{"id":109,"date":"2026-02-02T09:30:46","date_gmt":"2026-02-02T09:30:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/rec\/?p=109"},"modified":"2026-01-28T17:55:11","modified_gmt":"2026-01-28T17:55:11","slug":"from-finance-to-higher-education-jenny-roberts-journey-and-commitment-to-race-equality","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/rec\/2026\/02\/02\/from-finance-to-higher-education-jenny-roberts-journey-and-commitment-to-race-equality\/","title":{"rendered":"From Finance to Higher Education: Jenny Roberts\u2019 Journey and Commitment to Race Equality"},"content":{"rendered":"

Guest blog by Shyeni Paul, co-chair of the Mosaic Network.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"What makes someone switch careers?<\/strong> For Jenny Roberts, Student Money Advisor, the answer lies in a desire to make a difference. As part of Race Equality Week, we spoke to Jenny about her move into higher education, her experiences so far, and why she\u2019s passionate about creating inclusive spaces for ethnically diverse staff.<\/p>\n

A Career Pivot with Purpose<\/strong><\/p>\n

Before joining the University of Bath, Jenny had been working in legal and compliance related roles at Lloyds Banking Group for over 15 years. But last year, Jenny decided it was time for a change and was interested in roles in the higher education sector.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt 45, I\u2019ve still got another 15 years of working. If I was going to pivot, now was the time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her motivation to make the change came from conversations with recent graduates and apprentices, during her time at Lloyds. Many described the steep learning curve when transitioning from university to employment\u2014 in particular the differences around communication in a corporate world and managing workplace dynamics. Jenny noticed this was particularly mentioned by ethnically diverse colleagues.<\/p>\n

\u201cI felt there was a gap in support for students making that transition. While my current role isn\u2019t directly focused on that, I wanted to get experience in higher education and hopefully eventually move into a role where I can help bridge that gap.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joining the University of Bath<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jenny joined the Student Money Advice team seven weeks ago and has found the environment welcoming and supportive.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s been really enjoyable. Everyone\u2019s been helpful, and there\u2019s no sense of being rushed or pressured.\u201d<\/p>\n

She highlights the induction process as a positive experience, especially the emphasis on accessibility and inclusion where:<\/p>\n