The ladder to successFeature profile on Paula Nickolds (Class of 1991), Commercial Director, John Lewis Partnership, on her journey to the top

The power of networkingAn interview with Claudine Collins (Class of 1986), Managing Director, MediaCom UK and one of the formidable interviewers on the popular BBC TV show The Apprentice

Alumnae in businessA glimpse at the entrepreneurial successes of our Alumnae and the careers they have forged in the world of business

Issue 3 | Spring 2016

Whenever I have the opportunity to do so, I emphasise that St Helen’s is fully committed to providing the rich educational opportunities which will enable our students to become the leaders of their professions and communities. In this, the third edition of Profile, we have the opportunity to hear from some of those Alumnae of St Helen’s who have gone on to become leaders in the field of business, whether they be self-starters and entrepreneurs, or leaders within some of the world’s most influential corporations. These are the Alumnae in whose footsteps our successful Young Enterprise Team Orenda were following when they displayed the imagination, the drive and the teamwork skills necessary to bring their ‘Sip-O-Snack’ containers to market and to claim the honour of being crowned ‘UK Company of the Year 2015’. Team Orenda’s reign will shortly come to an end, but they gave inspiration in their turn to future cohorts of young entrepreneurs, and some of them may well go on to be as successful in business as the Alumnae profiled here.

Young Enterprise is just one of the ways in which we provide opportunities for girls to find out more about the world of work or business; under the leadership of our newly-appointed Futures Director, Liz McKinley, we hope to develop those very special links with our Alumnae community and offer mentoring links or work experience opportunities which will give them that invaluable insight into the possibilities which lie ahead of them.

I thoroughly enjoyed our first-ever Futures Evening, in which St Helen’s girls were privileged to hear presentations from Alumnae and parents who have forged careers in the medical and healthcare professions, and then had the chance to network with them afterwards. I am immensely grateful to the visitors who were so generous with their time and enthusiasm, and look forward to many more such Futures Evenings engaging with different careers – next academic year we will hold Futures Evenings which look at careers in Finance & Business, and in the Public Sector.

Please get in touch with Zoe Baines if you would like to offer your help and expertise to our current generation of ‘Girls in Green’, from giving the Wednesday Sixth Form Lecture to providing careers mentoring opportunities – we would be delighted to make the most of your expertise!

Dr Mary Short, Headmistress

Please contact the Development Office or visit www.sthelens.london/Events for more information.

The Big BBQ3rd September 2016 – St Helen’s School Recent leavers from the Class of 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012 and 2011 are invited to a fun afternoon reunion with outdoor activities, rounders and a fantastic BBQ.

Alumnae vs Girls Lacrosse Match13th September 2016 – St Helen’s School Alumnae, parents and friends of St Helen’s are invited to watch our first team open the season against our Alumnae. Please contact the Development Office if you are interested in playing in the Alumnae team.

Spot Lunch13th September 2016 – St Helen’s School An invitation to our Alumnae currently at University to join our Year 11 students for lunch and offer them an insight into University life.

City Networking Reception 20th September 2016 – Deloitte, London Networking opportunity for Alumni, parents and friends of St Helen’s and Merchant Taylors’ as well as a chance to catch up with old friends.

Futures Evening: Careers in the Public Sector8th November 2016 – St Helen’s School Parents and Alumnae working in the Public Sector are invited to meet our Year 11 to Year 13 students interested in a career in this field.

Calendar Sale26th November 2016 – St Helen’s School

Carol Service12th December 2016 – Holy Trinity Church, Northwood

Festive Reunion 15th December 2016 – The Gate, Northwood All Alumnae are welcome to join us for some festive cheer and a chance to catch up with old friends.

Class of 2016 Tea16th December 2016 – St Helen’s School The class of 2016 are invited to tea and cookies in the new School House foyer to collect their A level certificates.

a note from...

dates for the diaryWelcome to the third edition of Profile. The focus of this edition is Business.

4 The ladder to success Feature profile on Paula Nickolds (Class of 1991),

Commercial Director, John Lewis Partnership, on her journey to the top

6 Alumnae in Business

8 The power of networking An interview with Claudine Collins (Class of 1986),

Managing Director, MediaCom UK and one of the formidable interviewers on the popular BBC TV show The Apprentice

10 Alumnae entrepreneurs

14 From our young entrepreneurs Thinking big and starting young: a glimpse at our girls’

entrepreneurial successes

16 From the Development Director

18 Building Our Vision Innovation and development at St Helen’s

19 School news

Cover image of Paula Nickolds (Class of 1991). Paula Nickolds is now the Commercial Director at John Lewis Partnership having started her career with John Lewis on their graduate training programme. Turn to page 4 to see how Paula has reached the position she has today and for her tips and advice on how to climb the ladder to success.

cover photo

Following in her father’s footsteps, Paula Nickolds, who is now on the management board of John Lewis, having joined them over 20 years ago on their graduate training scheme, is still passionate and excited about bringing a dynamic and fascinating retail experience to the customer. In a world where the role of shops is rapidly evolving, and marketing, branding and advertising surround our everyday lives, the recent ‘Man on the Moon’ and before that ‘Monty the Penguin’ marketing campaigns, for which Paula was responsible, undoubtedly touched all of our hearts.

