Herts graduate Bre McDermott-King speaks to some of the University of Hertfordshire’s most ambitious and driven graduates, to find out how they overcame some of their biggest challenges and how they achieved their professional success.
Bre also chats to some of the University’s own experts, to learn how you can power your career or business and reach your full potential.
Manjeet Ghataora OBE: the most senior Sikh in the British Armed Forces
Manjeet Ghataora OBE is a Wing Commanderin the RAF and the most senior Sikh serving in the British Armed Forces. A Herts aerospace engineering graduate, Manjeet has built an extraordinary career and is recognised for his outstanding outreach work, which he delivers to young people and communities in some of the most underrepresented areas of the country.
In this episode, he discusses his time as a student at Herts, his career, and offers his expert advice to engineering students and graduates.
25 Sept 2025
How to ace an interview – tips from a JLR recruiter
Job interviews are a vital part of the recruitment process but can be a daunting experience. However, with the proper insight and enough practice, anyone can ace them!
Manoj Somaratne is the Lead Engineer in Durability and Robustness at JLR. He also facilitates JLR's close relationship with the University of Hertfordshire. Having worked in industry for several years, Manoj has experience with the interview process as both a candidate and interviewer. He spoke to Bre McDermott-King in the University's Careers and Employment Service about what he's learnt of the interview process and advises on how students and graduates can ace them!
Graduates from the University of Hertfordshire can access free support from the Careers and Employment Service for up to four years after they complete their studies. Visit Ask Herts to find out more (https://ask.herts.ac.uk/getting-started-with-the-careers-employment-enterprise-service).
5 Aug 2025
How Dr Abigail Martin created a lung in a dish
Dr Abigail Martin’s journey from scientist to Director began at the University of Hertfordshire.
During her PhD, Abigail developed an innovative in-vitro human lung model to test the effects of inhaled chemicals and particles - offering a more ethical and reliable alternative to animal testing. Working under the supervision of Herts Professor Victoria Hutter, she built a working prototype.
In 2019, the two co-founded ImmuONE, a University of Hertfordshire biotech spin-out company that helps businesses test their products and bring them to market. Since its launch, ImmuONE has secured millions in funding to support its growth and development.
In this episode, Bre joins Abigail at the ImmuONE labs in Stevenage to talk about her time at Herts and her journey from research to entrepreneurship.
23 May 2025
Hamid Ibrahim: creating Iwájú
Hamid Ibrahim discusses his journey from the University of Hertfordshire to co-creating Kugali Media and the Disney+ series Iwájú, highlighting his impact on African creative industries in this interview with Bre.
27 Feb 2025
Zainab Alema: smashing barriers as 'The Bulldozer'
Nicknamed 'The Bulldozer', rugby player Zainab Alema is known for her physical playstyle and breaking barriers. Throughout her career, the University of Hertfordshire graduate has paved the way for Black and Muslim women to get into the sport. She was the first person to play Premiership Women's Rugby wearing a hijab when she made her debut for Leicester Tigers and set up Studs in the Mud, a charitable project supporting grassroots rugby in Ghana.
In this episode of Powered By Herts, Zainab talks about her time at Herts, her extraordinary career, and why it's important to encourage those from minority backgrounds to give rugby a go.
20 Dec 2024
Recovering from a stroke to achieve a first
Ben Spires, a stroke survivor and Herts alumnus, shares his extraordinary journey of resilience and perseverance, achieving a first-class degree and overcoming seemingly insurmountable goals.
18 Apr 2024
Studying abroad: an international student’s guide
Studying in a different country is an exciting experience, but being away from home can be challenging too. Rida Shafqat embraced her time as an international student from Pakistan when she enrolled at the University of Hertfordshire in 2017. During her time at Herts, she became President of Hertfordshire Students’ Union, and she is now CEO of AR Consultants, an education consultancy based in the UK. In this episode, Rida speaks to Bre about her time at Herts and gives her advice to those looking to study abroad.
To find out more about AR Consultants, you can:
Email: Official@areduconsultants.co.uk (mailto:Official@areduconsultants.co.uk)
Visit their website: areduconsultants.co.uk (https://url.uk.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/pEUUCqVKPh9YJoZfZOjGV?domain=areduconsultants.co.uk)
Contact them on WhatsApp: +44 7404 315984
11 Apr 2024
Climbing Everest: becoming the youngest African to reach base camp
Climbing the Earth's highest mountain is a formidable challenge - even for the most experienced climber. Those scaling it are risking their lives. But at 17, Herts graduate Farida ElSharkawy did just that and became the youngest African to reach base camp.
Farida had to battle her mind and body to complete this fantastic achievement. She sat down with Bre to discuss the harrowing but triumphant expedition and her professional life since graduating from the University of Hertfordshire's partner institution, INTI International University in Malaysia.
4 Apr 2024
How to start your own business
Raphael Sofoluke is an impressive businessman. A few years after graduating from Herts, Raphael founded the UK Black Business Show and UK Black Business Week to champion fellow Black entrepreneurs and showcase talent from the Black community.
In 2020, Forbes named Raphael one of their 25 leading Black British businesspeople to follow, and he is now an Entrepreneur in Residence at Herts, where he supports students and graduates looking to follow in his footsteps.
Raphael joins Bre on the Powered By Herts podcast to talk about how to start and run a successful business.
*THIS EPISODE WAS RECORDED ON 14 MARCH 2024*
To find out more about the enterprise support available at Herts, visit: https://www.herts.ac.uk/for-business
28 Mar 2024
Navigating the job market
Getting a graduate job can be tough; the job market is highly competitive and can be volatile. What can you do to stand out from the crowd? In this week’s episode, Bre is speaking to Jo Eaton, an expert from the University’s Careers and Employment Service, to find out what their top tips are for landing that first graduate role or progressing in your chosen career.
You can follow the University of Hertfordshire's Careers and Employment Service on Instagram (@uhcareers) and TikTok (@uhcareers). Students, staff and graduates can also visit their website: www.herts.ac.uk/careers (http://www.herts.ac.uk/careers)
21 Mar 2024
What does good leadership look like?
Herts graduate Dr Rachael Moses OBE knows a thing or two about leadership. She is a Consultant Physiotherapist who has held several senior positions in the NHS, and in that time, she has come to understand the importance of kindness and compassion in leadership. Bre sits down with Rachael to explore this and find out what good leadership looks like.
14 Mar 2024
Your mental health, at work and in the classroom
In 2016, Herts graduate James Lindsay faced one of his greatest challenges. He experienced a psychotic episode and was hospitalized for nearly a month. James has now released a new book, Befriending My Brain: A Psychosis Story, in which he talks about his recovery and how he overcame this dark period in his life.
In this first episode of the Powered By Herts podcast, fellow graduate Bre McDermott-King chats to James to find out what he learnt about taking care of his mental health and to hear any advice he has for students and graduates.
* DISCLAIMER *
This episode is not a substitute for professional healthcare advice.
For more information on looking after your mental health, please seek support from a healthcare professional.
If you are in the UK and need someone to talk to, contact the Samaritans.
Call 116 123
Email jo@samaritans.org (mailto:jo@samaritans.org)
www.samaritans.org (http://www.samaritans.org)
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