Meet our Alumnae

I work in Capacity Development and Blue Education. I have been based in Lüderitz, Namibia since January 2022, where I have founded and am now leading a non-profit school of international standard – the first of its kind in the southern region of the country.

Read all about her work on our blog

A levels:

Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Spanish (AS), General Studies (AS)

I have been a medical doctor for 10 years, I am specialising in medical oncology in Cambridge and currently taking a few years out of training to do research (with Cancer Research UK and the University of Cambridge). My research focus is on medical imaging in Cancer, in particular using radionuclides to extract more information from patients about their response to cancer therapies.

My advice to students:

It is fine to not have it figured out yet. Plans are there to change. Take opportunities to gain experience and figure out what you want. I did medicine as a postgraduate when I was 23 and became a doctor at 28. It took me a long time to decide what to specialise in, so I started specialising when I was 34. Also, despite thinking I would be married with kids by 26, I started my family when I was 36. I’m so glad I took my time over all these parts of my life!

Simply that it takes more than good grades to get somewhere. They are important per se, but so is being likeable, confident, driven and unafraid to network and ask questions.

What A levels did you do?

Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Maths

Where did/ do you study?

Natural Sciences at the University of Cambridge 

What are you currently doing?

Public sector Management consultancy

Advice to current students:

1. Stop comparing yourself to others, you’re all on different paths
2. Keep unapologetically asking questions
3. Your grades are the least interesting thing about you

Thinking of your own experience, what are the skills most useful to you and valued by you, which you think school helped you develop?

1. Resilience: ‘When the going gets tough, the tough gets going’ was a phrase often chucked around, particularly during exams at school. While I didn’t like the phrase at the time (it felt like an excuse to give us more work…!) I will now readily repeat it to myself during tougher times, as a reminder that I’ve done it before and I can do it now. I think WHS taught me not to shy away from hard things, but to approach them sensibly – including taking breaks when needed – knowing that I am capable.
2. Confidence: A WHS teacher once told me to stop apologising for asking questions, and it was probably some of the best advice I’ve ever received. That, along with WHS girls never being afraid to debate topics, helped me to be vocal in supervisions at uni and to challenge theories and ideas. In my work as a consultant I’m never afraid to keep asking questions to gain a better understanding of the problem we are trying to solve.

Dr. Mitali Das AKC BSc(Hons) MBBS MRCS

What A levels did you do?

Latin, Biology and Chemistry

Degree undertaken: 

Medical Biochemistry 2003 – 2006
Medicine 2006 – 2011
King’s College, University of  London

What are you currently doing?

I am currently a registrar in General Surgery with the aim of training to become an oncoplastic breast cancer surgeon. At present I have taken some time away from training to do a PhD in breast cancer research and will return to hospital training from next year.

Advice to current students

1: Life is not straightforward by any means. You may not get to where you want to be straight away but if you want it enough you’ll get there – where there’s a will there’s a way!

2:  If you’re exploring a potential career look at the person at the top. Is that who you want to be in 20 years? Do you want to live the kind of life they have? If you want a family are they able to balance family and career? I don’t think anything is easy with small children and whilst women can have it all it can be very difficult to have it all at the same time whilst children are small but that is temporary. A large part of the job can be quite mundane but if you don’t mind doing the mundane aspects alongside the more exciting challenging parts on a long term basis then that might be the career for you. Last and by no means least, it’s never too late to change. You may embark on one career path now but if 10 years down the line it isn’t making you happy any more there’s no shame in leaving and finding something new.

Thinking of your own experience, what are the skills most useful to you and valued by you, which you think school helped you develop?

I think WHS certainly instils confidence and independence in their pupils. I think my ability to speak and present in public has come from my school days and my determination to not give up. I will also be forever grateful for the touch typing skills I learnt in Mr Mooney’s IT classes – they have been invaluable with all the reports and dissertations I have had to type up over the years!

Degree undertaken: 

Combined Honours in Social Sciences, specifically Economics and History, at Durham University.

What are you currently doing?

Head of Membership at Business in the Community.

What is your advice to current students?

“Think about the changes you want to see in the world; then think about what role you can play in bringing those changes into reality.”

A levels studied:

History, English Literature, Economics A2 and German AS

Degree undertaken:

Bachelor of Arts – BA, History, University of Bristol
Postgraduate Certificate , Journalism , Birkbeck, University of London

What is your advice to current students?

Take time to think about what you really enjoy doing (inside and/or outside of school!), and keep finding ways to indulge in it. Exploring your main interests and honing in on what really makes you tick will help so much when it comes to deciding what you might like to do in the future, as opposed to thinking about what you feel you ‘should’ be doing. While you’re at school you have the ultimate safety net to try lots of different things to start figuring out what you’re about, so go for it!

Thinking of your own experience, what are the skills most useful to you which you think the school helped you to develop?

Collaboration with peers and teamwork: these were the fundamental factors of my enjoyment of my time at WHS, and are still the skills that I value most highly in my career. Never underestimate the power of these ‘soft’ skills relating to positive interactions with people and building relationships in different contexts.

