. I am very happily living in London and don’t foresee a move to the country any time soon! WORDS OF ADVICE: Get as much experience as you can. Don’t

be shy to ask questions, particularly when you are on a work experience placement. Be assertive and find out as much as you can during your time in a classroom setting. Knowledge is power!

commercial art

architecture

WHAT CAREER DID YOU SEE YOURSELF IN WHEN YOU WERE 16?

WHAT CAREER DID YOU SEE YOURSELF IN WHEN

At 16 I didn’t really know what I wanted to do as a career and so I chose A Level subjects that I thought I would enjoy.

YOU WERE 16? Architect

A LEVELS: Spanish, English and History of Art; AS Level

AS Level Chemistry

Annabel Matterson (DH 2007)

Geography

Abigail Woolf (DH 2008) A LEVELS: Maths, Further Maths, Geography and

UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE: Engineering at

UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE: History of Art at Bristol University

University of Cambridge

CAREER PATH: At university, I completed internships in

CAREER PATH: After school, I joined the Pre-

galleries, with art dealers and in auction houses to try and gain the broadest possible experience. I then started working for a private art gallery in London which was amazing. I was advised to undertake a Masters to set myself apart from the other Art History graduates and so spent two years studying at Hunter College in New York and did an internship at Christie’s New York as well as doing freelance writing and research. Then a vacancy at Christie’s London came up, and I was offered the job.

University Placement Scheme at the Arup Group, a global civil and structural engineering firm and worked there for nine months. It gave me the opportunity to discover more about engineering and also paid for travelling at the end. Getting that job was probably the most important step for me in terms of my career.

CURRENT OCCUPATION: I am the Senior Writer and

Researcher in the Impressionist and Modern Art Department at Christie’s. I conduct research on paintings that are coming up for sale and write about them for the sale catalogues, telling the story of each work, where it fits into the artist’s life and into art history. It is a varied and interesting role but is also hugely time-pressured in the run up to a sale. I am lucky to have seen some of the incredible works of art that have passed through Christie’s doors. I’ve been at Christie’s London for almost three years and I absolutely love it. I definitely plan to stay working within the art world.

CURRENT OCCUPATION: After graduating from

Cambridge, I joined Arup as a Graduate Mechanical Engineer and I design building services for a range of projects such as offices, hotels and stations. I really enjoy my job and I hope that in time, I might be able to apply for an internal transfer to the San Francisco office. I will have to wait and see! WORDS OF ADVICE: Engineering is a great career.

You get to be creative and work with a range of people. It’s both challenging and satisfying and I feel immensely proud when I show people the projects I’ve worked on.

WORDS OF ADVICE: Internships are key – and are essential

to start out in the art world. They can be incredibly positive and you can gain a wealth of valuable skills. Whether it’s in a small gallery or a huge international organisation, it is a great way to start networking which is invaluable because although it is a global business, the art world is a very small community.

“Internships are key – and are essential to start out in the art world”

“Engineering is a great career. You get to be creative and work with a range of people

music

Fiona Laughton (Bankes DH 2000) WHAT CAREER DID YOU SEE YOURSELF IN WHEN YOU WERE 16? It was hard to

imagine entering the working world when I was 16! However, having enjoyed playing the violin and piano from an early age, I did know that it would have to involve music. A LEVELS: English, Religious Studies and Music UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE: Music at University of Edinburgh CAREER PATH: At university, I won the Sir Thomas Beecham Scholarship for

Outstanding Performance in violin. The combination of my interest in violin performance and a Music in the Community module at Edinburgh, led me to apply for a Masters in Music Therapy Course at Guildhall School of Music and Drama. I also completed a Pitman’s Executive Assistant Secretarial course and a cooking course at Leith’s. These courses proved invaluable for finding student jobs! After graduating, I worked as a private Music Therapist and violin teacher and performer, as well as working as a Personal Assistant in London for several years. After meeting my husband, we moved out of London and I began a teaching role at Bradfield College, Berkshire where I completed my PGCE and specialised in teaching GCSE and AS academic music. CURRENT OCCUPATION: I am now Head of Junior School Music at Lambrook

