Nicolas Weir, International and HE Partnerships Director

Describe your role

As Head of International Sales and Delivery, I'm responsible for looking after our international area managers. I also devise our strategy for how we can grow the international arm of the business, and how we can best look after our current network of partner schools to make sure they use our platform effectively.

On top of this, I'm the Area Manager for Switzerland, so am personally responsible for growing our number of partner schools there, and maintaining great relationships with the schools we work with there already!

What’s at the top of your bucket list?

I love snorkelling, snowboarding, fishing and climbing - any 'outdoor' sport really! Last summer I went to the Alps and climbed the Zinalrothorn, from where you get to see lots of other peaks in the Alps. One of them was Dent Blanche, or ‘White Tooth’, which is just over 4,000m high - it’d be great to climb that next summer.

What motivates you at Unifrog?
 
I’d say there are three main things: firstly, I love building great relationships with counselors and teachers at schools around the world; secondly, it’s great to provide students with access to a fabulous tool that I would have found immensely helpful myself when I was a student; finally, I love working with a brilliant team of people and doing my bit to help the company grow!

What’s your favourite memory of being on the road for Unifrog?

Greg and I recently went to a conference in Bangkok and on our way to the venue we were fortunate enough to be able to take a Hello Kitty tuk tuk through the streets. We saw some great views of the city and I won’t forget that journey easily!

Abbie Moir, Video Editor

How has your background in social media and editing helped you in this role?

I've been lucky in the fact that I've had a lot of creative jobs! I've been a social media manager for an artisan bakery. This meant following the bakers around the bakery with a camera and making "Meet the Staff" videos! I've also been an Assistant Editor at VICE News for two years, and this meant working on (name drop alert) EMMY Award-nominated documentaries! Being a social media manager taught me how to get people to smile in front of the camera, and VICE taught me how to edit people in front of the camera!

What does an average day as a video editor look like?

I start off by watching the footage we have and then writing down any REALLY good bits where I can add a snazzy graphic on top, or a cool bit of editing. My brain likes rhythm, so cutting a piece that has a lot of different shots to a beat is my favourite! After lunch, I usually have a call with Thom or Cat who are in my team, to catch up and to look at our work so far (as well as boost each other's egos when it comes to our editing!)

A genie gives you three wishes—what are they?

1. I don't own my house but when I do, I would like an outdoor pizza oven with unlimited pizza making supplies. (Pizza for breakfast, lunch, and dinner? Yes please!)

2. This is a very niche one, but I want my handwriting to look as if I'm an Edwardian lady is writing letters to her rich mother. Those cursive o's, the italics – that's the dream!

3. One Direction to come back and for me to get front row seats at their fancy dress comeback tour on Halloween night (you said I could have ANY wish...)

What's the best joke you know?

A cat walks into a library. "I'd like two tins of tuna and a can of coke."

Librarian says, "This is a library."

Cat says (whispering): "I'd like two tins of tuna and a can of coke."

Alex Smith, Senior Account Manager

What gets you out of bed in the morning to start work?

The things that get me out of a bed are a loud alarm clock, a cup of tea made with two tea bags, and the feeling that I'm going to spend my day helping people to help other people!

What's your favourite Unifrog tool and why?

From a teacher's point of view, I love the ability to log Interactions. I have seen this put to so many creative uses, by Heads of Year, Tutors, Careers Leads, in PSHE, and so on. Its capacity to keep both students and teachers in the loop is phenomenal. When fully utilised, it does so much of the record-keeping that we know teachers need!

If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?

I would have to choose a roast dinner. Yes, it's one meal, but you can mix it up! But I'd always have it with horseradish sauce.

What advice would you give to your younger self?

Assume nothing. Always politely check.
 

Alyssa El-Shamma, New Partnerships Lead

What made you want to work at Unifrog?