Feature story

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The ladder to success

I joined John Lewis in 1994 as part of the graduate training programme and have since worked my way up through a variety of roles to the management board where I am now the Commercial Director. John Lewis is one of the UK’s fastest growing and most successful omni-channel retailers, with sales of £4.5bn and more than 400,000 products, serving 11 million customers and employing 25,000 people.

I was interested in retail from an early age, influenced by my Dad who worked for M&S in a variety of executive roles. Understanding why customers buy, building a proposition that delights them and adapting to the changing role of shops makes for a dynamic and fascinating combination of economics, psychology, creativity and leadership.

I did not expect to stay with John Lewis for such a long time, but the company has such a strong sense of purpose and I have had so many rich and varied experiences that it has proven easy to stay for twenty years. The founder of John Lewis, John Spedan Lewis, was an imaginative entrepreneur with a strong sense of social responsibility. Enlightened for his time (and, arguably, today), he believed that industry could be a force for good and eventually gifted the organisation to his staff, so that it is now co-owned by those who work for the business.

As Commercial Director my team is responsible for defining the customer proposition, developing and sourcing our products, ensuring that our shops meet current and future needs, and managing the commercial relationships with all our product suppliers and multiple third party providers. I have had a variety of roles over the years, from general management in shops through to Buying and Marketing. As Buying and Brand Director I was responsible for Marketing during the years of ‘Monty the Penguin’ and the ‘Man on the Moon’.

Retail mirrors many of the things affecting business at large today. The pace of change is more extreme than ever and the impact of technology will be significant. New business models will be disruptive and those businesses that succeed will need to be adaptable, restless and utterly focused on the customer.

My memories of my time at St Helen’s are very enjoyable; I made great friends, was exposed to talented teachers, spent many, many hours in the pool as part of the swimming team and most importantly left school feeling I could take on the world. I am a strong believer in the potential provided by girls-only education. All the statistics support that girls educated on their own study a wider variety of subjects and achieve better academic grades but, more importantly, I believe it was my time at St Helen’s and, of course, the support of my inspirational parents that encouraged me to be ambitious and develop the self-belief, creative thinking and resilience that has helped me to be successful today. Four years ago I became a trustee of the Girls’ Day School Trust and I am also a trustee of the John Lewis Foundation, which, amongst other projects, supports girls’ educational projects in Uttar Pradesh in India.

My top tips? Always perform in every job as if you are in the next one, be curious, be bold, and join a business whose values you will be excited and motivated by.

Paula Nickolds, Class of 1991, History, University of Southampton,

Commercial Director, John Lewis Partnership

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Emily Gray Class of 2000Economics and Politics, University of Exeter

Executive Director, Transaction Management Asia Pacific, Cushman & Wakefield

I am a chartered surveyor and my current role is Head of Transaction Management for Asia Pacific at Cushman & Wakefield. I lead a team who work with corporate occupiers (for example banks or technology firms) and help them make the most of their occupied space in Asia, be it in terms of cost, location or space use. You may not have thought about this before but, after people, the occupation costs are typically the second highest cost for an organisation and where the space is located will impact on the people it can attract and retain and how their employees feel whilst at work.

I am inspired by creative ideas that combine something socially positive as well as making good business sense. I recognise that I am goal focused, so having a clear purpose and making a positive impact on whatever that task happens to be are really important to my motivational levels – if either is missing I really struggle to do whatever it is that is being asked of me.

I love that I work with clients from diverse backgrounds and from different industries across Asia Pacific, meaning that there is a lot of variety and travel involved in my job. It is also a relatively small industry that is well-connected, so it is amazing to be a part of a global network and know that I have contacts literally all over the world.

Tamsin Bulmer (née Levine)Class of 1993BSc Hons Microbiology, University of Liverpool

European HR Business Partner, TK Maxx

Leaving University with a Microbiology degree I quickly realised

that I liked people, not test tubes! I began my ‘people-oriented’ career as a headhunter. I then moved to Tesco head office, spending ten years in various HR roles from Recruitment Manager, Global Talent & Development Manager, Resourcing Manager and European HR Manager. After ten years at Tesco I was headhunted to join TK Maxx in 2014 as their European HR Business partner.

I partner with the Chief Finance Officer and European senior leadership teams to understand their long-term business strategies. I then ensure that there is a relevant and meaningful people strategy in place to support the business in delivering its goals. It’s all about the people!! I’m very excited to be part of a growing organisation. Last year we had sales of $31bn and pre-tax profits of 11.8%; in Europe we grew our store base to over 500 across six countries and raised £4.1m for Comic Relief. From a people perspective, I’m really proud that we recruited nearly 7,000 employees and promoted 928.

One thing that I think most of us would like to do better is the work- life balancing act. With 24/7/365 access to work via mobile devices, the pace of the retail sector and working across global time zones, I admit I can be guilty of being in ‘work mode’ too frequently. I see real success and talent when people are authentic. Being yourself and being genuine are values that senior leaders look for more and more as business culture plays a significant role in attracting, recruiting and retaining its talent. More often, leaders across the business would rather see an associate with a strong cultural fit to the organisation than technical skills. Being bold, having courage and taking a (calculated!) risk have helped me succeed in my career.

