My favourite memory of Queen’s
Early mornings on the Isis coxing the QCBC men’s VIIIs. I’ve always hated mornings (and still do), but there was such a great sense of camaraderie on the river, and a strong coffee afterwards put the world to rights!
What Queen’s means to me
I don’t think I realised at the time, but I think having a choral scholarship and being deeply involved in the musical life of the College alongside challenging studies probably kept me sane. Choir was an escape from the intensive reading and the academic rigour of the Jurisprudence course; focusing on reading the music and singing meant I had a complete break from my studies several times a week and gave me renewed energy to complete the week’s reading and essays.
My journey since leaving Queen’s
My journey has been somewhat squiggly. Too nervous at interview to get anywhere with Magic Circle firms, I took a job as an editor at a law reporting firm and stayed in Oxford for a further four and a half years before moving to London to be closer to friends, where I took a job as a PA at Westminster Abbey and helped organise outside broadcasts and other ‘special services’. Life then took me to Scotland and I worked for a couple of years as an EA at a private school before moving into an engineering consultancy, Mott MacDonald, as a programme office administrator. I then held roles as a project coordinator and assistant project manager before a mentoring opportunity with one of our commercial directors resulted in a job being created for me in commercial management. This role suited my legal knowledge and strong analytical skills, as well as reflecting what I enjoy – problem-solving for colleagues, and exploring how strategy, risk appetite and commercial nous drive profit on projects. I have since promoted twice and now look after the commercial health of our civil and defence nuclear business.
Alongside all that, I am part of a military family and have three children! It is a juggle meeting their needs whilst working full time, especially when their father is away on deployment, but I have sufficient flexibility to care for them and carve out a successful career.