Before Unifrog I was a tutor, and my students came from many different schools around the area. I was surprised to notice a lot more excitement and optimism in the students whose schools used Unifrog. I would sometimes catch them chatting about their aspirations and laughing about their ‘personality frogs’. So, I made the (brilliant) decision to join Unifrog so that I can spend my days reaching out to schools across the world, and growing the Unifrog community on a global scale!

How has your background in tutoring helped you in this role?

There are many ways my background in tutoring has helped me in this role. I think most importantly, it gave me perspective. I know how difficult it is to instil confidence in young minds, and I also know how overwhelming the world can seem after school. Unifrog helps both educators and students in countless ways, and this fuels my determination to find new partner schools around the world.

If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Without a doubt, my meal of choice would have to be Pad Thai. I love that Thai dish so much that I ate it nearly every day for three months without getting tired of it. I have even forced myself to get used to spicy food just so I can handle the red chilli on top - sad I know, but it has to be authentic!

What's your karaoke song?

If anyone with super cool music taste is reading this, then my karaoke song is definitely ‘House of the Rising Sun’ or something like that (but truthfully, I’d never say no to ABBA or High School Musical).

Annabel Mercer, Teaching Resources Creator and Careers Guidance Specialist

How has your background in careers guidance helped you in this role?

Before joining Unifrog, I completed an MA in Career Guidance and worked at an independent London school, where I delivered careers education and supported university applications, including Oxbridge and the USA; we also used Unifrog! I also have experience in UK universities and international education. All these experiences have given me a deep understanding of the challenges faced by career development practitioners and educators.

As a Level 7 RCDP with the CDI, I stay up-to-date with sector developments and apply my knowledge of careers theory and best practices, gained through my MA, QCD and CPD, to my work at Unifrog, such as leading the design of our careers education spiral curriculum.

What part of your job do you find most challenging?

I was diagnosed with a disability called POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome), a type of dysautonomia (dysfunction of the autonomic system). The simplest way to explain it is that blood doesn't always get to my heart and brain like it should. As a result, it can cause a whole host of 'fun' symptoms like fainting, chest pain, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, dizziness, and very low blood pressure.

I can work around POTS 90% of the time because I work from home part-time and can be flexible with my hours. However, it becomes challenging when it comes to team days because POTS symptoms can fluctuate and be unpredictable; I often can't travel independently for long distances. I'm lucky that 90% of the time, I don’t find POTS is an issue in the workplace, and my team are fantastic at being super inclusive and considerate.

If you could meet any celebrity, who would it be and why?

I would love to meet the composer, lyricist, and actor Lin-Manual Miranda. I'm a huge fan of his work, specifically In The Heights and Hamilton (but who doesn't love Moana and Encanto too)! I love playing the piano, singing, and musical theatre so I'd want to pick his brains for his musical and writing process, how he coped with people telling him that Hamilton would never be a hit, and his favourite song from Hamilton. I'd also want to know what projects he has coming up next!
 
What advice would you give to your younger self?

As a qualified Level 7 careers adviser, I'd go back to my younger self and give myself more informed careers advice. I was told that I was too academic to take certain subjects, and ended up going down a route for A level that didn't align with my genuine interests. I took a gap year to reassess what I wanted to do and ended up really enjoying my time at the university.

I'd go back and reassure myself that you don't need to know exactly what you're going to do at age 14, 15, or 16, and whatever choices you make do not mean they're the only career decisions you're going to make for the rest of your life. You can have many careers in your life, and you should reframe thinking about careers as a 'journey' where you'll pivot and reassess as you react to how life evolves for you. This couldn't be more true after I had to reassess my ways of working after being diagnosed with POTS.
 

Ashley Walshe, HE Partnerships Manager

What does a day in the life of an HE Partnerships Manager look like?

My days are spent reaching out to new universities both in the UK and across the world, showing them our incredible platform; working on performance reports for our partner universities and identifying key ways our insights can inform their strategy; and planning opportunities - like webinars - for our universities to meaningfully engage with our Unifrog community. 

What do you like the most about your role?

