Alumni news
Inspiring careers stories from across the globe
By: Ruby Moore
Last updated: Thursday, 20 January 2022
Photo of Make it Happen February 2020, which took place in-person before the first lockdown
Following the success of our first Virtual Make it Happen series of events in 2021, we’re pleased to announce it will be returning in March 2022, once again virtually.
The switch to a virtual platform last year enabled us to involve speakers based overseas for the first time as well as the UK, sharing their experience with over 450 current students and recent graduates.
Make it Happen will once again feature four flagship events:
- Careers in Development, Charity and Not-For-Profit
- Careers in Business, Finance and Marketing
- Careers in Government and Public Services and
- Careers in Media, Arts and Communications
According to 100% of students who fed back after last year’s series, the events were helpful in supporting their career readiness. According to one student, part of this success came from “the speakers sharing their most authentic experience and struggles so openly and honestly, which was very inspiring. They also gave a lot of very sound tips and resources, which were very kind and helpful.”
Another student also explained that “the online talks provided an opportunity to speak with people currently in roles abroad [they] would have not otherwise had the opportunity to heard talk”.
We had speakers from four continents who had graduated between 1995 and 2020, working in a variety of roles from fundraisers to data engineers, working at organisations from the BBC to Rolls Royce to entrepreneurial alumni who had started their own organisations.
Each speaker took a different path to their current career and they all shared their top tips for beginning your career journey and entering into their sector. Student Connectors produced career profiles of some of our speakers, including:
- Katie Lloyd – Development Director of BBC News & Current Affairs
- Maria Fernanda Sierra Perea – a development specialist focuses on Latin America
- April Frimpong - a Data Engineer at the Bank of England
- Rhodri Good - Project Manager at Rolls-Royce Motor Cars
- Fiona Stone – Head of Youth Strategy and National Citizen Service at the Office for Civil Society
- Haddy Darboe – Corporate Fundraiser at Street League
If you’re interested in taking part in future career events on campus and online or in mentoring students/other alumni, please sign up to Sussex Connect and set your 'willing to help' preferences accordingly.