Sydenham High Futures Conference

Pupils from the Lower Sixth attended the Futures Conference at Sydenham High School. The inspiring day brought together GDST pupils to explore themes of leadership, networking and career development through a series of talks and workshops delivered by experts from a range of professional fields.

The opening keynote from Professor Funke Abimbola MBE, an award-winning AI governance expert and former General Counsel, explored leadership and resilience in the ever-evolving workplace. Drawing on her own career in law and governance, she spoke about the importance of curiosity, confidence and adaptability in a rapidly changing world. Her talk clearly resonated with pupils, including Charlotte A who said it “inspired me to be a confident woman in a male-dominated society,” while Niah N-C described Professor Abimbola as “extremely inspiring and interesting as she was so engaging and passionate about helping others.”

The conference also offered practical insights into navigating future careers. Raj Sidhu, Careers Consultant at the University of Cambridge, provided advice on networking and exploring different career pathways, emphasising the importance of building connections and seeking opportunities beyond those that are publicly advertised. Kara F found his session particularly valuable, noting that it gave “practical advice on reaching out and networking to find a career path we love,” and Jasmine P commented that the discussion around LinkedIn networking helped her better understand how many opportunities arise through professional connections.

Pupils also attended a workshop led by Camilla Carson, Non-Executive Director at FYLD AI, which focused on communication, confidence and the importance of advocating for yourself in the workplace. As Jorjah W observed, the session was particularly insightful in encouraging young women “to be confident enough to ask for what we deserve in the workplace and in general.” Another highlight of the day was hearing from Jacynth Bassett, founder of the consultancy Ageism Is Never in Style, whose talk explored how to be proactive in pursuing opportunities. Phoebe R said her advice was especially meaningful, reflecting that evaluating what you can gain from each opportunity can help students take advantage of new experiences while avoiding becoming overwhelmed.

We also heard from Cheryl Giovannoni, CEO of the Girls’ Day School Trust, who shared her own career journey and encouraged pupils to challenge limiting assumptions about what they can achieve. Elianna C found it particularly inspiring to hear how she overcame stereotypes to forge her own path.

As Rukky U summarised, “I am very grateful I had the opportunity to attend the Futures Conference, hearing from a range of speakers on topics such as AI and Ageism to getting advice on how to pitch yourself in interviews and applying for top Russell Group universities like Cambridge”. A huge thank you to Sydenham High School for hosting such an inspiring event, which left pupils feeling motivated and better equipped to think about their futures.

Nicola Kreinczes
Head of Progression & Futures