I really enjoy getting to know what a university’s priorities are and figuring out how we can support them in achieving these goals. I also love that I get to interact with a diverse range of people, from Paris to Plymouth or Sheffield to Stirling. 

What was your favourite subject at school and why?

Definitely drama: I’ve always been a bit of a performer and love theatre, literature, and the creative arts. When I was younger, I would always choreograph and perform my own dance shows for my family at Christmas. 

What would your perfect weekend look like?

Pre-pandemic it would involve going out for a few drinks or a gig on Friday night, then making the most of Saturday by getting out of the city for a bike ride or a hike. I like to have a pretty lazy Sunday - maybe meet some friends for a dog walk before rounding off the weekend with a lovely Sunday roast.

Ben Howard, Post Production Team Lead

What’s your favourite thing about your role at Unifrog?

The thing that appealed to me most when I applied was the opportunity to capture the imagination of young people. When I was at school, I wanted to do something in film and video, but I didn’t know how, so I really relate to students who are feeling uncertain about what to do next.

After school, I ended up doing an apprenticeship as an electrician! I don’t regret the path I took, but it would’ve helped to know I could just go to college and study media production as a starting point.

Just in the past month in my role, I’ve been working on videos that showcase data analysts, nurses, and compliance officers, so I get to introduce students to an amazing world of careers!

Which frog are you on the Personality quiz?

I’m an INFJ – a fire-bellied toad! Apparently, this means I’m quite creative and passionate about the topics I care about. It also says I’m very organised and carry a plan through to the end. All of that sounds pretty accurate to me!

If you had to teach a one-hour class on any topic (no matter how silly), what would it be?

I’d teach about the books of James Ellroy. I’ve always been into crime novels, but once I read  Ellroy’s ‘The Black Dahlia’, it was mind-blowing – I realised nothing comes close to his writing. He manages to write these really complex labyrinthine stories, where the characters and their motivations all align perfectly with the plot in the end. When I read them, I always wonder how he managed to put them together.

What gives you energy?

Music gives me energy! Playing my guitar, or just listening to music, is such a cathartic release for me. When I’m driving back from a long day’s video shoot, or when I need to get up in the morning, sticking some music on is what gets me going.

Cassie Ruddock, Data Management Lead

Describe your role

My job is to make sure that all the information we have for our students is up to date, relevant, accurate, and as interesting as possible. On a day-to-day basis I perform regular checks on the live information that changes regularly, like work experience opportunities, and our immense Read Watch Listen catalogue. I’ve also been looking at South Korean and Croatian university courses - I get to travel the world from the comfort of my desk! I love working in a methodical, structured way, so this job suits me down to the ground.

How has your background in education helped you in this role?

Before I came to Unifrog, I worked at a sixth form college and university in the learning support team. Working directly with students was lovely and gave me a useful insight into what teenagers and young people deal with when they make decisions about their futures - it can be so difficult having so many options and not knowing where to go or what would fit. It’s helped me understand what will be most useful for students, and shown me how the tools we have are so useful. The Personality profile, for example, that breaks down elements of careers and pathways to help students make decisions, is so brilliant!

If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Pizza! I just don’t get bored of it: the rich, sweet tomato sauce, the melty cheese, some spicy jalapenos, mushrooms, bell peppers, and an indulgent stuffed crust. Mmmmmm.

What book do you always recommend to other people?

I always recommend the Discworld series by Terry Pratchett, and the Tiffany Aching story arc in particular. He writes really well-rounded characters, especially women - they’re angry and complex and speak to each other about things other than men! He has a way of making the characters feel real despite the dragons and magic.

Where is the best place you've ever travelled to? Why is it the best?

Scotland. I come from East Anglia which is beautiful, but very flat! Scotland has the most dramatic, beautiful scenery; it’s like the Lake District doubled in height! The West Coast is my favourite - I got married in Fort William so I’m biased! - but it has white sand beaches and gets so warm in the summer. I would definitely recommend taking the steam train from Fort William to the coast - the scenery is beautiful, you can order a cream tea, and you go over the Glenfinnan Viaduct.