I’m inspired by women in business who have made it to the top, whilst managing a successful career, kids and marriage, proving that women can have it all! I’m motivated by being the best I can be in the workplace and taking the best home. Whilst I’m hugely motivated and committed to my work and TK Maxx, I am also a wife and a mum of two crazy kids. All these together motivate me. I love being busy, I love retail, I love fashion!

Alumnae in Business

Emily Gray winning a Prize at the CoreNet Global Asia Pacific Summit, March 2016

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Clients and colleagues, rightly, expect a lot but I have learned that to keep performing at a high level I need to take time for myself. I have also learned that you are the only one who can set boundaries to make this happen. For example, I am often on calls with the US at anti-social hours, but I balance this by prioritising a spin class one lunchtime each week and going to the gym. I also make sure I switch off from technology before I go to sleep.

Sally GeorgeClass of 1988

Managing Director, BlackRock

I live in Princeton, New Jersey and am a Managing Director at BlackRock responsible for the largest sales desk in the asset management industry, helping people build better financial futures.

My first job was as a trainee at Mercury Asset Management by London Bridge – it’s funny to think that everything I used to do in that role has since been automated. However my eye was on the US, which seemed like the land of opportunity. One day in 1997 I showed up at my desk and there it was – a press release stating that Mercury had been acquired by US-based Merrill Lynch (which was later acquired by BlackRock).

Shortly after, I had the opportunity to move to the US – I didn’t have any friends or family there and it was a huge leap of faith. Sometimes you have to take the risk for the career and the life you really want. I ran marketing for BlackRock’s US retail business for a number of years before earning the opportunity to get back to my roots in sales. The most satisfying part of my role is helping people think through their careers and putting the right coaching and development programmes in place to help them achieve their goals. I have learned to embrace feedback, which can be brutally honest, and most importantly the power of having a ‘sponsor’ in your career. A sponsor – distinct from mentors which are also important – is a senior executive in your firm or industry who can advocate for you in your career and network you at a senior level.

I always knew I wanted to work in financial services from a relatively young age – certainly while I was still at St Helen’s. My Dad worked for a company in the Leisure sector and I was fascinated hearing him talk about the markets, share prices and operational business. I also had a wonderful Statistics teacher, Frances Button, who really encouraged my interest in a career in the City.

I’m very fortunate that I love what I do and the people I work with. I have a wonderful husband and energetic, highly technologically enabled (iPad addicted!) 7 year old twin boys. I’m often asked about work-life balance. I wish I could say “you can have it all”, but the truth is that you have to compromise. My husband and I parent equally – we both try to attend all the school events but sometimes only one of us gets there. The work week is tough and we are often travelling or at the office late, so we make sure that weekends and vacations are all about the kids.

Emily’s top business tips:

1. Always confirm action points at the end of any meeting or call, i.e. who will do what and by when, because this puts you in control of whatever it is you are working on and others will then see you that way.

2. Be enthusiastic, support those around you by giving others credit, and say thank you whenever appropriate. You won’t be overlooked for doing this and will be recognised as a team player – to think of an appropriate St Helen’s analogy, it’s not about putting the ball in the netball hoop, it’s all about making sure the team wins!

3. Don’t be afraid of difficult conversations: they are necessary and you always feel better afterwards. As service provider, our clients will always want a high-quality, fast and inexpensive delivery. You can achieve two out of three (and the clients can choose which two) but you can’t do all three long-term.

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Feature story

Claudine is recognised in the media industry as one of their best trade secrets, a glamorous social butterfly who has changed the face of media buying. Today she is an inspiration to all women looking to pursue a successful career in business and talks to us about the power of networking and how a simple ‘hello’ could lead to a million things.

Q: How would you summarise your career path?

A: I really didn’t know what I wanted to do at school. I went to the careers library and opened the careers book at ‘A’, flicked past accountancy – boring – and hit advertising. I thought, well, I can’t draw, so that’s no good. Then, at the bottom of the page, it said: ‘If you can’t draw but you’re good at maths and good with people, you can be a media buyer.’ So I thought: I’ll try that.

The truth is, at school I was overweight, insecure, lacked confidence and had to study hard. Suddenly, in the world of work, I realised I was actually quite good at my job, which only fuelled my ambition. I went down the buying route, which was more about mathematical negotiations and people skills. However, as I watched the industry changing, I decided to go into general

management and over time was promoted until my current position today as Managing Director UK.

Q: What do you love most about what you do?

A: I love that it is a very social industry and I love the people and talent I work with on a daily basis. I love winning new business as I am competitive and it gives me a buzz when our clients give us their objectives and we smash it! I love the fact that we are the number one agency and at times, like when I am at the BAFTAs, I think: “I can’t believe this is my job, this is fantastic!”

Q: What would you say is your proudest achievement to date?

A: On a personal level, about ten years ago I lost six stone, which was a major achievement. Professionally, I felt really proud a few months ago when we promoted three people to our Managing Partners Board, all of whom I had employed as graduates. I sat there like a proud Mum.

Q: After all this success, what do you still struggle with now?

