Her future started here

Reflections from our Chief Executive

A few weeks ago, over four hundred alumnae, staff and friends of the GDST gathered at South Hampstead High School for a truly extraordinary evening. We had the privilege of hearing from Baroness Manningham-Buller, Northampton High School alumna, former Director General of MI5, and one of the most distinguished public servants of her generation.

Dame Eliza spoke with candour and insight about her remarkable career in Intelligence, her leadership during times of national challenge (she oversaw the service during the 7/7 London bombings for example), and her ongoing service in the House of Lords and as Chair of the Wellcome Trust.

She highlighted MI5’s essential mission – to collect intelligence that reveals threats to the UK – and she shared the question that always steered her decision making and kept her personally invested in the challenging work she was spearheading: “Have we done enough to illuminate the problem?”

Dame Eliza’s story is one of courage, intellect and integrity. But what struck me most was not the scale of her many noteworthy achievements, but her personal reflection that she is one of thousands of remarkable women who began their journeys at GDST schools all around the country.

Remarkably, she follows in the footsteps of the late Dame Stella Rimington, Nottingham Girls’ High School alumna and the very first woman to lead MI5. That the first two women to take on this vital role both came from GDST schools is no coincidence, I believe. It speaks to the confidence building, resilience training and leadership skills that are nurtured in our schools every day.

Dame Eliza defines her leadership unapologetically – she insists that everyone should be their own role model by learning from both the best and worst behaviours they encounter. She is dismissive of the notion of imposter syndrome, which was refreshing.  She builds a discipline of weekly self-reflection on her performance and advocates for lifelong learning. And she never underestimates the power of small gestures – a timely word of praise or a handwritten note in difficult times can mean the world to someone.

Impressive leaders like Dame Eliza highlight something unique and inspirational: the power of the GDST alumnae network. More than 100,000 women across the world, pioneers in their fields, entrepreneurs, scientists, artists, mentors and leaders, united by the same formative experience of a GDST education, willing to share with others and help them on their journeys.  This is a network of support, of inspiration and of limitless possibility. The moment a girl steps in as a student at one of our schools she becomes part of it, a GDST girl for life, encouraged  to follow her dreams, whatever they may be, a changemaker joining the GDST network that spans generations and continents.

Our campaign Her future started here, shares stories of alumnae from all corners of the globe and across our fabulous family of schools – women whose journeys encourage today’s students to dream big, defy barriers and learn to live lives without limits.

Whether it is Rosemary Coogan – Brighton Girls alumna – training with the European Space Agency to fulfil her dream of going to the moon; or the team of Oxford High School students recently winning an international competition for their innovation in aerospace technology; or the countless alumnae who lead with courage, creativity and conviction.

Because when girls learn without limits, they go on to lead lives without limits – and that changes everything, making the world a better place for us all.

Cheryl Giovannoni

Chief Executive