people, and I was sure this course would be perfect for me. Then, there was Social Sciences, which was the inthing then, finally, Law; not because I wanted to practise it, but because I liked the idea of doing lots of reading and understanding Law, and how to argue cases. University was fun. Not only was the academics interesting, but there were societies and groups one could join. I remember joining the AfricanCaribbean Society Meeting, and they wanting to vote for new executives. Now they gave us all these names to vote for, but I stood up and declined, stating that I was new, that I knew no one there, and that none of the people on the list had given me reasons to vote for them, or how their election into office would benefit the Club. It is interesting because they immediately put me on the ballot for being so vocal, and the members voted me as president, even though I was just a freshman! By 1996, I had graduated with a B.A. Honours in Social Sciences – Law major. Corporate Lady While I was at university, I did some part time work with Debenhams on Oxford Street. This coupled withmy background in Social Science and Law, made me a good candidate for the Local Government Rent Office Service, where I worked before leaving in 1997, to become a Portfolio Assistant with Clerical Medical Investment Group. My applying for that job was one of those ‘acting by faith’ moments. I had seen the job in one of these freely distributed magazines, and thought that with my experience in the Rental Officer Service, a bit of legal studies, and my experience as a Customer Service Person in retail, I was most suitable for the post, but my friends discouraged me from applying; they thought the publication was just a formality and no-one ever was hired that way. However, I did apply for it and I got it! It was a good job, but the real deal was to get to work in Investment Administration, so, while I was working in properties, I started studying about Regular Asset Management and Admin regulatory stuff. I passed a few courses, then applied to be transferred into the Investment Administration Department, which I was able to do. That was a wonderful job, but a time came when I thought to seek an even better offer so I could make enough to get married and settle down. That was when I applied to Goldman Sachs. Indeed, I got that job but had to decline it later on because of the long hours and plenty travel required for it. Such a job would not allow me to settle down and raise a family. I have always wondered how my life would have turned out, if I had accepted that job. Interestingly at the same time Goldman Sachs was trying to hire me, another company, which was based literally opposite the Goldman Sachs building; a smaller, French company, was also interested in my services and were willing to match whatever Goldman Sachs was offering me. In the end, even though I didn’t go to Goldman Sachs, I was able to double my salaryby taking a jobwith theother company, SG Asset Management, which wasn’t as intense, and I guess as demanding as maybe working at Goldman Sachs would have been. 14 The Birthday Journal
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTAyMTM3NQ==