I've actually moved to Scotland and now I'm 10 mins away from the nearest loch meaning I can go on beautiful hikes and cycle rides whenever I want.

Charlotte Hu, Marketing Lead

What does an average day in your role look like?

I'm quite new to Unifrog and am already enjoying how varied my role can be. On a typical day, I could be writing engaging emails to teachers and counselors, developing marketing materials to support outreach, looking after the community on our social media channels, or helping out at one of our brilliant events.

What's your favourite Unifrog tool and why?

The psychometric testing tools are so clever. I had a go at putting in my own interests, personality traits, and skills to see if I've chosen the right career path. Luckily I have, but having this resource when I was a student could have saved me many years of figuring it out!

What things do you spend money on unreasonably, but very satisfyingly?

Does my dog count? I don't want to add up how much I've spent on gourmet treats, grooming, and dog-friendly holidays over the last five years. This may or may not include a fancy walnut dog bed that he still refuses to sleep in.

Describe your dream burger, pizza, or taco!

I made a Korean-inspired cheeseburger recently that I was quite proud of. Two beef patties (marinated in soy sauce, ginger, and gochugaru) with melted cheese, gherkins, and rocket in a brioche bun, served with kimchi coleslaw, fries, and a maple-gochujang dip.

Chris Edwards, Head of UK Partnerships

What does a good day as an Area Manager look like?

As an Area Manager, every single day is different. I can be speaking at a conference in front of hundreds of people one day, and meeting with a local council the next. Hearing feedback from staff and students about how Unifrog has helped them to plan their futures is incredibly rewarding and is always part of a great day at work.

How do you make sure you keep in touch with the rest of the team when you’re working remotely?

Working remotely can definitely be a challenge, but staying in constant touch with colleagues over the phone really helps. I usually use the long car journeys to speak with people on handsfree and I also have about a million work WhatsApp groups, so I never feel too far away.

What’s your favourite thing to do outside work?

I love being active and struggle to sit still for more than ten minutes. I have a particular fascination with martial arts and I am currently doing kickboxing/Muay Thai training five times a week! I also enjoy taking my dog out for long muddy walks and if I'm lucky, I love a good snowboarding holiday too.

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?

New Zealand. I went traveling around both islands before going to university, and it was the most incredible place. The scenery is unlike anything anywhere else in the world and there is so much to do. You can even ski and surf on the same day, which is right up my street!

Claire Masterson, Course Writer

Describe your role

I'm lucky to be part of the content team and have taken on an exciting new role as a course writer. Courses are still a fairly new feature of the Unifrog platform and so hopefully my role will enable this feature to expand and grow! If courses are sponsored, then I'll communicate with the client and establish what they're hoping to achieve through the course. I'll then use the information they send through to us, as well as some of my own research, to start putting together an engaging course for students.

What's your favourite Unifrog quiz and why?

I enjoyed doing the Interests profile and found the result pretty spot on! I came out as mostly 'conventional' making me a good organiser and someone who enjoys working within a clear structure. This is definitely true - I find great satisfaction in organising things, whether it's a party, a weekend away, or a fun day out for my children. This was closely followed by 'artistic' which definitely appeals to my creative side. As a former teacher, my favourite part of the job was creating engaging lessons and thinking up new and exciting ways to get students learning. That's why my new role as a course writer is so exciting!

What advice would you give to your younger self?

Stop worrying so much! I'm a big worrier and worry incessantly about everyone and everything. I would tell my younger self that worrying isn't going to change anything and to just enjoy life as it's happening.

Build the best ice cream sundae!

From the bottom up:

• crushed praline
• a scoop of hazelnut gelato
• a squeeze of salted caramel sauce
• a scoop of pistachio gelato
• a drizzle of rhubarb coulis
• a scoop of coconut gelato
• a sprinkle of caramelised nuts

Connie Wong, Account Manager

What made you want to work for Unifrog?

I’ve always wanted to work for an organisation that makes a social impact.

