Beyond Bedales careers events - May 2025
By Charlotte Harding, Senior Houseparent and Head of Careers
This half term students have had trio of Beyond Bedales careers talks – all from current parents whose work touches on themes of governance, society and change.
Medical Oncologist Dr Susie Stanway, MBCHB, FRCP, MSc, MD wowed her audience with a lively and detailed overview of her work in global cancer control. Under the title ‘Health and Peace’ she helped her audience understand the cancer epidemic within the wider context of the paradigm shifts occurring in global health. As well as factors impacting on management of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and the role that existential threats or crises such as conflict play. Daisy, Block 4, found the talk interesting and inspiring:
“I particularly enjoyed learning about the work she does in areas of conflict and found it really interesting to learn what a career in medicine can look like outside of a hospital.”
The following day, Paul Walker skilfully wove together insights from each audience member to help us explore the personal qualities essential for a successful career in criminal law. Arriving directly from court, he spoke candidly about his deep passion for the field. He reflected on the career decisions he has made to maintain a healthy work-life balance, remain a devoted father, and use his role to advocate for young people navigating some of the most challenging moments of their lives.
By Max, 6.2 (Year 13)
Finally, last Thursday, we were thrilled to welcome Caroline Bright to speak to us about her fascinating career at the world’s largest development bank, her work in supporting sustainable growth in developing countries, and her atypical yet compelling professional journey. Caroline is a senior leader in sustainability at the International Finance Corporation (IFC), part of the World Bank Group.
With over 25 years of experience in governance, risk, and ESG in emerging markets, her career has spanned micro-finance, small business banking, and now advising financial institutions and firms on sustainable growth. Caroline currently leads a team of ESG experts delivering projects across Pakistan, Jordan, Iraq, Central Asia, and Eastern Europe. Her educational background includes a BA from the University of London and an MBA from Henley, specialising in corporate responsibility and project management.
She began her impressive career studying Russian and following the fall of the Soviet Union she took her thesis abroad to study Chelnok - Shuttle Traders - micro enterprises shuttling goods from neighbouring countries into a destitute Russia. Her unique skillset led her to a micro-financing role in Russia, supporting small businesses like these. She has since taken her talents to the highest levels. Her career is a testament that meaningful paths in life are ones not often shaped by strict planning, but by a passion and commitment to making a difference.
Caroline now works in the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a sector of the World Bank that aims to bring about development through the financial support of small and mediums enterprises (SMEs). In developing markets, SMEs account for more than 70% of employment and up to 40% of a developing nations GDP, making capital flow into SMEs vital if these countries wish to flourish.
However, as pointed out by the audience, unregulated growth in these markets is often anything but sustainable. SMEs contribute to 60–70% of industrial pollution in many countries. Further, their labour consists of low wage jobs with little security, especially in primary economies, where according to the International Labour Organisation, between 60–80% of employees earn less than their own country’s legal minimum wage.
The environmental and social ramifications of allowing unchecked growth of SMEs would directly contradict the mission of the World Bank, yet, growth cannot - and should not - be avoided. It is through Carolines work in ESG safeguarding that she can help bring so many people out of poverty without sacrificing our planet nor the welfare of workers which in unregulated economies are often offered such little shielding against exploitation.
This was a compelling message, as to many in the audience who are studying economics at A Level, its axiomatic that in the pursuit of profit and development, especially in these developing countries, the fostering of environmental and social welfare is often precluded. As such it was engaging to understand how the World Bank balances these two opposing objectives.
She also warned of ‘greenwashing’ — where companies use the language of sustainability without real action. That’s why the IFC supports capacity building — teaching local banks and firms how to embed genuine governance and ethical practices into their business models.
What made her talk most enjoyable however, was the openness to questions, ranging from the theoretical, ‘can Europe capitalise on the United States collapse as the global hegemony?’ To the practical ‘how does the IFC prevent injections into the economy falling into the hands of kleptocrats?’ Caroline answered these questions holistically exploring all points of view and encouraged questions, making the talk feel less like a lecture and more like a debate, accessible to all year groups.