On Thursday 22nd January, we were delighted to welcome back a number of Sheffield Girls’ alumnae for our first Live Lunch panel Q&A of the year, designed to inspire, empower and inform our pupils about the many pathways open to them beyond school.
The Live Lunch speaker series is an integral part of our careers and employability programme, giving pupils the opportunity to hear first-hand from former Sheffield Girls’ students about their career journeys, challenges and successes. These events celebrate the strength of our alumnae community and the value of learning from those who have once walked the same corridors.
Following a dynamic speed-networking session with Year 9 earlier in the morning, eight alumnae came together at lunchtime for a panel discussion and Q&A for our senior pupils. We welcomed Kate Richards, General Counsel at Centurion Bulk; Becky Franklin, Director at DGA Group; Nikki Barber, Global Head of Communications for ofi (Olam food ingredients); Ellie Dignam, Partner and Head of Digital Finance at BHP; Imogen Bond, Managing Director at Empathy Lab; Grace Brown, Business Intelligence Analyst at ForgeFix; Francesca Makey, Lead Orthotist at Sheffield Children’s Hospital and her colleague Jane McLean; and Sahar Akhter, Wealth and Personal Banking Degree Apprentice, HSBC.
Throughout the discussion, our alumnae shared thoughtful and reassuring advice, encouraging pupils to take opportunities as they arise, whether through work experience, travel or trying something new. Many spoke about the value of following personal interests, building confidence and trusting that there is no single ‘right’ path.
Several of our alumnae highlighted in particular the benefits of language learning, noting how studying languages – particularly spending time abroad – can build independence, cultural understanding and provide a real edge in interviews and the workplace. Others reminded pupils of the importance of staying true to themselves, doing what they enjoy and not feeling pressured to please others.
Some key pearls of wisdom shared with pupils included:
- Take opportunities when they come. You never know where they might lead!
- Do what you enjoy and what you feel confident in; you don’t need to give up any part of yourself.
- Build your confidence! Small actions can have a big impact across all areas of life.
- Try not to worry too much. Things always have a way of working out.
We are extremely grateful to Mrs Metcalfe-Murgatroyd for organising the event, and to Kate, Becky, Nikki, Ellie, Imogen, Grace, Francesca and Sahar for so generously sharing their time, experiences and wisdom. Their passion, encouragement and enthusiasm left a lasting impression on our pupils and perfectly captured the supportive, aspirational spirit of our school community.