School in Berkshire. My role involves teaching classroom music from Nursery to Year 4 and I run several choirs, and ensembles. As a full-time working mother, with my daughter currently at Lambrook, I am very happy and settled in my current role. Looking forward, I would love to become a Director of Music at a prep school and perhaps even go down the Housemistress route one day. WORDS OF ADVICE: It may sound like a well-used cliché but teaching really is

a rewarding career! No two days are ever the same and being able to inspire children, and to instil a love of music at such an early age is a privilege. I also love the fact that I am able to sing, and play my violin and piano as part of the job. Get as much work experience as you can in schools before applying to a teacher-training course. “Teaching” is not something that can necessarily be taught. Quite simply you won’t know if you can “teach” until you have stood in front of a class on your own and had a go!

“It was hard to imagine entering the working world when I was 16!”

fashion

Sophie Tyler-Whittle (Cranston DH 1994) WHAT CAREER DID YOU SEE YOURSELF IN WHEN YOU WERE 16? My dream was

to run my own fashion company, just as I am now. A LEVELS: Textiles, Maths and Economics UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE: Art Foundation Course at Ravensbourne and

then a BA Hons in Fashion Design at Northumbria University CAREER PATH: I worked for Alexander McQueen and the BBC when I

graduated and then went to Hong Kong to design there. Whilst in Hong Kong, I met Alice Temperley and eventually we came back to start up Temperley together. Then I decided to follow my dreams and so went to Spain in a campervan to learn Spanish and to dance the Flamenco and it was there that I started Libelula which I have been doing ever since. CURRENT OCCUPATION: Libelula is a small fashion design house and we

sell via our online shop and boutique in Odiham, Hampshire, as well as wholesale to other boutiques worldwide. All the prints are designed inhouse and I cut the patterns myself, as well as doing all the production and accounts for the business. Everything is manufactured in the Far East and distributed from the UK. We are well-known and loved for our bright and beautiful printed silk tops and dresses that are super-flattering and timeless in style. Now that I have three small boys, my plan is to keep on juggling the business with the family so they don’t even notice that I do in fact work, as well as look after them! But once they are all at school full-time, my next step is to gain a better understanding of the online world to learn how we can better use it to promote and expand Libelula. I have also started another label, an accessories brand called Cockatoo...there is always lots to do and I just wish I had more hours in every day to do it all! WORDS OF ADVICE: The most important thing in life is to love what you do

and then it will never feel onerous to work hard. Keep going even when you are knocked back and at the beginning, be prepared to do whatever is asked of you even if it feels boring or pointless. Everything is a learning experience and people notice when you go the extra mile to help and even better when you do it with a smile on your face… and that’s how doors and opportunities open up to you.

“I cut the patterns myself, as well as doing all the production and accounts for the business.”

“Be authentic. Don’t try to be someone you are not.”

management

Catherine Powell (Young DH 1986) WHAT CAREER DID YOU SEE YOURSELF IN

CURRENT OCCUPATION: In 2016, I was offered the role of running

WHEN YOU WERE 16? When I was very young,

Disneyland Paris (DLP), which is Europe’s number one tourist destination and employs 15,000 people. My day is incredibly varied. I can go from a meeting with politicians or French unions, to a discussion about a marketing campaign, to a presentation on an idea for a new entertainment show, to seeing a new attraction, to giving a speech on how DLP will support the tourism business in France. No two days are the same and every day has a balance between commercial, creative, operational and strategic. Which is why it is such a great job and I am very lucky to have it!

