OW Spotlight Saskia Cooper

Can you please tell us a bit about yourself and what you do?

Having graduated from Wellington in 2007, I took a gap year where I worked in London, completed a ski instructor course in the Alps and then travelled before commencing a degree in Psychology at the University of Exeter. I had always wanted to become a lawyer, but after several work experience placements and an internship, I reconsidered my initial plan to establish what I would find most stimulating. I joined some fellow OWs headhunting in the City and, as a fresh graduate meeting CFOs and winning new business, absolutely loved it. Keen to diversify my experience, I then joined Bain & Co, JLL and an ed-tech start up Avado, covering senior, experienced, graduate and apprenticeship recruitment.

Looking to give more back to society through my career, I became aware of education charity Teach First, set up to address education inequality across the UK. It appealed to me as an organisation which would offer high-quality training and the opportunity to use my skills to make a difference to young people from low socio-economic backgrounds. Initially, I was responsible for designing and executing graduate talent attraction strategies. I was keen to marry up my experience in the corporate sector with the vision and mission of the charity so I transitioned across to the Fundraising department managing funder relationships with Corporate Partners such as Amazon, IG Group and Goldman Sachs. Currently, I lead the New Corporate Partnerships team at Teach First to develop new partnerships with organisations whose business/CSR/ESG goals align to raise income for our work. Outside of work, I have a 15-month-old son, Freddie, who is causing chaos with his recent new skill of walking!

 

What is a professional highlight of your career, either where you currently work or in the past? 

For me, a personal high has to be growing a corporate partnership from £52k to £2 million for the charity. This corporate partner became the seed funders for our COVID-19 campaign ‘Shut in not shut out’, which has supported 30 schools to access our Leading Together programme, 275 teachers and school leaders to access support through our coaching programme, summer projects and training, ultimately impacting over 27,500 pupils from schools facing the biggest challenges.

 

What unexpected experience or event has shaped and/or influenced your current professional life? 

At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, hearing about previously engaged schoolchildren becoming withdrawn and unable to participate in lessons due to a lack of tech strengthened my belief in Teach First’s mission to be involved in helping close the digital divide by securing the donation and distribution of over 10,000 devices from Amazon to be given to children at our partner schools has reinforced and intensified my passion for the cause.

 

What are your top tips for students trying to get involved in your line of work?

Building strategic partnerships between charities and corporates is an interesting but challenging line of work – you need to be someone who enjoys overcoming barriers to success! If you can get work experience or an internship with a charity or in a CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) / ESG (Environmental Social Governance) team within a corporate that will give you relevant knowledge and skills that will certainly set you up well. Although relevant sector experience can be helpful, it’s more important to learn how to articulate the skills you have gained and the impact you have made as a result, so put yourself in situations which will stretch you and enhance those skills to give you a good set of examples to talk about at interview.

 

What is the best piece of advice you have ever been given?

Start with the end in mind. Don’t ask for permission, ask for forgiveness!

 

Do you have a fond memory from your time at Wellington that you would like to share? 

My favourite memories from school mainly involved hanging out with friends in our boarding house, some of whom remain my closest friends today. I was always grateful to my teachers who made extra time for me when I wanted to improve in something. I also have very fond memories from the school Politics/Business trip to New York, Boston and Washington.

Featured in the 2022 – 2023 Yearbook.