Class of 2011
BA (Hons) Film and Television Production
Country: United Kingdom
Job:
Founder of Another Path + The Prominence Collective | Career Change Coach & Personal Rebranding Strategist | Visibility, Publicity & Media Consultant | Talent Manager & Publicist to Matthew Haywood
Company:
Another Path + The Prominence Collective
IF YOU STUDIED YOUR UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMME AT YORK ST JOHN UNIVERSITY OR FOUNDER COLLEGES, DID YOU GO ON TO POSTGRADAUTE STUDY?
No.
WHY HAVE YOU CHOSEN THIS PHOTO AS YOUR YSJ SNAPSHOT?
I chose this photo because it captures a moment with my best friend, Janette, at our final Summer Ball in third year. Although it marked the end of our time at York St John, for me it was really the beginning of a friendship that has only grown stronger since. Janette was the first person I spoke to when I arrived at The Grange halls of residence on my very first day, as my parents drove me in. She quickly became one of the most important people in my life. Since leaving YSJ, our lives and careers have remained closely connected through work, holidays, living together and shared milestones. I’m now also proud to be part of her daughter Sasha’s life. That friendship, and many others I still hold onto today, started at York St John.
WHY WOULD YOU RECOMMEND YSJ TO SOMEONE?
I would recommend York St John because it offers something quite rare, a genuine sense of community alongside real opportunity. It’s small enough that you feel known, supported and part of something, but large enough to give you space to grow, be creative and build a future. For me, it was the happiest period of my life. I built friendships that have lasted well beyond university, including the one captured in my snapshot, and developed the confidence to step into my career. What I miss most is that feeling of closeness and possibility, being surrounded by people all figuring things out together. It set me up for everything that followed.
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE YORK ST JOHN UNIVERSITY OR FOUNDER COLLEGES?
I chose York St John because I felt an immediate connection to both the university and the city. Growing up in Sheffield, I’d always spent time across Yorkshire and found myself drawn to places like York and Leeds, so studying there felt like a natural next step. At the time, I had already started working in television at 16, and there was a genuine question about whether I should go straight into the industry. But I wasn’t ready to skip that stage of life. I wanted to be in an environment where I could grow, meet people, and develop alongside others figuring things out too. York St John offered that balance of opportunity, community and creativity.
WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN DOING SINCE COMPLETING YOUR STUDIES?
Since graduating from York St John, my career has evolved across several industries, but with a consistent thread running through it, storytelling, people and positioning.
I began in television, building a career as a producer across broadcasters including the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and MTV, developing content, working with contributors and understanding how to shape stories for different audiences. Over time, I found myself increasingly drawn to the strategic side of work, which led me into recruitment and talent management, both in-house and then running my own consultancy supporting creative and media businesses.
From there, my career moved into communications and PR, with roles at organisations including Natural England and Prostate Cancer UK, before becoming Head of Communications and Engagement at the modern slavery charity Causeway. In that role, I led national campaigns, partnerships and media strategy, significantly increasing visibility and impact.
Today, I am the founder of The Prominence Collective, a PR and communications consultancy working with founders, leaders, businesses and charities to build visibility, authority and long-term reputation. Alongside this, I founded Another Path, a career change and personal rebranding consultancy supporting people navigating professional reinvention.
Looking back, my time at York St John gave me the foundations for all of this. It built my confidence, strengthened my storytelling ability and, importantly, taught me how to collaborate, communicate and adapt, skills that have been central at every stage of my career.
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE YOUR SPECIFIC COURSE?
I chose Film and Television Production because storytelling had always been a huge part of my life. Growing up, I was completely immersed in television and writing, and I knew early on that I wanted to build a career in that world. By the time I applied, I had already gained hands-on experience working in TV, so I wasn’t coming in completely fresh. What I wanted was to deepen that understanding, learn the craft properly, and explore the creative and technical sides in a more structured way. The course gave me the space to develop my skills while continuing to build real-world experience alongside it.
WHAT WERE THE BEST FEATURES OF YOUR COURSE?
One of the best features of the course was how practical and industry-connected it was. It wasn’t just theoretical, we were actively creating, producing and collaborating, which made a huge difference in building real confidence and experience. What I didn’t fully appreciate at the time was how valuable the network would become, cince graduating, I’ve gone on to work with, be hired by, and hire people who studied on the same course. That sense of shared experience has carried through into my career. It also allowed us to fully immerse ourselves in the creative discipline of film and television production, giving us the freedom to experiment, develop ideas and understand how to bring stories to life.
HOW DID STUDYING AT YSJ HELP IN YOUR CAREER SEARCH/SUCCESS/CURRENT ROLE?
Studying at York St John played a significant role in shaping both my confidence and my career direction. The course gave me a strong grounding in storytelling, audience understanding and creative production, all of which have remained central to my work across television, communications and PR.
Beyond the technical skills, YSJ helped me develop the confidence to put myself forward, collaborate with others and take creative risks. That environment made it easier to explore ideas, build relationships and start thinking about how to position myself professionally.
The network has also been more valuable than I could have predicted. Over the years, I’ve worked with, been hired by, and hired fellow YSJ graduates, which reflects the lasting impact of that shared experience.
Ultimately, it wasn’t just about the degree itself, it was about the confidence, perspective and connections that have supported every stage of my career since.
WHAT ONE PIECE OF ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO A CURRENT STUDENT, OR ONE ABOUT TO GRADUATE?
Don’t feel pressure to have everything figured out straight away. Careers rarely follow a straight line, and some of the most valuable opportunities come from unexpected directions.
Focus on building skills, relationships and experience rather than chasing a perfect plan. Say yes to opportunities, stay curious and pay attention to the things you naturally enjoy and are good at, as those patterns often point you in the right direction over time.
Also, don’t underestimate the value of the people around you. The friendships, networks and collaborations you build at university can shape your career in ways you won’t fully realise until much later.