In the past, I have volunteered for the Manchester Science festival, where I helped explain the science behind some of the exhibits; and mentored disadvantaged primary school students. These experiences made me realise that I am particularly interested in the education and development of young people, and so I wanted to develop a career in that sector. This led me to discover Unifrog.

Having read up on how the Unifrog platform works, I found it to be a really great idea and I actually became a bit jealous of the students that have access to the platform. I wished that I, too, had had more support from teachers when I was making those big decisions in life. So, I think it’s really rewarding to be able to be part of all this and help get teachers engaged in these processes.

What gets you out of bed in the morning to go to work?

For me, it’s staying optimistic and spending a minute lying in bed trying to imagine how I will be having a wonderful day ahead. In that wonderful day, I will be having a great day at work where I will be able to help make a big difference in young people’s lives, and solve queries from teachers so that they are able to help their students as much as they can.

What about you surprises people when you tell them?

As I’m very petite and dislike getting into arguments, people are surprised when I tell them I am a black belt in Taekwondo.

Build the best ice cream sundae!

I love the smell of coffee, and so my ice cream sundae would definitely include two scoops of coffee ice cream, and probably two scoops of vanilla ice cream to mix it up a bit. It would then be topped with some Irish whipped cream and some caramel sauce. To finish off, I would add some almond flakes and chocolate curls to make it look even more delicious!

Courteney Hawkins-Fowler, Partnerships Lead (Middle East and Africa)

What's your favourite thing about your role?

My favourite things are the different partners I get to meet and talk to everyday, and seeing the joy on their faces when we're able to help them in their role through the different tools on the platform! It's also super easy to be passionate in your role when the product you're showing partners is so comprehensive and helpful to them.

What's the most surprising thing you've learnt working at Unifrog (so far)?

I've learnt that I am terrible at keeping track of time differences! On a serious note, I'm so impressed at how well the organisation works together despite being scattered across the globe. Unifrog is a forward-thinking and dynamic organisation to work for and it's a great environment to be in.

If you were stranded on a desert island, what three items would you want with you and why?

I would want my paddleboard with me, because that's always fun and may help get the attention of passing ships. I would also bring my skincare bag (does that count as more than one item?!) as it has my lip balm, SPF, etc. Lastly, I would bring my cats Milo and Leo for company. Hopefully they can catch some food for me and keep the spiders away.

What's the best gig or concert you've ever been to?

This is a tough one! I drove all the way to Newcastle (a 380-mile round trip) to see Beyonce, which was a bucket list moment. But I also went to Glastonbury for the first time in 2023 and that was incredible! I don't think I can pick!

Daniel Keller, CEO

Describe your role 

I'm ultimately responsible for Unifrog's success, both in terms of our continued growth and when it comes to achieving our mission. This means I'm involved in lots of things from strategic decision making to company culture to managing our finances. There are always new challenges and ways we want to progress, which keeps things interesting.

What motivates you to work at Unifrog? 

Growing our organisation and having a positive impact, plus working with a fantastic team.

If you could meet any historical figure, who would it be and why? 

I studied ancient history at university, which I really enjoyed, so someone from that period. Alexander the Great is a bit of an obvious choice but I'll go for him - he got quite a lot done before he died in his early thirties. He was tutored by Aristotle, conquered the massive Achaemenid Persian Empire, and got a ton of mileage in for a time when you'd only walk or travel on horseback - so I expect he'd have some good stories to tell.

What does your ideal weekend look like? 

That's a tough one. Probably a weekend spent at a world class climbing venue with good friends and good weather. Lots of trying hard, getting a bit scared and plenty of caffeine. Ski touring in perfect powder condition would also be right up there. Essentially, if it involves coffee, the outdoors and a healthy dose of suffering then I'm happy.

Elizabeth Tomlin, Account Manager

What made you want to work at Unifrog?