I wanted to be a ballet dancer or an actress but I had no real idea what I wanted to be until much later. At 18, I thought I wanted to be a banker but by 19, I was sure I did not want to be a banker. A LEVELS: Maths, Further Maths, French,

Economics and General Studies UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE: Politics, Philosophy

and Economics at Oxford University CAREER PATH: Post-Oxford, I decided I wanted

to be a researcher and sit in the British Library investigating topics such as the Moghuls or go off on a field trip to India. My first job was actually as a picture researcher for an Art Library. Then I worked for a small company making corporate videos, which meant I learned the process of making a video from first pitch to script, film and final edit. From there, I joined a small independent production company based in Cumbria making news features and documentaries for Channel 4. There were just three of us and again, I was part of the whole process of making a documentary. We filmed in exciting areas such as Sudan, Somalia, India and even the North Pole! After meeting my husband, who worked for the Foreign Office, we were posted to Paris and I worked for a small French distribution company buying and selling programmes. When we returned to the UK, I joined BBC Worldwide selling BBC programming throughout Europe. For 10 years, I was based in Hammersmith selling Disney’s programmes and channels to European broadcasters until in 2014, Disney sent me to Australia to run all of Disney’s businesses in Australia and New Zealand.

WORDS OF ADVICE: The most important advice I can give is that it is

not about what you do, but who you are. If you want to succeed in life, there are skills or personality traits I think it is important to develop - be curious and open-minded; have courage but also vulnerability; be optimistic. But most importantly, be authentic. Don’t try to be someone you are not.

education

Hermione Trypanis (Boggis DH 2004) WHAT CAREER DID YOU SEE YOURSELF IN WHEN YOU WERE 16?

A physiotherapist. I enjoyed science and dabbled with the idea of medicine but also enjoyed playing a variety of sport so with the guidance of the Head of Careers at that time, Mrs Oldham, and a series of career seminars in the Sixth Form, I settled on Physiotherapy. A LEVELS: English, Biology, Geography, Sport Science UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE: Physiotherapy at Oxford Brookes

University and PGDE at University of Edinburgh CAREER PATH: During my final year at Oxford Brookes, I decided

that I did not want to pursue physiotherapy as a career. After two very enjoyable summers teaching at Camp America, I decided a career in education could be for me and so decided to apply for postgraduate teacher training. I spent a year at a prep school in Scotland and decided to study at Edinburgh University. Studying for a PGDE in Scotland is a fantastic entry route into teaching as it is widely recognised throughout the rest of the UK. In addition, you are trained to teach from nursery age to Year 9 as opposed to having to specialise if you opt for a PGCE in England. Following a year of teaching at a state school outside Glasgow, I moved south and found a job in a Pre-Prep school in south London where I was a Reception Teacher and Subject Coordinator. Teaching reception age children was incredibly rewarding but not without its challenges. Put simply we taught everything from the foundation of reading and writing and early maths to art, sport, music, history, geography, science… the works! No two days are the same and you need lots of patience. CURRENT OCCUPATION: We are currently based in Germany where

the Army has posted my husband and we started our family! The great thing about teaching is that it is very accessible. There are some lovely army schools locally and I can very easily begin teaching there when the timing is right. For now, I have my hands full with my young children, but in the future, I hope to return to class teaching and perhaps take on a senior management role. WORDS OF ADVICE: If you are passionate about education and love

children then teaching is the most wonderful job. But you can’t simply walk out of the door at the end of the day, it’s very much a vocation. If you are interested in teaching make sure you get plenty of classroom experience, schools are always grateful for an extra pair of hands so I am sure you will not be turned away.

“I decided a career in education could be for me and so decided to apply for postgraduate teacher training.”

theatre

Imogen Sarre (DH 2007) WHAT CAREER DID YOU SEE YOURSELF IN WHEN YOU WERE 16? I always thought I would be a lawyer.

advertising Javre Gascoigne-Pees (Dow DH 1995)

WHAT CAREER DID YOU SEE YOURSELF IN WHEN

A LEVELS: English Literature, History, Drama and French

YOU WERE 16? I can’t really remember having

for AS

a clear plan but maybe something to do with marketing.

UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE: English at Oxford University CAREER PATH: During my second year at university, I was inspired by a

career talk about theatre given by two Oxford alumnae, both of whom ran large regional theatres. I had a real lightbulb moment and knew I wanted to work in theatre.

A LEVELS: Business Studies, Geography and

History UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE: Social Studies at

Newcastle University

Whilst at university, I set up an online theatre reviewing site and afterwards I spent six months establishing sister sites in Bristol, Cambridge, Durham and at the Edinburgh Fringe, all of which are still going today, though I’m now only directly involved in recruiting and managing editors for the Edinburgh site. I then did an internship at the Old Vic Theatre and soon after joined a large commercial theatre company’s digital marketing team where I worked for a couple of years.

