If you need to call on someone to give you a pep talk and sunny outlook on your career then you won’t go far wrong with Jennifer Ji (Economics and Philosophy, 2016). Since leaving Nottingham, she has established her career at LSEG (London Stock Exchange Group), helping align priorities and achieve operational excellence in her role as Director of Business Management.

Jennifer returned to campus in July to speak to this summer's graduating economics students about her career since leaving Nottingham – which she reflects on with us too.

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Jennifer Ji (Economics and Philosophy, 2016)

“I graduated nine years ago, but I still sometimes feel that when I look ahead, the fact that the path isn't clear does frighten me. But through a lot of self-talk, trying to get rid of imposter syndrome and just leaning on the people around me, you look forward further, rather than hold a short term view. It doesn't really matter what you do, because everything you do, you get to learn and add to your repertoire of experience.

“I studied economics and philosophy because I didn't know what I wanted to do with my career. They couldn't be more different, but when I look back at my time here, I realise how many of those skills I still use in my day to day life."

Looking beneath the surface

“Philosophy allowed me to think more critically and look beneath the surface level. One module was on the philosophy of race, and it really allowed you to think deeply about some of the moral concepts that we deal with on a day to day basis, and challenge my views of how I use language.

“With economics you’re able to learn about how global phenomena interacts – at the London Stock Exchange Group, LSEG, we’re constantly reviewing the impacts of global policies and how we pivot our strategy to manage those risks."

Jennifer Ji – career history

  • 2016: Graduated from Nottingham
  • 2017-20: Graduated from BPP University as Chartered Management Accountant, while working at KMPG UK
  • 2022-date: LSEG (London Stock Exchange Group), Senior Business Manager, then Director of Business Management, Group CEO Office

“Being back on campus there's this huge wave of nostalgia. I have very fond memories. Even though it was only three years of my life, I think they've had a profound impact on me. The thing I love most about being invited back is getting to share my journey with the students and relive the big day with them. That aside, it's a real privilege to be part of the alumni community, I still learn from the network."

Being my own pilot

“So what's next? Well, the honest answer is, I have no idea! But I have some goals, I want to keep learning and be in a position in the future where I can be my own pilot, perhaps run my own company with my own values. Something which I find meaningful, where we give back to society in the same way that it's kind of given back to myself and to my parents’ generation, something humanitarian.

"The other ambition I have is to work in Asia, maybe for a year or two just to experience a different culture. But as it stands, I'm really enjoying my career at LSEG and I look forward to seeing where the next years go, perhaps even further study. Who knows, maybe I'll come back to Nottingham for a postgraduate degree?”