Alumnae spotlight: Chloe Potter

Chloe Potter, Class of 2000

Chloe is an experienced presenter, journalist, broadcaster, and entrepreneur based in Tokyo. She is skilled in voice-over, news writing, radio, television, media production, event moderation and broadcast journalism. She has extensive TV and radio experience, including Sky News, Five News, Magic FM, Monocle24 and NHK, a Japanese public broadcaster.

Chloe co-founded London-based production company Middle Table, specialising in creating high-quality broadcast productions for commercial networks and corporations. It all began in the centre of the Channel 5 Newsroom, where there was a table around which people gathered for meetings and brainstorms that would shape the day’s outlook, which stories would be told, and how. It also happened to be the place where you would find an endless supply of treats: birthday cakes, sweets, Monday pick-me-up doughnuts and Friday biscuits to celebrate getting through the week. It was known as the Middle Table, and it helped spawn a thousand programmes and one very sweet-toothed production company… Middle Table clients range from political parties to multinationals like Google and broadcasters including Sky, Bloomberg and the BBC. Middle Table’s skill base covers all areas of video production with experienced journalists who are particularly good at finding the narrative hook to make a film memorable.

Chloe recently launched her own podcast, The Guidance Library. In every episode, she speaks to a therapist, coach, or expert who takes the listener through therapeutic tools and techniques. She created this series because she believes everyone deserves access to this kind of support. She hopes it will help people live with greater ease, balance, and joy. ‘I am driven by curiosity. I have always been told I ask good questions and want to put that skill to good use.’

We caught up with Chloe recently for a Q&A session:

What aspects of Croydon High School did you enjoy and find most rewarding?

I loved speech and drama at Croydon High. There were plenty of big productions and opportunities to perform; we also took part in festivals. We enjoyed great facilities at school and had wonderful, encouraging teachers.

What did you aspire to whilst at school?

I dreamed of being an actor.

How did Croydon High School empower you for your future?

I think the Croydon High ethos encouraged confidence, independence, and curiosity.

What has been your proudest moment?

Giving birth to my first child (and my second and third). I made three human beings, and it’s hard for any other achievement to compete with that. Putting that to one side. Academically, I am proud of getting to Oxford University. Career-wise, I am proud of so many things, all the different layers that I continue to accumulate in my career: Acting professionally after I graduated, a stint working for British Vogue, becoming a newsreader for Sky, building my own production company, covering the Tokyo Olympic Games for Channel 5. The challenge of maintaining a satisfying career alongside having a family takes creativity and resilience, and I am very proud of how I have managed to do both. I am currently living in Japan, and in this chapter, I am hosting podcasts, doing voice work, teaching yoga and menstrual cycle awareness and running retreats—so many different experiences. I’ve enjoyed them all. They have all been enriching in different ways.

What are your hopes for the future?

That I continue to embrace new experiences and to learn new things. There are many more chapters still to come!

What would you say to your younger self?

You don’t have to choose just one career or path. You can pursue lots of different interests and passions during your life. So, follow what feels most warm to you. Don’t feel lost; focus on taking the next step that feels right to you, and trust that it will all pan out beautifully. Sometimes, it’s only when you look back that you see how everything fits together.

Is there anything else you would like to tell us?

Take note of what it is that lights you up. What has always come easily to you? For me, it’s communicating. That is a thread through everything I have done. I love to communicate and connect. I always have, ever since I was a little girl. Knowing what it is you love and what it is that you are naturally good at is such a guiding light.

Mrs Karen Roe
Alumnae Relations Manager