CAREER PATH: I did some work experience in a

I was lucky to have a brilliant mentor who pushed me to think about what I really enjoyed and what my dream job would be right now, rather than planning for something in ten years’ time. I had spent a lot of my free time since graduating reading scripts for a new writing theatre in Battersea and going to new writing nights in London and talking to her made me realise that my passion was really for the new writing scene. When I discovered what a literary agent’s role is within that world - protecting and championing new writers, and matchmaking them with the right directors, theatres and projects - I was sold.

CURRENT OCCUPATION: I’ve worked in three

CURRENT OCCUPATION: I currently work with the leading theatrical

agent, Mel Kenyon, at Casarotto Ramsay, an agency that represents many of the best writers and directors in the world. I love it: it’s one of the few jobs that manages to combine both complete artistic integrity with commercial viability; the theatre scene is always changing and you’re always kept on your toes on the lookout for new talent, but you also need to have strong negotiation and contractual skills. WORDS OF ADVICE: Be pro-active and put yourself out there. Do lots of

research, be gregarious and don’t be afraid to ask people for advice. Any career in theatre is built on relationships and mutual respect.

“Be pro-active and put yourself out there”.

TV Department of an advertising agency in my gap year and then got a job as a Production Assistant in an advertising agency after I left university. I did that for three years before becoming a TV Producer and have done the same job for the last 16 years. different agencies but I have been at Leo Burnett for the last ten years. The agency has a large and high profile client base and I produce TV commercials mainly working on the Kelloggs or McDonalds accounts. WORDS OF ADVICE:

Try to get some work experience in an area of work you are interested in to see what it’s all about. Use as many contacts as you have to get your foot in the door.

“The agency has a large and high profile client base and I produce TV commercials.”

education

Emily Jack (DH 2008) WHAT CAREER DID YOU SEE YOURSELF IN WHEN YOU WERE 16? I didn’t

know at all. I enjoyed all my GCSE subjects but also had interests in the arts. I had a dream of starting my own business from a young age though. A LEVELS: Business Studies, English, Latin and AS Level French UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE: Classical Studies and English at Newcastle

University CAREER PATH: Soon after graduating, I started at World Pay as a

Relationship Manager in Business Development. This was a fantastic first job and as the team grew very quickly, I was involved with training each new colleague as I had been part of the team from the start. After 18 months at World Pay, I made the leap into entrepreneurship and made my dream of running my own business into a reality. Kings Tutors was officially launched in July 2013 and after a short time, the phone began to ring and I haven’t looked back. I now employ someone to help me in the office and we have 150 tutors on the books. We aim to give our clients access to the most dedicated tutors and to tailor our services to ensure that the needs of every tutee are met. CURRENT OCCUPATION: My work involves taking enquiries, timetabling

and tutor recruitment as well as marketing the business and organising tutor training through the year. I am mainly based in our office in London. It is non-stop most of the time and it can be hard to walk away at the end of each day. I plan to carry on growing the business and to be the best we can be. Recently we were thrilled to win the award for our sector at the Jobcrowd Awards in London. To have recognition makes all the hard work worthwhile. WORDS OF ADVICE: To go for it!. It can be all encompassing running

your own business and it is very easy to get bogged down. Be brave and don’t get too stressed by it all. Make sure you take 30 minutes out during tricky moments and work hard to achieve a work life balance, as this is so important.

