As a student athlete – co-captain of the Ladies 1st XI Hockey team among other sporting pursuits – Diana spent much of her time in the Sports Training Village.
But this didn’t impact her studies – graduating from Bath in 2020 and going on to study an MPhil in Environmental Policy at the University of Cambridge.
Read about Diana’s time at Bath and career since below.
Why did you choose to study at Bath?
Bath is a beautiful city; I'd heard great things about the course I wanted to study as well as the sports facilities. I hadn't been to visit Bath when I applied, but the economics prospectus was compelling and I thought (hoped!) I could obtain the necessary A-level results. When I finally got the chance to look around the city and campus, I knew I'd made the right decision.
Did you have a particular career in mind when you chose your course?
No! I knew I really enjoyed economics from my A-level studies and wanted to use the knowledge I’d gained in my career, but I wasn't sure which path I'd eventually choose. Studying a subject that I found interesting kept me motivated and driven and I was sure I'd figure it out.
Whilst I loved my undergraduate studies, I was keen to learn more and knew I wasn't quite ready to dive headfirst into the job market, so I went on to complete an MPhil in Environmental Policy in the Department of Land Economy at the University of Cambridge before applying for jobs. I found out about Cantab Asset Management through their sponsorship of the hockey club at Cambridge and, as they say, the rest is history!
Can you tell us about your experience of studying here?
I had a fantastic time at Bath. Being a student athlete (I was co-captain of the Ladies 1st XI Hockey team in my final year at Bath, member of the English Universities Hockey Squad and member of Team GB Student Riders), I seemed to spend more time in the STV than the lecture halls(!) so having a self-contained campus made a big difference to my work-life balance.
In my second and third year, I lived in a flat just off Great Pulteney Street that overlooked the Rec and was just by the Weir. It was a beautiful part of the city with stunning Georgian architecture and a couple of lovely green spaces nearby to escape to for a moment of peace.
How did your studies help you to develop, professionally and/or personally?
I had some brilliant lecturers at Bath who were both extremely knowledgeable and passionate about education. In particular, Dr Zubrickas was instrumental in helping me obtain a place to study at Cambridge – providing a reference and supporting me through the application process. Having good lecturers who further you academically and take an interest in your personal development made a world of difference to both my personal and professional development.
Furthermore, Bath encourages a lot of independent study which is essential for the workplace – learning to manage, juggle and prioritise all the demands on your time is a valuable skill.
Describe your career journey since graduating. What is a typical day like in your current role?
I joined Cantab Asset Management as a Graduate Wealth Manager in 2021 just after I finished my master's and I’m still working there today as an assistant director. I'm very fortunate that, despite working in finance, I arrive at the office by 9am and leave just after 5.30pm on a normal day. We have an hour for lunch which I typically use to exercise and catch up with my friends, parents or colleagues. We are a client facing financial planning and investment management firm with an independent research function. My day consists of a mixture of client work, meetings and research. We work hard during the day but still have time for ourselves during the evening. That said, we've just been bought by Canaccord Genuity so my typical day also now has a lot of integration work!
What advice would you give to prospective students thinking about studying your course at Bath?
Go for it! Remember your ‘why’ and really think about what motivates you and what you want to get out of your degree. The more you put in, they more you’ll benefit.
Work hard in your A-levels because it'll set you up well for this course and for whatever you go on to do in life.
Bath is a brilliant university with fantastic sporting opportunities and really friendly people in a beautiful city.
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