Helen
Tupper

Alum of NTU's Nottingham Business School (NBS), Helen Tupper, now leads a successful career as CEO/ Co-founder of Amazing If.  We caught up with her about her role and her time as an NBS student.

Tell us why you chose to study at NTU/NBS – what set us apart?

Being able to work and study. BA Business Management was a brilliant accelerator for my career and I wanted to make sure my time at university was time well spent for my future.

What did you learn as a NBS student – both inside and outside of lectures? What still makes you smile when you look back?

A close cohort and strong relationships with lecturers which felt personal. Two of my best friends (who got married!) and my business partner came from this course and I’m forever grateful for that.

What does your current day involve? 

I move from running business operations, to recording a podcast. From delivering a career development session in Australia to writing an article for Harvard Business Review. No two days are ever the same!

How has your experience studying at NBS helped you in your current role?

It taught me to challenge my limits and not to limit my challenges. That has served me very well since!

What attracted you to this field of work?

Seeing people increase their career confidence and take control of their career is the best feedback that my work makes a difference. That matters whether it’s one person in a coaching conversation or two million people who listen to our Squiggly Careers podcast.

What challenges have you faced?

Juggling parenting, my professional ambitions, my personal relationships and making time to press pause definitely isn’t easy. But having a supportive team of family, friends and people around me is the thing that makes it all possible. I don’t always get it right, but I’ve learnt to say sorry quickly when I get it wrong and to let people know how much their support means to me. I’ve come to realise that asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness.

What has been the highlight of your career so far?

Publishing our first book in January 2020 The Squiggly Career and seeing it become a Sunday Times #1 bestseller.

What are your plans for the future?

Continuing on our mission to make Squiggly Careers better for everyone!

If you had a time machine, what would you go back and tell yourself at uni?

Stop spending, start saving!