What was the best thing about your course?

The best thing about my course was how flexible it was. You start off doing a bit of everything, which helped me figure out what I actually enjoyed rather than just guessing from A-levels or assumptions. For me, that ended up being the economics and finance side, so I was able to lean into that and pick modules that matched my interests and where I wanted to go career-wise. It never felt restricted, and I liked that you could genuinely shape the degree around what you’re interested in rather than everyone doing the exact same thing.

Did you do a project, placement or study abroad? What did this involve and what did you gain?

Although I wasn’t on a placement year degree, I quickly realised the value of gaining practical experience alongside my studies. Two experiences that stood out were my summer internships with CFC Underwriting and Lockton, which gave me very different perspectives on the insurance industry. At CFC, I worked within the Professional Indemnity underwriting team, where I gained an insight into how underwriters assess risk, price policies and make commercial decisions. It was a small company at the time, with an almost start-up feel, so I was given a lot of responsibility from day one, which, as a first-year university student, was quite a motivating experience. At Lockton, I joined the Real Estate broking team at the world’s largest independent insurance brokerage, giving me the opportunity to see the industry from a different perspective. Rather than assessing and pricing risk, I worked alongside brokers to understand how they build client relationships, negotiate with insurers and find solutions that best meet their clients' needs. Together, these experiences gave me more confidence in professional environments and made me more comfortable stepping into new teams, asking questions and contributing early on. They also shaped how I approached my time at university. I became more proactive in seeking out opportunities, whether through societies or mentoring younger students, including helping found and run Lancaster Economics and Finance Society's (LEFS) new McCormick Mentoring programme, rather than just focusing on academics in isolation. Overall, they gave me a better sense of readiness for a graduate role and how to make the most of new environments.

What are your best memories of your time at Lancaster?

One of my best memories from Lancaster was my time with the Lancaster Economics and Finance Society, especially being involved in organising the annual Lancaster Forum. It’s the largest student-led conference in the North West, and something we put a huge amount of work into as a society, with planning starting all the way back in September and running through until it takes place in March. Seeing it come together on the day and actually bring in industry leaders from different sectors and students from different universities was probably the standout moment for me. I joined the exec in first year and stayed involved for three years, eventually becoming Co-President after the merger, so I got to see it grow over time as well. What made it memorable wasn’t just the scale of Forum, but the fact that it was something fully run by a 30-person executive team at LEFS, and genuinely one of the biggest things happening on campus. That sense of taking an idea and actually building it into something real is what I’ll remember most from my time at Lancaster.

What are the best things about living in the Lancaster area?

One of the best things about living in the Lancaster area was the change of pace. I was born and raised in East London, so moving somewhere like Lancaster was a pretty big shift, and it’s probably the most rural place I’ll ever live in. What stood out most was the peace and tranquillity. It’s a lot slower and quieter than a big city, and that made a real difference during term time, especially when things were busy with coursework or societies. At the same time, it’s still well-connected, which I really liked. You’re close to the Lake District, and cities like Manchester and Liverpool are only an hour away, so you still had access to everything when you wanted it. Having that balance of a calm environment with easy access to bigger cities made it a really unique place to live compared to what I was used to.

Which parts of your Lancaster experience were the best preparation for your job?

The most useful preparation for my job came from my time with LEFS, and it’s something I’ve often referred to in interviews because of how much it shaped my experience. I joined in first year and progressed from Executive to Vice President and then Co-President, which meant taking on more responsibility each year. A lot of this came through leading LEFS events like the Lancaster Forum, which involved a long planning process, coordinating four different teams, and making sure everything came together on the day. It taught me how to take ownership, take initiative, and focus on delivering rather than just planning. I was also part of the Sell-Side Institute in my first year, a LEFS initiative focused on investment banking. It involved working in a team to research M&A transactions and present our findings to a cohort of 40 analysts. That helped me become more confident presenting, staying organised under pressure, and collaborating with people I hadn't worked with before. Overall, those experiences taught me that university isn't just about getting a degree. It's about putting yourself in situations that develop the qualities employers actually look for: taking initiative, working with others, communicating confidently, and being willing to step outside your comfort zone.