Previous Institution
Richmond College upon Thames - A-Levels
Tell us about your educational and/or career journey since you graduated from Brunel.
Straight from graduating from Brunel, I began a career in the TV industry working in production before moving into publicity, where I worked in-house as a publicist promoting some of the world's best-loved entertainment brands. I spent the next seven years working for Channel 4, Fox, Discovery Channel and Disney before embarking on a TV presenting career with the BBC and ITV.
What does a typical day at work involve for you?
The beauty of being a freelance Television Presenter is that no two days are the same! I could be writing scripts, researching people I'm due to interview, learning scripts, filming VTs or hosting live events. There is no typical day which is a particular highlight as you get to craft your own working day and work with some of the most talented people in the industry on some really, exciting projects.
What’s been the highlight of your career journey so far?
There have been many highlights in 2023, covering the King's Coronation for Good Morning America, interviewing Harrison Ford in Cannes for the world premiere of Indiana Jones and being a contestant on Dancing on Ice where I learnt to ice-skate from scratch and skate live on national television in front of millions of people!
How would you say your Brunel experience has helped you to get where you are today?
The network of friends I made on my Film and television course are now my network of industry friends. Our paths cross frequently through networking events, industry awards and TV projects and it's been really humbling to see all of us do well in our careers. I also met my husband at Brunel so you could say I hit the jackpot!
Why did you choose to study at Brunel and why would you recommend Brunel to others?
I chose to study at Brunel because it offered the opportunity to study a joint degree covering two subjects I was particularly interested in. While this course, no longer exists - I would recommend Brunel to others because the standard of teaching was very high and the discussions we would have in class encouraged blue ocean thinking which has set me in good stead for the creative industries, where you are often encouraged to find creative solutions and think outside of the norm.
What is your best memory of studying here?
The friends I made, being a part of the netball and ACS teams, having interesting debates and discussions in class and making friends for life. I met my best friend at Brunel, we've been each other's bridesmaids, travelled the world together and had the most incredible experiences but what's really special is that we both like nothing more than watching movies and TV shows together and dissecting them just like we used to do in class at Brunel!
If you could give one piece of advice to current Brunel students, what would that be?
Get as much work experience as you possibly can before you leave. If you're keen to work in the creative industries, it's a competitive industry so you'll need to find ways to stand out from the crowd. If you already have one year's work experience under your belt and can hit the ground running with a tenacious attitude, you're on your way to starting a successful career.
What would be your top tip or key advice for new graduates as they begin their career journey after leaving Brunel?
Follow your passions. It's so important to listen to the things that excite you. If you do this and are able to find a job in the area that brings you the most joy, you really could find yourself truly working the job of your dreams!
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