“Determine what you want, and then be brave and make it happen"

Imperial has commissioned 20 new portraits of female staff and students.

The portraits are part of Women@Imperial Week, which runs 4-8 March. The week is a chance to celebrate female staff and students at Imperial, past and present, to reflect on what more we can do to promote gender equality, and to raise awareness of the support available at the College for women.

Professor Stephen Curry, Assistant Provost for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, hopes the project will inspire departments to build their own collections of portraits of female role models. He said: “We want to increase the visibility of women working in all sorts of roles at Imperial. I hope the portraits will serve both to recognise the range and richness of their contributions to our community and to inspire students and staff.”

The portraits will be hung in departments over the coming months. In the meantime, you can view all the portraits on the website. 

Below, we hear from four of the women featured about their advice for the next generation.

Shenice Lalor, Engineering Technical Assistant, Estates Operations

“The advice I would give to other young people is to appreciate what you already have and how far you have come, and to try make the most of all opportunities presented. Remember that there’s no need to rush, life isn’t a race. I believe that what’s meant to be will be. Work hard and the results will follow.”

Dawn Beaumont, Senior Customer Services Manager, ICT

“The advice I would give to a younger colleague is a quote I believe is attributed to Steve Martin: ‘Be so good, they can’t ignore you’.”

Courtnae Bailey, Research postgraduate, Centre for Environmental Policy, and a member of the NERC Science and Solutions for a Changing Planet Doctoral Training Partnership

“Always remember to make time to take care of yourself. The pressure will always be on, but remember your abilities have gotten you to where you are. Do not add extra pressure by looking at others as your competition and comparing yourself, but rather focus on being the best version of yourself.”

Dr Angela Kedgley, Lecturer in Orthopaedic Biomechanics, Department of Bioengineering

“If I were to offer one piece of advice it would be to be tenacious when all doesn’t go according to plan. Determine what you want, listen to yourself, and then be brave and make it happen.”