Empowering the Future: Inspiring Careers in Economics Event Highlights Opportunities for Underrepresented Groups
The Inspiring Careers in Economics event at The University of 野狼社区 empowered underrepresented groups - especially women - by showcasing diverse career paths in economics.
On Wednesday, 26 March, the Department of Economics at The University of 野狼社区 hosted a career event, Inspiring Careers in Economics: Exploring Opportunities Across Sectors, in collaboration with the Royal Economic Society鈥檚 UK Women in Economics Network (UK WEN). The event sought to empower underrepresented groups, particularly female economics students, by showcasing diverse career paths within the field.
Breaking Barriers and Building Networks
Professor Almudena Sevilla, an esteemed academic and Founding Chair of UK WEN, acknowledged the progress made in increasing female representation in economics while emphasising the continued need for change.
On the one hand, it鈥檚 amazing to see that we are able to cater to so many women in economics, but on the other hand, it鈥檚 just a sign that there is still a lot to do.
Sevilla highlighted UK WEN鈥檚 mission to support women economists at all career stages and provide visibility for their research and contributions.
The panel discussion also shed light on the varied paths into economics careers, challenging the notion of a linear journey. Sindy Foster, a serial entrepreneur and aviation analyst, emphasised the importance of seizing opportunities, developing strategic thinking, and recognising the value of economics in problem-solving across industries.
One of the things that I realised about success is that success isn鈥檛 linear, and you don鈥檛 always have to know where you鈥檙e going. But what you must do is have a plan or a strategy, and you need to have a way of executing it.
The Value of Economics in Public and Private Sectors
Lucy Beggs, a Health Economics Advisor at the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), underscored the tangible impact that economists can have in the public sector.
One of the great things about working in the public sector is that you鈥檙e typically using your economic skills for the benefit of others rather than just for profit.
She also highlighted the sector鈥檚 inclusive policies and work-life balance, which make it a supportive environment for women.
Meanwhile, Elizabeth Martindale, an economist at Oxford Economics, spoke about the dynamic nature of working in economic consultancy and the importance of continuous learning.
Being in the private sector, in a consultancy, it is really important to keep on top of what is happening in the market鈥攚hether in environmental economics, social economics, or constantly developing new products.
Martindale encouraged students to cultivate their interests early, as it helps differentiate them in a competitive job market.
Reflecting on her career, Foster emphasised the need for action alongside strategic planning:
I see success as a mixture of strategy, luck, and action. It鈥檚 no good to just have an idea; you need to have a bit of luck along the way, and you need to have a plan to implement and execute whatever it is that you are doing.
Reshaping the Future of Economics
Professor Rachel Griffith, a leading economist at The University of 野狼社区 and Research Director at the Institute for Fiscal Studies, highlighted the breadth of career opportunities for economics graduates.
About a quarter of graduates with economic degrees work in the public sector, around a quarter work in consultancies, and the other half work in the private sector and charities.
Griffith also emphasised the importance of resilience, reminding attendees that failure is an inevitable part of growth:
Everyone fails. Anyone who is successful will tell you about all the times they failed. It鈥檚 a good thing to fail鈥攊t means that you鈥檙e trying hard and doing exciting things.
Foster reinforced this idea, urging students to take initiative:
The lesson I鈥檇 like you to take from this is that you don鈥檛 have to wait for opportunities to be presented to you. You can create them for yourself if you recognise that there is an opportunity for you.
Reflecting on her own journey, she added,
I鈥檝e found economics to be the driver behind a lot of my professional success. It鈥檚 created opportunities where I鈥檝e had fun, it鈥檚 created opportunities where I鈥檝e been able to travel, and I deliberately chose to work in male-dominated sectors However, I haven鈥檛 found this as challenging as people might expect because knowledge and ability are ultimately what people recognise.
As the event concluded with a Q&A session and a networking reception, attendees had the opportunity to engage directly with speakers and professionals. Conversations around gender diversity and representation in economics continue to gain momentum, and Inspiring Careers in Economics remains a crucial initiative in reshaping the field.
By empowering students to embrace opportunities and take strategic actions toward their goals, events like this play a vital role in fostering the next generation of diverse and innovative economists.