Meet Ellen
Combined Honours BA (Business and Chinese), Class of 2017
Introduce yourself and tell us a little bit about what you've done since graduating
My name is Ellen. I graduated in 2017 with a Combined Honours degree (Business and Chinese) where I used my experience and skillset to begin a career in the world of technology.
I started in London at a global IT SI company, moved to Singapore for a project based in Asia and now live full time in Qatar where I work for Microsoft in AI and Cybersecurity.
Why did you choose to study at Newcastle University?
For me, Newcastle felt like a home away from home. The access to learning, lecturers and other amazing students from around the world were fantastic.
Also the city itself had such a positive and friendly energy; there was always something to do and Newcastle offered one of the best student experiences when it came to student life/academic balance.
How do you think your course prepared you for your chosen career?
My year abroad in Shanghai certainly gave me a lot of new skills: problem solving, trying new things out of my comfort zone and being in a totally new language/culture where I’m not just surviving but thriving.
The technology industry is changing so rapidly, it’s important to pivot and adapt in order to stay relevant. I’m also now working in the Middle East which is another culture and language experience for me - luckily I’ve done this before so know what to expect and can hit the ground running.
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