Jennie Lees
1. When you were at Brighton & Hove High School, and what is your fondest memory of school?
I was at BHHS from 1993 to 2000. There are a lot of great memories but one that stands out is getting to co-write the House Play (for Grey) when I was in Sixth Form – I remember being in the play when I was a brand new pupil, and it was really cool to be the one writing it.
2. Who was your favourite teacher and why?
It’s really tricky picking a favourite teacher, to be honest! On the list are Mrs Meeks, who encouraged me in maths and was really the entire reason I dared to apply to Cambridge; Mrs Baker, who dispensed life advice along with physics fundamentals; and Mrs Horrocks, whose love of language and learning sticks with me decades later.
3. What were the benefits of being in an all-girls school?
As a self-confessed nerd into computers, maths and science, I absolutely feel that being in an all girls school helped remove some of the barriers other women in tech have faced. In middle school, I was already getting pushed off the classroom computer by boys – at BHHS I didn’t have to deal with any of that. Instead I was encouraged to lean into these subjects and even ended up building the school’s first ever website!
4. What did you want to be when you ‘grew-up’?
I don’t think I had a particular career path picked out when I was young, although I remember our careers consultation sometime around Upper IV trying to get us all to be farmers…
5. What do you do now, and what are the most rewarding and challenging parts of your job?
I’m a software engineering manager working at Google DeepMind, which is an AI research lab. My role is a challenging mix of working with people and supporting them in their careers, and advancing technology. It can be tough to balance both sides, and you need a strong set of communication skills. It’s incredibly rewarding though as I get to see people grow while also helping impact the world – we’re at the forefront of the current developments in artificial intelligence and it’s a very exciting time to be working in this particular part of technology.
6. What are you most proud of so far?
As I’ve moved jobs, it’s been an immense source of pride to see people I’ve mentored or managed in the past go on to do amazing things, and having them reach out to me to let me know how I helped them get there. I try to help make the path a little bit easier for women in tech and so it’s really affirming to hear that I’ve actually managed that in whatever small way I can.
7. What was the best piece of advice you were given whilst at Brighton?
One of the main things being at BHHS taught me was that nothing was out of reach – I was able, and empowered, to try anything. Whether it was the Maths Olympiad, Young Enterprise, writing poetry or auditioning for Countdown (I did not make it on!), I felt totally encouraged and supported in whatever I tried.
8. What advice would you give to your 18 year old self?
I’d tell my younger self to go work for Google earlier… but seriously, I think I would tell her to lean into her strengths and if she hears a voice of self doubt, ask herself “is that a fact, or is it a story I’m telling myself?”.
9. What book, film or piece of music would you recommend to your younger self and to your fellow alumnae?
The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson, followed by Invisible Women by Caroline Criado Perez.
10. How would you like to be remembered?
I’d like to be remembered as someone who tried her best. I think that’s all we can really ask of each other!
