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| Fiona Sharples - left 1997 | |
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What was happening in your life at the time you left Cedars? I was playing hockey, working at the SuperBowl in Milton Keynes, and spending far too much time with a (now ex) boyfriend to the detriment of time spent with friends! I had just finished my A level (Maths, History, French), which were okay - but to be honest I was disappointed with my grades. During your time at Cedars, did you have any idea what you wanted to do next? My plan was to go to University and to do a course that would leave my options open. I thought that by the time I finished University, I would know what it was I wanted to do. What actually happened next? I chose to study Political Science and Philosophy at Birmingham University, and off I went. By the time I finished my degree (2:1), I still wasn't entirely sure what I wanted to do. I made a half hearted attempt to find a job (one application form!) and booked myself in for a Masters Degree in Social and Political Theory at Edinburgh University. I then returned to my summer camp in Maine, USA, where I had led the waterskiing / wakeboarding team for a couple of summers, and enjoyed the rest of the summer sitting on a speed boat. What was your first real job? What did that lead to? Half way through my Masters, I decided I could no longer put off making a decision about what to do next - it was time to get a job and address the graduate debt! Again, I was specific in my job applications (2 this time), and was very pleased to be offered a place with Accenture - an IT and Management consultancy firm. I then finished my Masters, took a year off to travel (lots of voluntary conservation work in Australia and New Zealand), and then joined Accenture. What has Accenture led to? I'm still with Accenture, because it's still the right place for me. I suppose it's led to me becoming a public-sector Performance Management and Measurement expert! (Quite a scary thought). Accenture is a great employer to have on your CV, and I'm confident that when I decide to pursue something else, I have had the best possible start to my career. What are you doing now? I live with my boyfriend in our gorgeous flat in south west London. I still play hockey (I cannot do justice to just how important hockey has been for me in terms of opening doors - I pretty much ended up at Accenture because of hockey and the contacts it gave me!) and I still drink wine and fall down stairs. Nice to know that some things always remain constant! I haven't been able to keep up my wakeboarding as much as I would have liked, but my friends and I are regulars in North Devon with our surfboards. Fingers crossed for the house in south west France in years to come…. What's next for you? Do you have any plans for the future? My older sister (Helen Thomas, another ex-Cedarian) and her husband have just moved to Australia for a couple of years, so my boyfriend and I will head out to visit them. Not sure how long we'll stay - I'm open to persuasion! For now though, I love living in London. Career-wise, I've also considered the Civil Service as quite an attractive prospect. I'm currently investigating secondment opportunities via Accenture. What is the best piece of advice you were ever given? Work-wise: I did some work with Greater Manchester Police, and one of their inspectors said, "Accept nothing. Believe no-one. Check everything. (ABC)". It's not exactly a great team-work ethos, but at least it means you'll do a thorough job!! Life-wise: "What's for you won't go by you" (i.e. if something's meant to happen, it will). By the same rationale though, I don't believe in "luck". All the lucky breaks I've had, I've made happen (however indirectly). What advice would you give to a Cedars student getting ready for the future? You make your own "luck" - which means you have to get out there and make it happen for yourself. Back to home |
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