Class of 2022
Entrepreneurship & Innovation (MA)
JOB:
BBC Radio Producer
WHY HAVE YOU CHOSEN THIS PHOTO AS YOUR YSJ SNAPSHOT?
Image 1 – The most recent picture of me. Taken at the weekend when I was in Krakow, Poland. Since graduating and finding a job that I like I have found myself with the ability to spend more time travelling to new places and trying new experiences that I enjoy.
Image 2 – Taken at Radio 1’s Big Weekend this year. An opportunity that I got through BBC Introducing.
Image 3 – Taken when I was working at Reading & Leeds 2022. On the left is my friend Megan that recommended York St John and Jericho Keys who presents BBC Introducing in York & North Yorkshire.
Image 4 – A picture of me hosting on the BBC Introducing stage at Latitude Festival 2022
WHAT ARE YOUR FONDEST MEMORIES OF YORK ST JOHN UNIVERSITY?
I attended York St John at a strange time as it was lockdown but I probably wouldn’t have ended up going on to further education if it wasn’t for lockdown too. I like to be busy so I was looking for something to fill my time and decided after a couple of years of struggling to find regular work within the music industry that I should try adding a new dimension to my skillset in the hope of being more employable. That’s when I came across the Entrepreneurship and Innovation (MA) course. I loved throwing myself into the creative business projects and despite the barrier of not being able to visit the campus, one tutor in particular, Russ Hepworth did a fantastic job of supporting us from home and helping me to develop my ideas. Since I left University, I have since approached him with new ideas which he has helped me to bring to life.
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE YORK ST JOHN UNIVERSITY OR FOUNDER COLLEGES?
I chose Entrepreneurship and Innovation because I wanted to add a new dimension to my skillset. I already had a degree in Music Production which represented my passion for music on my CV but I also wanted potential employers to understand that I’m creative in my approach to everything. I enjoy using creativity to come up with new ideas and solutions that manifest in the world in positive ways. Not only did achieving this degree help me show that side of my character but also gave me new skills and approaches that weren’t even on my radar when I signed up for the degree.
My best friend had always talked about the amazing friends and memories that she made while at York St John. I used to come over to York to see her a lot and I ended up being friends with a lot of people from York St John and they were all great people. Eventually I moved to York and when it came to studying my masters, there was no doubt in my mind that I wanted to give York St John a go myself.
WHAT HABE YOU BEEN DOING SINCE COMPLETING YOUR STUDIES?
- Worked on the BBC Introducing stage at Glastonbury, Reading & Leeds & Latitude
- Presented my own BBC Introducing show on BBC Radio Sheffield
- I’ve gone back to York St John to team up with students to create the Balcony Sessions. The idea was that music production students could record our live sessions for Introducing in York & North Yorkshire and they can have the opportunity and experience of working with the BBC. Something that will look great on their CV!
- I’ve organised a bunch of BBC Introducing events at York St John
- Started my own podcast ‘Creative Spaces’
- Helped artists to get played on BBC Radio 1
- Been to record live sessions with some of our artists from York & North Yorkshire at Maida Vale
- Interviewed artists for Radio 1 including LF System when they were number 1 in the chart
Plans for the future:
I’m enjoying everything that I do so I’m just giving my all and seeing where life takes me. I’m currently working on my second Flat No. 2 record, writing a novel and have lots of exciting plans with BBC Introducing on the horizon.
Before I started at York St John University, I was bursting with creative ideas but I always struggled to channel my ideas and finish them. My time at York St John taught me structure, how to finish my ideas and refine them. How to organise myself to make room for creativity too. It gave me the skills to manifest my ideas into something real.
WHAT ONE PIECE OF ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO A CURRENT STUDENT, OR ONE ABOUT TO GRADUATE?
Something that’s hard to understand until you’ve started ticking off your dreams… ALWAYS enjoy the process. Simply having a dream brings so much pleasure so enjoy the journey.