A: I struggle first of all with time for myself, as I have a diary that is full to the rafters for two months. Like all women, I still struggle with confidence

Thirty years on since leaving St Helen’s and Claudine Collins has made her way to the top of the media world. She is now the Managing Director of MediaCom UK, one of the world’s leading agencies, and is widely known for her role as one of the hugely entertaining and formidable interviewers on the popular BBC TV show The Apprentice.

The power of networkingbelieve it or not, although this does get better as you get older. There are still times when I am asked to do a talk on Sky News and I might say no because I am not feeling very confident that day.

Q: When interviewing candidates on The Apprentice, what are you looking for?

A: On The Apprentice I want to know that the candidates are in it for the right reason and not just for the fame. In the selection process they don’t really look at the business plans that much so, by the time they get to us, if they have been good in the process then they can get through to the end of the programme. I am looking to see if they are honest, as they often embellish their CV, and I also want to make sure they are authentic, that they have passion for their work and that they will get on with Lord Sugar.

Q: How does your interviewing style at work compare to that on The Apprentice?

A: I am not as tough at work as I am on The Apprentice. I did have a few tweets saying “OMG! I am not going for an interview at MediaCom” and I thought “No, I am not that tough!” In an interview here (MediaCom) I want people to feel relaxed so that I can get

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to know them. On The Apprentice the candidates are never going to feel relaxed, as so much depends on the interview for them.

Q: What do you think will be the biggest challenge for the generation of women behind you?

A: I think that women still don’t look to pursue technology courses and careers. Technology is going to be so huge in the years to come and if women aren’t part of it then there is the potential that women in business could be going backwards rather than forwards.

The other greatest challenge for women is childcare. We are trying so hard to enable men to share childcare so that women can continue their careers. Generally, however, the burden of childcare lies more with women. I think it is really important to try and balance the responsibility of childcare so that women have equal opportunities in business.

Q: What do you think is the most significant barrier to female leadership?

A: Confidence. Women always look for the reason why they can’t do something, whereas men say yes and work the detail out later. In my first job I remember a guy telling me he was leaving to be a TV buyer when he had never bought a TV in his life. He said “I know, but I will sort it out: I will phone Nigel (our TV buyer at the time), he will tell me how to do it”. Well, he ended up being the Head of TV for that company. I on the other hand have been headhunted in the past and in response I have said “Don’t be ridiculous I can’t do that.” It has taken me a while, but I now realise not to go around telling people my weaknesses. Everyone has something that they are really brilliant at, and you need to focus on it.

I have a great story, about an amazing woman I know, she is the Chairwoman of BBC Children in Need and was the CEO of a top 100 company. When she was in her 30s her boss called her in along with a man she worked with, they were on the same level. He said

“I have a really great opportunity for one of you, it’s in Paris. Do you speak French?” At the same time as she said “No, I only speak GCSE French”, her male colleague said “Yep, I speak GCSE French”. Confidence is one of the biggest barriers.

Q: How important do you think networking is for a woman in business?

A: Hugely important, and not just for women. Luckily I learned the power of networking quite early on. I was a Press Buyer at a dinner organised by the Mail on Sunday and I was sat next to an older man. Half way through dinner I asked him what he did and he said he was the Managing Director of the Mail on Sunday! Anyway we swapped cards and the next morning I sent him a hand-written note saying it was really lovely to meet him and that we should stay in touch. Three weeks later I was in an important business pitch with my bosses and they were discussing how we needed the Mail on Sunday to do something for us. One man said he knew the Advertising Director and I said that I knew the Managing Director and wowed my bosses! If I have learned one thing, it is always to get someone’s card and always follow it up.

Q: How would you describe your time at St Helen’s?

A: I had an email recently from a girl in my year saying “Can you believe it’s 30 years since we left” and inviting me to our Old Girls’ Day reunion. All I was thinking was, 30 years? You must have the wrong person! I remember St Helen’s as having lovely people, I liked the people and I liked the girls there. I hear so much now about my friends’ children and there is a lot of nastiness going on in schools these days and this just wasn’t the case at St Helen’s in my year. I learned good manners, discipline and I enjoyed my time at school.

Q: What skills and personality traits do you think are most important to be successful in business?

A: I think having passion, being honest, being yourself, having a good work ethic and putting

your hand up for anything are the keys to success. When I first started in this industry it was very male dominated and all the men were smoking, swearing and threatening. It took me two seconds to think “Am I going to have to be like that to get on?” But I just thought “Actually, no, I am not going to be like that.” By being myself I have done incredibly well, better than my male counterparts, and have changed the face of the media buying industry.

Q: What tips would you give to others looking to pursue a career in business?

A: When you go into a company I would always ask how many women are on the Senior Management Team. If they say none or one out of fifteen then you realise that they don’t actually value women and I wouldn’t recommend a company like that. I think that talking to everyone is a really good thing. It doesn’t always work out as you would want it to, but I try to think “What is the worst thing that can happen?” Another tip is about your CV. When I look at CVs the number one thing I look for is work experience. I don’t care what it is, a waitress, dog walker or volunteering, but I just want to know that people have done some work. Finally, make sure there are no spelling mistakes on your CV. I get hundreds of CVs, and I promise you that one spelling mistake and it’s in the bin. Your CV is the most important thing you will ever write.

