Insights from "Getting Ahead: Women in Business" Online Panel
The University of Liverpool Management School Alumni Team recently hosted an inspiring online panel as part of its Getting Ahead series, bringing together alumni to share their experiences and insights with recent graduates.
The event featured three accomplished women: Sandy Gill, Head of Transformation at Buckinghamshire New University, Jasmin Brickman, Head of Business Development at C4J Aviation, and Corinne Orr, Senior Success Manager at Salesforce.
These panellists, all University of Liverpool Management School alumni, discussed their career journeys, challenges and strategies for success in the business world.
Hosted by Samantha Riella, Alumni Engagement Officer, each speaker shared how they navigated their career paths, often stumbling into roles that aligned with their passions.
Key takeaways from the panellists include:
Sandy emphasised the importance of knowing your strengths and leveraging them: "Transformation was a perfect fit for me - it’s about leading projects and bringing people together."
Jasmin recounts her career path, including a master's degree prompted by uncertainty, which ultimately led to clarity: "I didn’t know exactly where I wanted to be, but saying yes to opportunities helped me find my way."
Corinne highlighted the value of unexpected opportunities, recalling how a university placement at Unilever introduced her to the tech industry: "If you’d told me I’d end up in tech, I’d have laughed. But saying yes to opportunities opened doors I hadn’t imagined."
Challenges as Women in Business
All three panellists candidly discussed the barriers they faced as women, particularly in male-dominated industries.
Sandy, as a young leader, tackled assumptions about her capabilities: "I often faced doubts, but building a personal brand and finding champions to advocate for me made a difference."
Jasmin shared similar struggles in aviation, where she faced scepticism early on. Her strategy was to showcase her expertise and establish herself as an authority in her field: "I built my credibility through hard work and shared my successes online, turning LinkedIn into a platform for my professional brand."
Corinne addressed the importance of overcoming imposter syndrome: "Your perspective as a young professional is valuable so focus on how your differences are strengths, not weaknesses."
Key advice for graduates
The panellists stressed the importance of confidence, adaptability and networking.
Jasmin encouraged attendees to step out of their comfort zones: "Confidence is a skill you build over time. Sometimes, you have to present your best self even when you don’t feel it."
Sandy added the necessity of resilience and storytelling: "Learn to pitch yourself and adapt your story to your audience - it’s a skill you’ll use at every stage of your career."
Corinne recommended curiosity and proactiveness: "Ask questions and say yes to challenges. People are willing to help if you show genuine interest and enthusiasm."
Thank you to the alumni panellists for sharing their insights and advice and to the attendees of the session.
You can watch the online panel on demand here.
If you would like to contribute to these Getting Ahead events either by suggesting topics and themes or speaking as a panellist, please email Samantha Riella, Alumni Engagement Officer.