Alumnae Insights 2024
Inspiring the Next Generation of Business and Finance Leaders.
The Wenona Careers calendar consists of a large range of activities for Middle School students and older, designed to give them authentic, interactive learning experiences that actively prepare them for a successful life beyond School.
Aimed at students in Senior College (Years 11 and 12), Alumnae Insights brings our former students back to campus, spotlighting a different profession each year. In 2024, the focus was the fast-paced world of business and finance.
Starting bright and early on Wednesday 20 March, in the Arches of the Independent Theatre, three inspiring Alumnae speakers, Ms Kate Nieland (Turnbull, 1998), Ms Evie Hamilton (2018), and Ms Annabel Ross (2018), joined us to share what they have learned since graduating from Wenona.
The event was a collaboration between the Careers Department and Careers Captain, Tessa (Year 12). “It provided current students with the inspiration to reach their goals and strive for these big opportunities in industries that they otherwise may not have thought possible,” Tessa said.
Ms Nieland described her journey from completing a scholarship degree in Accounting at the University of Technology Sydney (which she highly recommends) to working in corporate valuations and progressing to the graduate program at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). The latter opportunity opened the door to invaluable international experience through a secondment in Zurich. "Suddenly, at the age of 22, I was overseas by myself, trying to work and learn the language. It revealed to me how protected we are in Sydney and how overseas opportunities allow you to grow as a person and develop in your field. I recommend taking every opportunity you can because you learn so much.”
Ms Nieland also highlighted the significance of mindset over specific skills and the importance of building relationships. "I think if you are keen to learn, you ask questions, and if you are interested in people, you will make a good relationship with them."
Ms Annabel Ross is an Institutional Banking and Markets graduate working in the Debt Capital Markets team at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA). She completed two summer internships at CBA and ANZ banks before starting her graduate role, after having completed a Bachelor of Medical Science, Pharmacology degree. In her presentation, she emphasised to the students that having a degree that matches your career is not always necessary: "A lot of people start their degree and realise they don't like it and want to change. I think it is important to just get into your degree, stick with it and just finish it. You'll be surprised. You can often change to something that suits you much better once you’ve graduated. Just get that degree.”
Ms Evie Hamilton is currently attending the University of Newcastle and studying towards a Bachelor of Business/Bachelor of Commerce, majoring in Finance as well as Politics and International Relations. She is also working full-time at J.P. Morgan in the graduate markets program and will receive analyst training in New York.
Ms Hamilton talked about her experiences in retail banking and completing summer internships in insolvency and litigation, which she says helped her attain her graduate position. "I was fortunate to be put in touch with a woman in the field by my mum, who advised me to start thinking about applying for internships. I had no idea before that, that they could be so important. I think that by following her advice, I changed the whole trajectory of my career.”
Ms Hamilton also emphasised the importance of networking and forming relationships within an organisation: "The most important thing is having an open mind and also forming relationships with people in those teams, trying to ask really good questions and getting your name out there."
Overall, the panel discussion was a great lesson for the students in stepping out of your comfort zone. By hearing the Alumnae stories firsthand, they gained a better understanding of the skills, attitudes, and resilience needed to succeed.
“A massive thank you to all the Alumnae who joined us. We know they are all living extremely busy lives. Taking that time out of their day was greatly appreciated and will be very valuable to all of us who attended,” Tessa said.