Claudine Collins, Class of 1986, Managing Director, MediaCom

Interviewed by Young Enterprise Managing Directors, Helen Cochrane

(Year 12), Jessica Graydon (Year 12) and Richa Dorai (Year 12)

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Alumnae Entrepreneurs

Anthea Hartley (née Castell)Class of 1966

Founder, B-Loony Ltd.

“You’ll never make a living out of printing balloons.” So said my family.

B-Loony, as the name suggests, started life in 1978 as a balloon printing business located in our double

garage with an offset flexographic printing machine and a compressor operated by a college student and me. At this time I had two small children, so life could be a bit of a juggling act. The business went from strength to strength and by 1981 we had outgrown the garage and had thrown off our ‘Cottage Industry’ status. We had a payroll of four staff and three machines producing one million printed balloons a year. Oh, and two more children!

By 1987 my husband, Geoff, took the plunge and left his career in the City to join B-Loony on a full-time basis and took over the administration, purchasing and financial affairs, while I focused on the sales and marketing. Fortunately we were well aware of our differing strengths and weaknesses and were able to work together quite amicably – so long as we didn’t stray into each other’s territory! After three more years the company had expanded to include a wide range of promotional items and we had set up a sister company in South Africa.

By 1992 my involvement began to diminish as I focused on a new project, and Geoff took the helm. My strengths are

in establishing businesses, not in administrating them. In 2001 we decided to sell the company and a management buyout took place. At this time our turnover was £3.5 million and we were printing 30 million promotional balloons a year for the likes of McDonalds, Burger King, Ford and Mothercare. Today, turnover is up to £8 million and I am happy that the company is flourishing in the hands of the original directors and staff, some of whom have been with B-Loony for 30 years.

I believe that the main qualities required to fall into the ‘entrepreneur’ category are imagination, resourcefulness and tenacity. One needs to be an opportunist and an optimist, to be passionate about the project and let it become a hobby, even an obsession, as well as a business. It is also imperative that one’s partner is enthusiastic and supportive during the early stages of the company’s development. For me the satisfaction of creating and building a successful business is by far the greater reward; the financial success was thanks to Geoff’s talent – not mine.

I can’t honestly say that, although I had a good all-round education at St Helen’s, it was a contributory factor towards my various careers. I was far from an academic success, and that is probably why I learned to live by my wits and imagination. The great advantage of not being a scholar in any particular subject is that when you leave school the world is your oyster! I suppose that my education must have had something to do with the direction which my life has taken – but most of it has been about being in the right place at the right time, in other words ‘luck’, and recognising and grabbing every possible opportunity as it presents itself.

www.b-loony.co.uk

B-Loony New Years Day Parade © 2016

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Prama BhardwajClass of 1990BA Economics and Government & MA Development Economics, University of Manchester

Founder and CEO, Mantis World

I am the Founder and CEO of Mantis World – an award winning ethical clothing supplier to the printwear trade. We are a business to business company that sells

‘blank’ garments ready for companies to print or embroider. I’m also a non-executive director for the Ethical Fashion Forum – a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to bringing sustainability to fashion.

Like so many people I came into this position after intending to do something completely different. I studied Development Economics for my Masters degree and wanted to change the world by working for a large development organisation. However after a six-month stint working for the UN in Geneva I came back to London deeply disillusioned by the bureaucracy and waste. My family has a textile factory in Tanzania and my father asked me to help him manage the London office selling their t-shirts. If we were successful, we would provide a livelihood to 3,000 people at the factory in Tanzania, allowing them to support their families. Very quickly I realised that this work was much more aligned to my goals, and I became a firm believer that business is an extremely powerful agent for change and development.

After a couple of years working for my father, I felt the market needed a clothing line that was higher quality and more fashionable. So I started Mantis World along with Shadi, another ex-St Helen’s girl. That was over 16 years ago and the company continues to grow, showing that ethical production at a commercial level is possible.

My inspiration comes from the people I work with, people I have come to know within the industry who firmly believe we can make fashion better. A shared commitment to the ‘triple bottom line’ (people, planet, profits) is a very powerful motivator.

I love being my own boss. The first few years were hard work but now I have a fantastic team, which means I can choose what I want to do most days. When I had my children we were still in the early years of business and it was very difficult. However, several years on (they are now aged eleven and nine) I have a lot more time with them and I consider myself very lucky.

I guess my time at school helped shape me to become the person I am. I was always very outspoken about various causes. Handing out ‘Chickens’ Lib’ leaflets at school was a particularly memorable campaign. I’m lucky that I can keep that passion for a cause in my work life too.

Confidence in yourself and your product is key to success. If you don’t believe, no one else will. Use your differences to your advantage – if the industry is dominated by men, being a woman makes you interesting and more likely to get that meeting. If your main competitors are large established businesses, make your fresh approach and flexibility your differentiator.

www.mantisworld.com

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Alumnae Entrepreneurs

Emma BrittenClass of 1991Business Management, University of Salford

Director and Founder, Mirrors by Ottilie

This summer my class of ‘91 celebrates 25 years since leaving school and also, therefore, 25 years in our careers.