“I had a dream of starting my own business from a young age.” 30

law

Jo Sykes (Knights DH 2005) WHAT CAREER DID YOU SEE YOURSELF IN WHEN YOU WERE 16? Law, as it

seemed to pervade so many areas of life and be constantly evolving which was exciting! I did work experience at several law firms and this reaffirmed my desire to study law. I spoke to career advisors, my parents (who are both solicitors) and many people in the industry. A LEVELS: Maths, Chemistry and Physics UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE: Law at Oxford University CAREER PATH: After finishing my law degree, I embarked on a gap year,

which was an invaluable experience. I spent the first six months working in the Alps for a ski season and then the remaining six months as an assistant at a high street law firm. I completed a Legal Practice Course in London before embarking on a two-year training contract at Clifford Chance LLP. After qualifying, I moved across into the Project Finance team where I stayed for two years. In 2014, I moved to a boutique firm specialising in power, energy, renewable energy and infrastructure in subSaharan Africa. CURRENT OCCUPATION: I am currently a Senior Associate at Trinity

International LLP and predominantly advise on Project Finance transactions. We specialise in sub-Saharan Africa and other emerging markets across a range of sectors including power, energy, renewable energy and infrastructure. I deal with developers and engineers much of the time and it really helps that I studied science subjects at A Level. Africa is a fascinating continent and I find the cross-border and local law aspects of my work very interesting. The emerging markets and Africa in particular are seeing a huge increase in investment and are certainly perceived as areas of growth. The majority of countries in Africa have a huge power and infrastructure deficit and with populations growing, this is only going to become more pronounced. My intention is therefore to remain at Trinity as we expand and adapt our practice to meet the continent’s needs. WORDS OF ADVICE: Choose A Levels and degree subjects based on what

you enjoy and find interesting. Firms are looking for both law and nonlaw graduates and your application is very much based on how you come across in interview, not the subjects you have studied. However, I would recommend choosing academic subjects at A Level, as these will help you further down the line in your career. I am so glad I chose science-based subjects as I have knowledge which helps in my current job role and also enjoyed my studies.

“I would recommend choosing academic subjects at A Level” 31

adventure

Annabel Ross (DH 2005) WHAT CAREER DID YOU SEE YOURSELF IN WHEN YOU WERE 16? At 16, the light

at the end of the educational tunnel seemed so far away that I don’t think I had a vision, or if I did it was changing every two months! Instead of making any decisions I aimed to work hard, keep learning and to expand my horizons. A LEVELS: Chemistry, Maths, Spanish

and AS level Physics. UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE: Economics and Econometrics

with study in Continental Europe (Spain) at the University of Bristol and University of Valencia. CAREER PATH: After graduating, I worked as an intern at

the Renewable Energy Foundation and in Mergers and Acquisitions at JP Morgan before settling at Deutsche Bank in corporate banking. During my fifth year at Deutsche Bank, I launched an active lifestyle project, eXerK.com. I completed 52 sporting challenges in 52 weeks around my working life, inviting people to join me. I was aiming to showcase the importance of being outside and helping people find the fun in movement no matter how busy we are. That sparked a bit of adventure into my life and I decided to take time out from banking to explore the avenues that the project had opened up. My first job was organising marathons in Nepal and Colombia – an exciting and rewarding about-turn! CURRENT OCCUPATION: I now work in the outdoors

adventure world as a freelance journalist and business consultant. WORDS OF ADVICE. Learn to work to a high standard,

be adaptable and keep trying different things so you discover what is most rewarding and can give your best to it. There are a lot of different career paths out there and most of them spin out of random conversations not google searches!

“Keep trying different things”

architecture

Charlotte Hamilton (Purchas, DH 1994) WHAT CAREER DID YOU SEE YOURSELF IN WHEN YOU WERE 16?

It was wonderful to have so many possible career paths to choose between – medicine, engineering or architecture. A LEVELS: Maths, Physics, Chemistry at A Level plus an art portfolio UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE: Architectural Studies at Newcastle

University CAREER PATH: After university, I worked for BHM Architects Ltd and

Cantor Fitzgerald International before combining my two passions and accepting a job with Dubois Naval Architects, near Lymington, designing large sailing and motor yachts. Our family moved to London and then to Wiltshire, where I set up Hamilton Architecture & Design. CURRENT OCCUPATION: As an Architectural Consultant, I

work across a wide scope of disciplines including restoration architecture and investment properties. This involves every aspect of design and procurement, freelance planning, interior drawings and joinery detailing. We are in the midst of designing a new studio for the business, which is lots of fun with ideas flowing for the future. WORDS OF ADVICE: Be determined to work hard and realise that

there are positives to be found in harsh criticism. The hours spent making models, knowing that they would get a good slating, were finally rewarded by a First for my final degree project, a theatre overlooking the Tyne. Be guided by your enthusiasms.

