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Acclaimed author returns to Nottingham Business School to help students navigate ‘squiggly careers’

A Nottingham Business School (NBS) alumna who has received international acclaim following the publication of a careers book for the new decade - The Squiggly Career - recently returned to Nottingham to help current students.

Melanie Curry and Sarah Ellis
NBS Deputy Dean, Melanie Currie, welcomes Sarah Ellis, author and co-founder of Amazing If

Sarah Ellis graduated from the BA (Hons) Business Management (In Company) degree in 2004, benefiting from the pioneering programme which places students in companies full-time as part of their course.

Teaming up with another Business School alumna, Helen Tupper, they formed their own company - Amazing If - with a mission to make work better for everyone.

Sarah recently returned as a keynote speaker to share her experiences with NBS undergraduate students.

For Sarah and Helen, their education and time in Nottingham was the starting point of their careers. After graduating and working for top companies such as Virgin, Barclays, Microsoft, BP and Sainsbury’s they joined forces to help professionals and companies navigate the world of work in the modern age.

Together they host the no.1 Apple careers podcast in the UK and their book, The Squiggly Career, published by Penguin, was selected as Financial Times Business Book of the Month. The book has also received rave reviews in national media.

As part of her degree Sarah was placed with Boots, a key UK employer and NBS partner. She said: "My degree at Nottingham Business School was incredibly vocational and I really appreciate how well it set me up for the world of work. It also sparked my love of learning and development which, nearly twenty years later, has now become the focus on my work and company.

‘My advice to today’s undergraduates is to think about career possibilities not plans. Have an open and exploring mindset. You will learn something from every role and opportunity, even if it’s a better understanding of what you don’t want to do next!

“When I started work, careers used to be predictable and linear. Your employer provided you with a salary, security and a path for advancement. The careers we’re faced with today look very different. Technology, the pace of change and increasingly personalised working patterns are affecting the shape of work.

“Instead of career staircases, we’re all navigating something far more squiggly.”

Nottingham Business School is celebrating its 40th Anniversary year. During the last 40 years, NBS has been a pioneering force in business, management and economics research and education and has seen a significant rise in international accreditations and rankings.

Deputy Dean of NBS, Melanie Currie, said: “Throughout our 40-year history we have developed a unique character as a Business School. Our personalised and experiential learning programme provides a transformational experience for our students and develops confident graduates who make a real impact in their careers.

“Our 40th anniversary is celebrating who we are now but will look to the future of business and business education and the leading role that NBS can play in shaping this.”

  • Notes for editors

    Press enquiries please contact Helen Breese, Public Relations Manager, on telephone +44 (0)115 848 8751, or via email.

    Or Stuart Baird on 07799 678009.

    The Squiggly Career: https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/312/312993/the-squiggly-career/9780241385845.html


    Nottingham Business School

    Nottingham Business School is internationally recognised as a business school which combines academic excellence with impact on business and society. It creates globally responsible leaders through ethical, responsible and sustainable management education.

    NBS subjects are ranked in the top 15 in the Guardian’s 2020 league tables. NBS is amongst the top 20 for both graduate level employability (DLHE) and for student satisfaction (NSS) and as part of NTU holds the TEF Gold award.

    It holds international AASCB and EQUIS accreditation. NBS has held 4* overall QS Stars rating since 2013, with 5* in five categories for the quality of its curriculum, teaching, research, business connectivity and international links.

    It is ranked in the top 95 of the Financial Times European Business School Ranking 2018 and its MSc in Management has also been ranked by the Financial Times as the 97th best Masters in Management in the world (MiM).

    NBS is a PRME Champion, a status given to institutions which have contributed to thought and action leadership on responsible management education in the context of the United Nations sustainable development agenda.

    It was recently reaccredited for the Small Business Charter (SBC) for the next five years, a mark of support for businesses and SMEs, engagement with the local economy and entrepreneurship education.

    NBS provides a transformational experience for its students through personalised and experiential learning. Each student has their learning experience tailored to their aspirations through academic and industry mentors, analytics, and a comprehensive range of personal development and experiential learning opportunities.

Published on 27 January 2020
  • Category: Business; Press office; Nottingham Business School