Resilience: being able to rise to a challenge, pick yourself up again after a perceived failure, and maintain a sense of humour in the face of adversity. These skills have certainly been crucial while navigating the first few years of my career in my 20s!

An enduring curiosity in society and your place in it: I think a strong unifying factor of WHS alumnae is the desire to keep on learning and having a positive impact in whatever field or area you turn your hand to. This certainly remains a driving factor for me, and motivates me to keep on exploring new interests and career avenues.

Gaia is an acclaimed actor and writer, having just completed a run of her new solo show ‘Centre of the Universe’ which debuted in London in October 2024. Gaia has also starred as Pavetta in the hugely popular Netflix series The Witcher, and took her own show ‘Fake It Till You Make It’ to the Edinburgh Fringe.
She attended the University of Cambridge, where she gained a degree in Education, English and The Arts.

Watch Tawana discussing her time at Wimbledon High and in her current role at Dentons here

A levels studied

Biology, Chemistry, Maths, Theatre Studies

Degree undertaken

BSc in Biological Sciences with Honours in Biochemistry (The University of Edinburgh)

Specialising Masters in Viticulture and Enology (Università Cattolica di Piacenza)

Current Occupation
Currently undertaking PhD in Brewing Science and Industrial Microbiology (The University of Nottingham, funded by Diageo and the BBSRC)

What is your advice to current students?

“Your degree choice does not determine your future career! Very few people know exactly what they want to do in life when they are in sixth form. When choosing if and what you want to study at university (it is not for everyone), pick a subject that you enjoy and focus on the skills, especially the transferrable ones that a particular course can offer you.”

Thinking of your own experience, what are the skills most useful to you which you think the school helped you to develop?

“WHS taught me to never shy away from or be embarrassed about asking questions. Teaching students to not be afraid of being wrong shapes minds that are more open to creative thoughts and ideas. This attitude helped develop my intellectual curiosity and it was my curiosity that led me to undertaking a PhD, which is basically 4-years of asking and seeking answers to your own questions!

What A levels did you study?

English, History, Maths, French

Degree:

PPE at Oxford

What are you currently doing?

Investment banking analyst

What is your advice to current students?

Keep an open mind! There are so many opportunities which will arise as you finish your time at WHS and beyond (whether you choose higher education or pursue another route). It is very possible, even likely, that you won’t have anticipated a lot of what comes your way. What you can do is simply try to find the joy in what you are studying now and say yes to things that interest you as they come along – the rest will fall into place.

Thinking of your own experience, what are the skills most useful to you which you think the school helped you to develop?

WHS was a wonderful environment for helping to nurture my curiosity. I don’t think I fully realised during my time at the school just how much we were encouraged to explore new subjects and given the space to share our ideas. From Enrichment classes to writing for Unconquered Peaks, as well as plenty of thought-provoking discussions in the normal course of lessons – there was plenty of opportunity to be curious.

This has been hugely useful for me as it helps you learn to think outside the box. This was great for writing novel essays at university and now in helping me learn fast in my job.

A levels studied:

Chemistry, Biology, Maths & French (AS)

Degree undertaken:

King’s College London Biochemistry (BSc), Clinical Neuroscience (MSc)

What are you currently doing?:

I am a Registered Nutritionist (mBANT) with my own business (Zara Syed Nutrition LTD), working with clients on a 1-1 basis and alongside a team of doctors on Harley street. I also provide nutrition education to corporate companies and schools.

Advice to current students:

Choose A levels and a degree which genuinely interest you. This will give you a strong platform and the confidence to choose a career path you love later down the line. Good work experience is invaluable and don’t be shy to ask for advice from those around you.

A levels studied:

Chemistry, Biology, Maths & French (AS)

Degree undertaken:
Kingston University, Business and HR (MA) and University of Bristol, Biology (BSc)

What are you currently doing?:

I trained as a Chartered Accountant with Deloitte, working in M&A for several years before switching to Banking in 2007. Following a number of roles at HSBC, I was Chief of Staff at HSBC UK when it was ring-fenced from the group. Since 2019, I have been CEO at CAF Bank, a specialist bank for charities and social purpose enterprises. My non-executive roles are Deputy Chair and Chair of Audit and Risk Committee of The Wallace Collection, and Trustee of Shelter, the National Campaign for Homeless People.

A levels studied

Geography, Economics, Drama & Theatre Studies

Degree undertaken

Politics and International Relations

Current Occupation

Polling and Market Research Consultant at Whitestone Insight specialising in political polling.

What is your advice to current students?

Don’t be afraid to challenge your friends and teachers on what they think and why they think it. Asking questions is a skill that will only become more useful and distinctive with time, marking you out as someone who is curious and has a genuine interest in the world and people around you. Even if you’re afraid of ‘debating’ in a formal setting, having your views challenged by others will only help you to have a more rounded and respectful worldview.

Thinking of your own experience, what are the skills most useful to you which you think the school helped you to develop?

Our Head of Sixth Form would always say ‘nothing changes if nothing changes’ – a line we mocked and disregarded countless times. However, there is such truth to working hard, being resilient and knowing when to change your strategy or perspective to achieve the results you’re after!