“It was wonderful to have so many possible career paths to choose between” 34

finance

Jemima Atkins (DH 2012) WHAT CAREER DID YOU SEE YOURSELF IN WHEN YOU WERE 16?

I wanted to work in consulting, ideally at one of the “Big Four” professional services firms. I had done an insight day at EY where I had the opportunity to work through a simulation business case study and absolutely loved it. A LEVELS: Biology, Chemistry, Economics, Maths and Further Maths. UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE: Natural Sciences at Durham University CAREER PATH: Between Downe and university, I spent a year at

Rothschild, a boutique investment bank, where I supported the Global Financial Advisory (Mergers & Acquisitions) division. I interned at Bank of America Merrill Lynch whilst at university, along with a couple of other banks, and decided I wanted to join this bank after graduating. The culture seemed like a great fit for me, plus being at a large global company gives you exposure to the biggest deals in the industry. CURRENT OCCUPATION: I work at Bank of America Merrill Lynch

within the Debt Capital Markets division, where I do bank, acquisition and infrastructure finance. My clients are mostly corporates in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, but I also work with infrastructure companies in the US. My job is very varied – one day I will be doing in-depth analysis of a company’s existing capital structure, whilst the next I will be using my sales skills to sell a deal that we’ve launched into the market. I intend to stay within banking, probably at Bank of America Merrill Lynch. I am also involved with the Bank’s charity and environmental initiatives including the Bank’s partner charities, ‘Inspiring the Future’ and ‘Magic Breakfast’. I enjoy being a member of the Women’s Leadership Council, the Multicultural Leadership Network and the My Environment programme. WORDS OF ADVICE: Start attending insight days and applying

for internships when you are at School or in your first year at university. These kind of programmes can lead to the long-term internships that you need to complete in order to receive a graduate job offer.

“Being at a large and global company gives you exposure to the biggest deals in the industry.”

DH LINKS is a joint venture between the Foundation Office and the Higher Education and Global Initiatives Department offering networking links and a focal point for any current pupils or alumnae who want to share or receive careers-based knowledge, guidance and information. DH LINKS delivers many different initiatives including: Law Cluster Group networking event at the Francis Taylor Building, London, June 2017

• A centrally managed database including alumnae, current and past parents • Careers events at Downe House for current girls in the form of talks and workshops from alumnae about their career pathways, jobs and business ventures • Professional cluster groups and networking events in various locations

Communications Careers Insight Day at WRG, London, October 2017

Camila Hughes, Keryn Brock and Jemima Atkins at the Finance Cluster Group held at One Canada Square, London, November 2017

• DH LINKS groups on social media platforms for professional networking and information sharing and as a support platform • Internship offers and business advertising for current girls, recent leavers and fellow alumnae. For more information, please visit www.downehouse.net/foundation or contact Alexandra Barlow on 01635 204740 Email: dhlinks@downehouse.net LinkedIn: DH LINKS group

Finance Cluster Group at BNY Mellon, One Canada Square, London, November 2017

words of advice Network as much as possible - almost all my jobs have come through personal connections.

You donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t need to put pressure on yourself to find your dream job straight off; just try something that interests you and see how you go.

As soon as you have any work experience, create a LinkedIn profile and constantly update it.

Find something you enjoy which is a good match for your gifts and abilities and set yourself to work hard to achieve your goals. Be guided by your enthusiasms.

Be incredibly pro-active and put yourself out there. Do lots of research, be gregarious and donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be afraid to ask people for advice.

Start attending insight days and applying to internships now. Never let someone make you believe that youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not good enough.

A positive attitude and a great smile will take you everywhere!

Work hard to achieve a work-life balance as this is so important.

an adventure in education

Downe House, Cold Ash, Thatcham, Berkshire RG18 9JJ T: 01635 200286 www.downehouse.net