My first job as an Operational Auditor at House of Fraser required me to qualify as an accountant, a detail I had somehow managed to miss during the interview. I had previously decided that a life of accountancy was definitely not for me, but this was all forgotten in an instant in favour of a car, a laptop and a mobile on my first day. I left House of Fraser six years later, having travelled the country as a Regional Finance Manager, to start what was to be a 13- year career at Deutsche Bank. Moving from a UK retail company to a huge international company where the offices are open 24 hours a day was exhilarating and terrifying. My Deutsche Bank years were everything you hear about investment banking, good and bad! All my roles had a financial theme: my first role was a more traditional financial role, but I moved out of Finance into roles in Change Management, Client Relationship, New Application Integration and Business Management covering a wide range of Chief Operating Officer functions. Looking from the outside in, school friends would probably tell you I would have ended up somewhere in the world of finance as I was in Mrs Nash’s top set for Maths throughout my school years.

2013 was a year of huge change. I turned 40, we bought a house in the Chiltern countryside and it gave me an excuse to quit my job and take time out with my children. It took some time for me to have the courage to be able to walk away from a well-paid job and I did feel a bit lost for a while, wondering if I had made a huge mistake. However, as I decorated our new house, business thoughts were flashing in my head and within a year MirrorsbyOttilie was born, selling mirrors and homewares online.

We have now been trading for two years and I am still finding my way in the world of running a small business. We even had a ten-page feature in a home magazine recently. The world of interiors has always been a secret passion of mine, and I feel more fulfilled now that I have the freedom to combine my financial expertise with my passion for interior design. I even get to see my children in the daylight!

www.MirrorsbyOttilie.com

© Good Homes Magazine12

Roxanne Sharland (née Sharif) Class of 2000BA Hons Communication Studies & Psychology, Nottingham Trent University

Regional Director – Europe, Partner Services, Agoda.com

Travel has always been a part of my life since I was tiny. We flew far, wide and often as a family. Boarding at St Helen’s with girls from so many backgrounds

continued to fuel my love of the ‘international’ and after university I lived in Shanghai for a year-and-a-half, and then Bangkok for around six years.

It was in Bangkok that I joined the company I currently work for – Agoda.com (PCLN Nasdaq listed) – which is an online travel site twinned with Booking.com which many of you may know. Famous in Asia, over the last few years we have expanded to other continents including Europe, where I am now the Regional Director. My team consists of almost 100 people across two office locations. We specialise in the account management of our accommodation partners (almost 30,000 at the moment). My role is to work closely with the teams to guide them in their business strategies and team activities. It’s an extremely people-centric role and my days consist of many meetings in the office or on calls with our Asian HQ. Our days are so diverse, which is what I love most. We brainstorm strategies, analyse data, watch competitors and research. At other times we drop everything and deal with major crises such as terror attacks, or if things are going well we do a lot of wining and dining with hotels!

Travel is a hard world to switch off from – the website and hotels never sleep and customers always need support. I am a real homebody and spend evenings cooking with my husband, strolling to a pub, watching a good TV series or lately (being heavily pregnant) treasuring sleep! I am looking forward to getting back to work after maternity leave. The brain-stretching and work pace are addictive and I love being surrounded by so many nationalities.

For those embarking on their careers, I recommend finding an industry that fascinates you. Be prepared to work your way up from the bottom. Spend time with people stronger than you, listen more than you talk, try what you think you can’t do, be explicit about your career goals, and always make people remember you (for the right reasons!). Also, smile as often as you can – it breaks down a million barriers in a second.

Farah Naz SiddiquiClass of 1995Biochemistry, Imperial College London

Founder and Director, EX1 Cosmetics

Biochemist Farah Naz is the brainchild behind EX1 Cosmetics, the first range of cosmetics designed exclusively for women with olive skin tones. Named as The UK’s Most Promising Female Entrepreneur, Farah used her background as a biochemist to create a brand that has been described in the Metro as ‘Changing the face of the Cosmetics Industry’.

The brand has a large celebrity following and has been seen on the likes of Adele, Rita Ora, Kylie Jenner, Rosie Huntingdon Whitely, Ellie Goulding, Reese Witherspoon, Emilia Clarke and a number of supermodels. EX1 was featured on NBC’s Today Show as being one of the world’s hottest new brands, as well as being acclaimed by Holly Willoughby on ITV’s This Morning. Described as the “Best Foundations for Olive Skin” by Cosmopolitan UK, EX1 regularly makes the ten foundation lists in publications such as Glamour and The Telegraph, and has been featured everywhere from E! to Elle.

The brand retails in the Urban Retreat in Harrods, Topshop Oxford Circus and is the number one selling makeup product on Lookfantastic.com, Europe’s largest online beauty destination.

www.ex1cosmetics.com

© agoda.com

© EX1 Cosmetics 13

©JA Europe

©JA Europe

©JA Europe

Sipping success‘Team Orenda!’ We jumped out of our seats wildly screaming. We were at the BFI, had just shaken hands with Jo Elvin, taken a selfie with Piers Linney, and hugged Steph McGovern. Was this really happening to us?

From our Young Entrepreneurs

We’d won Young Enterprise.

Let’s take it back to nine months earlier, when we all walked into our meeting room to discuss our company for the first time. In our first session, aside from getting to know the loveliest of advisors, Sarah Starr, we were hypothesising about how far we could get – how one team from St Helen’s had managed to get to Cambridge and how we would try to design a product as successful as theirs.

