This was the first event of its kind specifically for scholars and was chaired by Honorary Graduate Dr Gifty Edila. A former Barrister and Corporate Director, Gifty is now a Peer Reviewer for local government, a school governor, author, and mediator. She discussed her career journey and fielded questions to fellow panellists throughout the event.
Joining Gifty was alumnus Dan Hanbury (Mechanical Engineering 1996), Partner and UK Equity Fund Manager at River and Mercantile Asset Management LLP. Also on the panel was alumna Kate Shevack (Economics and Accountancy 1989). She is Managing Partner at Brand Initiatives Group LLC in New York. Alumnus Mike Tye (Management Science 1976), a Chairman and Non-Executive, and Mark Turner (Banking and Finance 1992), Partner at Livingbridge, also contributed to the session.
The group discussed their career experiences and chatted through recruitment and skills for a range of careers, before students had the chance to ask questions. Topics included working patterns, as well as launching and running a business.
Responding to a question about working hours, Kate said: “if you love what you do, you’re not sitting clocking the hours, you’ll do what it takes to get to that result”.
Dan encouraged the attendees to be focused and show this focus in recruitment and aptitude tests and added: “don’t be afraid to ask questions, exchange contact details with people, and network”.
Closing with final top tips, Mark said “gather experience with purpose; there isn’t such a thing as a bad job”.
Mike added: “be the best version of you in an interview”.
Gifty closed with a final thought:
“If you can ooze confidence, and the employer can believe in you, you’ll make progress. Present that you believe in yourself.”
The panellists are contributors to Loughborough’s scholarship programme, through generous donations or volunteering their time. Thank you to the panel.