Bianca successfully completed our Pathways to Law programme in 2012, and has since gone on to have a successful career in the tech sector while also being featured as a TEDx speaker to tell her story, which you can read about below:
Please tell us your job title/organisation or what studies / activities you’re currently engaged in?
“I am currently a Public Sector and Mixed Reality Specialist at Microsoft and also a TEDx speaker (talk due to be released in January) on empowering the next generation of young leaders from underprivileged backgrounds. I have previously graduated from Warwick (and Hong Kong) university with a qualifying joint honours Law degree.”
Tell us a little bit about your background…
“I was born prematurely at 6 months instead of 9 and weighed 850g (fun fact). My single mother and I emigrated to the UK when I was 11. I didn’t speak any English so to say I was thrown in the deep end would be an understatement. This is why doing public speaking engagements encouraging children and young adults from underprivileged backgrounds to seek support from organisations like The Sutton Trust and mentors is very important to me. For instance, 2 weekends ago I returned to Warwick university to be a speaker at this year’s cohort launch for Pathways to Banking.”
How did you hear about the programme?
“I was told about the Pathways to Law programme by a career advisory at my secondary school a day before the deadline and was mistakenly told it was going to be a ‘weekend summer school’. At that stage in my life, I didn’t feel supported by my secondary school in achieving my aspirations, so was actively seeking external guidance. I was also interested in studying Law but it’s a difficult subject to grasp independently at that age and understand the subtleties between Law as an academic discipline vs career path. When applying, I felt that the Sutton Trust would help me better understand if that was the right academic path for me.”
Did you know what you wanted to do for a career before university?
“I had a vague idea I wanted to be a corporate solicitor (which was solidified during my internship at Clifford Chance as part of the Pathways to Law programme), however as I progressed through my degree at Warwick, I realised it was not the right career path for me and pivoted towards the tech industry instead.”
Can you tell us what you remember about your programme? What stands out?
“I remember thanking the coordinator at UCL for believing in me before she had met me and giving me a chance to make the most of the Pathways to Law opportunity. While I may not have ended up a lawyer, for a number of reason I won’t delve into here, the programme provided me with an invaluable foundation I used in my first year of law school, interview skills and a new found level of confidence in myself and my abilities.
My advice to anyone attending a Sutton Trust programme is to go in with an open mind, put in as much effort as possible (as the more you put in the more you’ll get out) and look around the room to realise that they’re surrounded by either lifelong friends they can make or connections in various industries that will support them as they go through the working world together.“
Any other reflections or memories you’d like to share?
“The Sutton Trust was a big part of my personal and academic development and for that I will always be grateful.”
You can hear more about Bianca’s story here.
If, like Bianca, you’d like to share your story with us – just get in touch with the alumni team via [email protected].