Sam Park
1. When you were at Brighton & Hove High School, and what is your fondest memory of school?
I was a student at BHHS between 1993 and 2000 and over that time I have so many fondest memories it’s difficult to choose! Our GCSE field trip to Boughrood was pretty special; I loved being able to play tennis at lunchtimes (as well a game we made up called ‘Tennis Shot’, so many of us could play together); watching the House Plays and Sixth Form entertainment were brilliant annual highlights, as was the legendary Egg Race competition. Looking back however, I think most fondly on the support I was given by my teachers and fellow pupils, who became friends, in my U3 year when I was having a really tough time in life!
2. Who was your favourite teacher and why?
That’s tough! I had many. If I think about my A level teachers, I frequently reference Mrs Meeks (maths) when I’m coaching my team at work. I lapped up organic chemistry challenges, at school and at university thereafter, after being inspired and given the confidence by Mrs Ashby. Mrs Mashford IS the reason I studied Biochemistry and loved it. And then there was Mrs Baker. Apart from her actual teaching (she taught me physics 6 out of 7 years and ‘first principles’ is now my middle name), having Mrs Baker’s watchful eye and hand on my shoulder from the nurses office in U3, to my disastrous A level practical exam in U6 was a kindness I’ll never forget.
3. What were the benefits of being in an all-girls school?
At the time, I can’t say that I really considered that being in a single sex environment brought specific benefits or disadvantages. With hindsight, I think that there was a higher degree of psychological safety that often comes with being in all female community, that helped us grow in confidence and let our strengths flourish.
4. What did you want to be when you ‘grew-up’?
I didn’t really have any idea. I went through stages of wanting to be an architect, an engineer, a doctor and finally I became fixed on being a scientist… until I actually worked in a lab and realised that was not a good choice for me! Working in a commercial business wasn’t something I’d thought about, but that was where I’ve ended up.
5. What do you do now, and what are the most rewarding and challenging parts of your job?
After a number of great and challenging roles in finance on my career to date, today I am Chief Financial Officer of a small business that helps students make choices about their higher education. Working in finance means I get to look across all our operations and initiatives and help them grow. There is nothing more rewarding for me that seeing a project I have worked on succeed and post great numbers, or a team I have worked in do well! When things aren’t going so well and the numbers may not be looking so good, it can be a challenge to keep the teams going but keep going we must. After all, solving problems is fun! (Says Mrs Meeks..)
6. What are you most proud of so far?
Professionally, I’m very proud of my career and the roles I’ve played in the companies I’ve worked in so far. But my personal highlight in my work life to date is setting up a quarterly pub quiz for my colleagues at QuickBooks! I put my hand up to start the pub quiz to force myself to do something that scared me (this was, after all, a pretty discerning audience with high expectations) and I’m so glad I did. I so much fun running the quiz for 2 years and when I hung up my quiz master boots, I was absolutely chuffed to see the legacy not just live on but get better and better (then covid struck sadly).
7. What was the best piece of advice you were given whilst at Brighton?
If a question seems tough, go back to first principles. Also, that success isn’t only about having the right answer; you get marks for your method so explain your workings. These two pieces of advice are just as helpful in life, as they are in exams.
8. What advice would you give to your 18 year old self?
Look at yourself in the mirror! Your dress sense is terrible!
But seriously, I’d be saying that to get to this point you’ve shown you can overcome challenges that’ll stand you in good stead for those to come. But stop thinking you have to solve everything alone, so embrace the help and support of the amazing people you have around you!
9. What book, film or piece of music would you recommend to your younger self and to your fellow alumnae?
As a huge Agatha Christie fan – I have all her books – I’d obviously have to recommend reading one of her books if you haven’t already. I remember watching the tv adaptations at school, but it wasn’t until my 30s that I started reading the books – and so glad I did. As well as being great whodunnits they also teach one patience… enjoy the story, enjoy trying to figure it out and don’t just jump to the final chapter (which you can with her works) to find out who did it!
10. How would you like to be remembered?
Smart, kind, loyal and with bags of energy. Who made finance and quizzes fun!
