Students from across the Trust were brought together for a powerful and uplifting day of inspiration, empowerment and connection at the recent Power of Women event.
From the outset, the event set an encouraging tone as presenters Claire Preston and Sophie McKenna acknowledged the common fears students face about their next steps. Their message was clear: “You are in control… regardless of gender and postcode.”
One of the key takeaways from their introduction was the concept of the three essential “bones” for success. The wishbone represents aspirations and goals, the jawbone signifies communication and networking, and the backbone embodies resilience and persistence, crucial traits when facing rejection and challenges.
The event then moved into a dynamic networking session designed to ease students into making industry connections. A bingo-style game encouraged attendees to interact with professionals from various fields. This innovative approach made networking approachable and enjoyable, reinforcing the idea that opportunities often arise through meaningful connections.
A highlight of the day was the insightful panel discussion featuring Hollie Ball, Beth Wilson, Asma Shaffi, and Kizzy Riley. Each speaker shared their unique career journeys, emphasising that uncertainty about career paths is normal. Many of them had not envisioned their current roles while in college, but they seized opportunities as they arose. Claire Preston reinforced this notion by stating, “We place the biggest limitations on ourselves.”
The panellists shared valuable advice: follow your heart, remain ambitious and confident, take chances, and keep saying yes to new experiences. They also addressed the challenges women face in the workplace, particularly unconscious bias, and stressed the importance of finding supportive employers and mentors. “Don’t be a victim—break through the barriers,” was a resonating message.
Following the panel, Maxine Freer took the stage to discuss personal branding. She emphasised that branding is not just about image but about identity—who you are and how you present yourself can impact career prospects, networking, and confidence.
Penny Williams, QE first year student studying Media Studies, Politics and French: “Overall, the day was very informative and eye-opening. There were lots of interesting, kind and knowledgeable people who we have made good links with. I think that now more than ever, in college, it is important to start taking advantage of events like these to help our futures with the world of work; I strongly urge everyone to reach out when opportunities like these are presented to you. There was lots of advice that everyone could benefit from, especially related to taking opportunities, being ambitious and believing in yourself.”
Jodie Freeman, Course Leader of Media Studies at QE also added: “This is the second year that we have worked with Power of Women to deliver networking events and other opportunities for students, and this partnership is going from strength to strength. The self-esteem the networking training gives to students is invaluable. At the beginning of the day, students were asked to give words or phrases to describe how they felt about their future careers. Words like “worried”, “scared” and “lost” featured heavily, but when the same question was posed at the end of the day, words like “motivated”, “excited” and “hopeful” were coming through.
This speaks to the power of making connections with real role models and realising the wealth of opportunities available in fields that students might never have even considered before. The students grabbed every opportunity offered throughout the day with both hands and conducted themselves with respect, professionalism and confidence. The fact that, by the end of the day, twelve of our students stood up to voluntarily deliver a TED talk about an issue they feel strongly about blew me away, and it made me feel quite emotional to see how passionate they are about subjects that really matter to their generation. We look forward to welcoming Power of Women back next year to inspire the next generation of QE students.”
The Power of Women event left students feeling inspired, equipped with practical tools for success, and reassured that their futures are in their hands. The event successfully fostered empowerment, confidence, and a sense of community among students preparing for their next steps beyond school/college.