Over WhatsApp we discussed team names – think Episode 1 of The Apprentice. We really wanted a name that was original. It was then that someone found Orenda, meaning the force within each of us that inspires us to do something, and we knew this embodied what we wanted. After hours of brainstorming, scribbling wildly on whiteboards and enthusiastically blurting out ideas, the Orenda team had finally been rendered speechless. And then, it came. Whilst looking at a lone water bottle, our idea began to form. “How about a water bottle with a snack container screwed on to the bottom?” A few more hours of development and research later, the Sip ‘O’ Snack was born.

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“…Was this really happening to us?”

©JA Europe

©JA Europe

Sipping success

After drawing up the designs and jumping from supplier to supplier on our bottle treasure hunt, we finally placed our first order and the arrival of our original product meant things couldn’t get much more exciting. Promoting and selling the bottles in the run-up to Christmas became our new mission. But whilst we sold these cheap, yet colourful British bottles (making their retail debut at Calendar Sale) we were also in the process of picking our dream bottles from none other than our now friend and business partner, Lilian – from Shanghai, China. By this point we had broken even, and were preparing our company report and presentation for our first round at Merchant Taylors’ School.

“Remember guys, if we don’t get through, it’s great! That’s one less presentation for us to do” – it seemed like perfectly good logic, yet somehow we made it through the first round. We were privileged enough to make it to KPMG in Watford, then Hertfordshire University...then Cambridge University. We couldn’t believe it every time we made it through, especially not after being presented with ‘Best Report’ at Watford and ‘Best Innovation’ at Hertfordshire. When they announced at Cambridge that we’d won ‘Best Report’, we grounded ourselves in our seats. Then ‘Best Presentation’. And somehow we wangled the ‘Environmental Award’ – we’d actually made it through to the National Finals of Young Enterprise. The shock still hasn’t really worn off.

At the National Finals in London things really got serious. On the Wednesday evening we were told we had received some good news and bad news. Bad news: we would have to wake up at 4am the following morning. The mood in the room turned sombre. Good news: we had been picked as one of two teams to feature on BBC Breakfast. More shock. The following morning I was asked to explain our product – “great! Now just say that to 2.5 million viewers.” I’ve never felt so lucky, or excited, or nervous. An indescribable experience.

Two trophies later, (‘Company of the Year Award’ and the ‘Disney Creativity Award’, which was a golden Mickey Mouse), it dawned on us that we were actually going to Berlin to fly the flag for the UK. On the 28th of July, Jaznique Arora, Leah Glater, Maddie Hicks, Alice Lassman and Maya Raichoora represented Orenda in the JA Europe finals, arriving in Berlin to a warm welcome. We got to meet students from some of the 37 teams in the tough competition and were delighted to walk away with the ‘Citi Foundation Award for Remarkable Customer Service’, while Alice and Maya won ‘JA Alumni Leadership Awards’.

So where next? And what to do with the 200 Sip ‘O’ Snacks still in the attic...

Alice Lassman (Year 13), Managing Director, Orenda. Maya Raichoora (Year 13),

Deputy Managing Director, Orenda

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We have been working closely with Merchant Taylors’ to launch business affinity networks for our Alumnae and parents working in the City, and have the next City Networking Reception coming up in September this year, to be hosted at Deloitte. Additionally in March we expanded our networks beyond the City and jointly hosted an Arts and Creative Industries reception at St Martin-in-the-Fields. This was an opportunity for those in the arts and creative industries who are connected with the schools to meet each other, network and forge new contacts. The venue was perfect for the occasion and it was great to see what extraordinary careers people have enjoyed after leaving Northwood, as well as hearing their reminiscences of their days at St Helen’s and Merchant Taylors’.

Building upon the foundation of these networks, in conjunction with the Careers Department, we have started to host careers-related events for our students. In March we hosted a successful Futures Evening focusing on careers in healthcare and science for students Years 10 to 13 who are interested in pursuing a career in this sector. We also invited back our Alumnae who are currently studying at Oxford or Cambridge for what was

a lively luncheon with our Year 12 girls who are interested in applying to Oxford or Cambridge. By the time this goes to print in June we will have held our first Futures Breakfast to enable our Year 12 students to network with members of our Alumnae and parent community from a variety of professional backgrounds.

Looking ahead, we aim to strengthen the connections the Development Office has with the Careers Department through the Futures Programme, so that we can continue to bring our community of Alumnae, parents and friends of St Helen’s closer to our current students. This is essential as we know that these connections will enable our students to learn more about life at university and what it is like to study particular courses, and to explore the careers available to them from those in our community working in these professions on a daily basis. So please do let us know what you are up to and keep us informed of your careers and achievements.

March was a busy month, as not only did our most recent leavers from the Class of 2015 hold their first Easter reunion at The Gate in Northwood, where over 40 of the year returned to catch up on where life has taken them since leaving St Helen’s, but we also held our first Alumnae vs Girls Netball Match. Despite the success of our Alumnae lacrosse team in September’s match last year, this time it was the School team who took home the trophy, which wasn’t surprising considering they are this year’s Middlesex Champions.

