For Alumni, By Alumni

Life lessons from Leonardo da Vinci – For Alumni, By Alumni

Posted on 14 July 2021 by Alumni team

Rose Sgueglia (BA 2008, PGDip 2009) is a writer, journalist and marketing consultant based in Cardiff. She founded Miss Squiggles, a digital magazine and content agency and her work has been published in GQ, La Repubblica, Yahoo and WI Life. Here she describes the unexpected life lessons she learned from a man who lived over 500 years ago.

Why being a School Governor is so rewarding – For Alumni, By Alumni

Posted on 23 June 2021 by Alumni team

When Richard Ayling (BA 1968) retired from the business world, he still wanted to put his skills and experience to good use and discover a new way to contribute to society. Here, he describes the challenging and highly rewarding path he found himself on after applying to be a School Governor.

Why I joined a start-up (and why you should too) – For Alumni, By Alumni

Posted on 13 May 2021 by Alumni team

Alex Moir (BA 2018) is a marketing executive who, after graduating and working in bars in London to make ends meet, landed his dream job by taking a chance on a start-up company. Here he explains why he thinks start-ups can be a great way to get your career going.

Restoring Kenyan Coastal Forests – For Alumni, By Alumni

Posted on 16 April 2021 by Alumni team

A group of Cardiff alumni have started their own charity called the Little Environmental Action Foundation. Freddie Harvey Williams (BSc 2014) writes about his journey towards conservation and working with his friends from Cardiff.

Networking to build a successful business – For Alumni, By Alumni

Posted on 24 March 2021 by Alumni team

Cheryl Luzet (BA 1999), is founder and CEO of digital marketing agency Wagada, whose team help companies across the globe grow and generate leads. She’s been named one of the UK’s 100 most inspirational female entrepreneurs by Small Business Britain. Here, Cheryl shares her top tips for networking for when in-person events return.

How my parent’s work ethic inspired me to succeed – For Alumni, By Alumni

Posted on 18 February 2021 by Kate Morgan (BA 2017)

Jackie Yip (BA 2018) has traveled the globe and emersed herself in every opportunity that has come her way. Using the work ethic her parents instilled in her and the support offered at Cardiff University, Jackie filled a few short years with a lifetime’s worth of experiences.

Becoming Finnish and living in the EU during Brexit – For Alumni, By Alumni

Posted on 25 January 2021 by Alumni team

Chloe Wells (BA 2007) worked for Cardiff Council after graduation before emigrating to Finland at the end of 2010 where she gained her Master of Social Science and her PhD. Here, Chloe talks about her memories at Cardiff University, becoming a British-Finnish citizen, and living in the EU during Brexit.

Unusual career paths and creative outlets – For Alumni, By Alumni

Posted on 17 November 2020 by Alumni team

James Orpwood (BSc 2002, PhD 2006) has gone from fisheries scientist to mountaineer, conquering tremendous heights and tackling a new career path. He’s also about to publish his first book, written during many lockdown hours as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. James describes his personal career journey and how he made the most out of his spare time…

The journey starts here – For Alumni, By Alumni

Posted on 12 October 2020 by Alumni team

Nadine Lock (BA 2001) has worked in Human Resources for over ten years in the Third Sector and Private Sector. She reflects on the journey facing the Class of 2020, and shares the things she wished she’d known as a new graduate.

Avoiding burnout by finding your ‘thing’ – For Alumni, by Alumni

Posted on 23 September 2020 by Alumni team

Gemma Clatworthy (BA 2007) discovered a passion for storytelling during her Ancient History studies at Cardiff University, but it wasn’t until a global pandemic and a country-wide lockdown that she learned about the stress-relieving power of focusing on something you love. Here, she shares her struggles with balancing a career, childcare and the unrealistic desire to be perfect, and how she narrowly avoided burnout by channelling her feelings into a creative pastime.

Mercy Ships, the NHS, and healthcare systems across the globe – For Alumni, By Alumni

Posted on 16 July 2020 by Alumni team

Leo Cheng (LLM 2006) is an oral, maxillofacial, head and neck surgeon who has spent most of his life travelling the globe and helping those from the poorest areas by performing free surgery and providing much needed medical care. He has now turned his attention and efforts to COVID-19 and reflects on his experience so far with the NHS and his concerns for those without a national health system.

Keeping people connected through art – For Alumni, By Alumni

Posted on 22 June 2020 by Alumni team

Artist and architect, Katherine Jones (BSc 2011, MArch 2013, PGDip 2015), explains how the power of nostalgia and connectivity can be encapsulated in both buildings and the art depicting them.

A Statue for Lady Rhondda – For Alumni, By Alumni

Posted on 13 May 2020 by Alumni team

Julie Nicholas (MSc 2005) explains why she is fundraising for a new statue of former Cardiff University President, Lady Rhondda, in her home city of Newport.

Working from home works – For Alumni, By Alumni

Posted on 21 April 2020 by Alumni team

In the first of our blogs For Alumni, By Alumni, Graham Findlay (PgDip 1991) considers how the COVID-19 pandemic might have brought flexible working a step closer for disabled people. Graham has worked as a disability rights campaigner for many years.