In May, on a particularly sunny Old Girls’ Day, we enjoyed the return of our Alumnae from the Classes of 2011, 2001, 1996, 1991, 1986, 1976 and 1966, and over the course of the summer months we look forward to catching up with even more of our Alumnae during our annual BBQ for our most recent leavers and at our annual tea for our over 65-year-old ‘Old Girls’. As we connect with more Alumnae we are also beginning to see an international dimension to our St Helen’s community and are in the process of planning international meet-ups overseas to support our Alumnae living, studying and working abroad. If successful, we hope that these meet-ups will become regular fixtures in our Alumnae events calendar and that we will see our international Alumnae increasingly connected to each other and to us here in Northwood.

As we approach the end of yet another school year and prepare to welcome the leaving Class of 2016 to our Alumnae community, I would also like to take a moment to thank all those who have supported the School in any way. Whether you have attended an event, offered careers advice, contributed to our publication or donated to the School’s Development Fund, your support is greatly appreciated. I look forward to meeting and working with you in the months ahead and hope that you will continue to stay in touch and encourage others to do the same.

Zoe Baines, Class of 2000Zoe Baines Mira Meisuria

From the Development Director

Thank you to Tahmina Ghaffar (Class of 2005), Taslim Tharani (Class of 2001) and Ella Doke (Class of 2014) for coming back to St Helen’s to speak to our Sixth Form as part of the Sixth Form Lecture Programme. Tahmina spoke about working in the arts and her role at Bonhams heading up the Modern & Contemporary South Asian art department, Taslim provided a very inspiring and self-reflective talk on psychology and personal resilience, while Ella shared her gap year experiences with the girls.

Guest speakers

Tahmina Ghaffar, delivering a Sixth Form lecture

Over the last eighteen months our Development Office has been working to enhance our school’s engagement and connections with our wider community of Alumnae, parents and former parents.

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Oxbridge Luncheon,

Alumnae and Year 12

Alumnae and U18 Netball teams

Arts and Creative Industries reception

Arts and Creative Industries reception

Taslim Tharani with the

Sixth Form

Old Girls’ Day 2016. Class of 1991

Old Girls’ Day 2016. Class of 1966

Old Girls’ Day 2016. Class of 2006

Class of 2015, Easter Reunion

Ella Doke, delivering a Sixth Form lecture

Futures Evening

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Building

It has been a year of dramatic change across the School site and the two major building projects are arguably the most visible aspects of the School’s investment in its Vision. The projects are both nearing completion and we look forward to moving into the new Junior School and the revitalised School House this autumn.

The Junior School will, for the first time, enable us to bring the previously disparate elements of the School under one roof, greatly enhancing the learning experience for the girls, and enabling them to benefit from new state-of-the-art facilities including the exciting and dynamic Discovery Centre.

The School House redevelopment will have an equally positive effect for the Main School; new and renovated spaces for teaching and learning will be available in Senior School and a smart new entrance will welcome pupils and visitors alike. The bright and airy cloister corridor will greatly improve the circulation and will make getting to lunch far more pleasant than before!

Our work does not end with these projects, however, and we know that we must continue to invest in the School’s facilities and infrastructure if we are to create the enhanced learning environment to which we aspire. St Helen’s is a wonderful environment in which to learn, play, teach and work, and our Vision is always to retain the best of what we have, including the green and open nature of the site, and to enhance our facilities where it is appropriate and affordable. St Helen’s is a school which has always evolved over the years, and there continue to be exciting times ahead.

Mark Mackenzie-Crooks, Business Director

Construction of the new Junior School

The new Junior School entrance

Construction of the new School entrance

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Phab Week was a fantastic success once again and both Phab teams and guests shared an emotional and life-changing week. The events this year have been expanded and included a flying experience for the first time. The music-making day led by Electric Umbrella was the highlight of the week and culminated in a concert like no other, and many Old Phabbers returned to celebrate with us and rekindle that Phab magic.

Seven girls have received offers from Oxford and Cambridge and one has secured a place at Yale. We are delighted for the individual girls and excited that the subjects that they are going to read cover a wide range and reflect their passions (Mathematics, Economics and Geography at Cambridge; History, English, PPE and Classical Archaeology & Ancient History at Oxford).

This year on Founder’s Day we remembered our founder, May Rowland Brown, and marked the establishment of the School in 1899. The highlight of the day was Founder’s Day Assembly, which began with a whole-school rendition of ‘All things Bright and Beautiful’ in keeping with this year’s charity theme, ‘The Environment’. Later in the day, we gathered at Emmanuel Church, Northwood, for the Founder’s Day Concert, a joyous celebration of outstanding musicianship and of the tremendous contribution of two much-loved members of staff who are leaving at the end of the summer term: Mrs Yates is retiring, and Mr Crowley is seeking work a little closer to home. The affection which both have inspired in their pupils was shown by the number of Alumnae who returned to participate in the Concert and to pay their own very special musical tribute.

Phab-tastic 2016!

Oxbridge offers

U19 Netball team crowned Middlesex Champions

Happy Birthday St Helen’s, 117 Years Old!

School news

U19s Netball team

Phab team 2016

Girls enjoying Founder’s

Day cookies

Founder’s Day Concert 19

St Helen’s School Development Office Eastbury Road Northwood Middlesex HA6 3AS

+44 (0)1923 843327 development@sthelens.london

www.sthelens.london