Before joining Unifrog, I spent many years working in widening participation and outreach at a university, helping young people explore their next steps in education and careers. I’ve always been passionate about making sure every student – whatever their background – has access to impartial, high-quality guidance. Unifrog’s mission to give all young people the tools and confidence to make informed choices really resonated with me, so joining the team felt like the perfect fit! 

On the Personality quiz, which frog are you?

I'm the Midwife Toad! I'm not sure about that name but the description as 'supportive friends who always remember little details about the people important to them' is pretty accurate. Although it says I'm good at remembering birthdays and that’s not a strong point!

What was your favourite subject at school and why?

I enjoyed history at school, particularly 20th century history. My grandmother lived with us and was born in 1897, so had lived through so many of the political, technological and social changes that we studied – I loved to hear her firsthand insights. When I went on to study history at university, I realised that I needed to study a much broader timespan and ancient history wasn't really for me. I tried to swap onto a nursing degree – I guess I could really have done with being told I was a Midwife Toad sooner! 

What gives you energy?

Getting outside first thing in the morning – I go for a long walk or a run every morning and it sets me up for the day. I also get a real boost from exploring new places; beautiful landscapes, vibrant cities, and discovering different cultures always leaves me feeling refreshed and inspired.

Ellis Joseph, Partnerships Lead (Asia)

What's the most surprising thing you've learnt working at Unifrog?

Something that really surprised me how diverse my colleagues' work backgrounds are. People on our team have previously worked as teachers, content creators, and prison wardens! It's opened my eyes to the vast range of skills and experiences that can contribute to creating a positive impact, and I find it really inspiring.

Your team is based around the world – how do you make sure you keep in touch?

We’re flexible! Being spread across the world definitely comes with its challenges, but that’s nothing a little bit of technology can’t help with! We schedule most team meetings during overlapping working hours, and also understand that we sometimes need to adjust hours to accommodate for different time zones. It's a collaborative effort, and it works!

When you were younger, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Finding my calling definitely took some exploration. As a child, my dream job went from Red Power Ranger to police officer, and then I had a doctor phase! Looking back, it seems the common theme was a desire to help others in some way. It's interesting how that's translated perfectly into my role at Unifrog, where I get to support the Unifrog mission of levelling the playing field for international students.

What does your ideal weekend look like?

My ideal weekend is a balance of activity and relaxation. Saturday would be a full-on adventure day. I might search for a challenging hike, or squeeze in a refreshing run to clear my head. Lazy Sundays are for relaxing and catching up with family.

Emily Kay, HE Partnerships Manager

How has your background helped you in this role?

Previous to this role, I worked in the central team of Ark Schools supporting students across the network to secure, select, and succeed in their next steps. Having spent years trying to pull together all the data, we decided to use Unifrog across the network which was truly game changing! After that, I was an Operations Lead at Beam, an organisation supporting people experiencing homelessness to find work or a new home. Beam's service is really bespoke based on the needs of each area. A combination of my experience in education plus tailored partnership work has put me in a great position to support our university partners.

What's your favourite Unifrog tool and why?

I love the 'Recording what you've done' tools in Unifrog. In previous roles, I've had the opportunity to facilitate some absolutely amazing trips and guest speakers but often found students struggling to remember the details of these when they created applications. I have an absolutely terrible memory myself so I find this highly relatable! These tools helps log everything in one place.

What always surprises people when you tell them?

I took dance lessons between the ages of 6 and 16 years old and took part in several shows at Sheffield's Crucible theatre. My costume highlights included a fish in our under the sea show and a radish in Mr McGregor's garden for the Beatrix Potter show. I've since lost all my dance talent but I'm trying to work on my flexibility again.

What advice would you give your younger self?

Don't cut a full fringe. It won't work.

Emma Leaney, Partner Success Lead

What's your favourite Unifrog tool and why?

I think my favourite has to be the Placements tool! I used to work in a secondary school as the Careers and Work Experience Lead, so this was a game changer for me and made work experience so much easier to manage. It was also super easy for students, employers, and parents to complete too.

What gets you out of bed in the morning to start work?

Many alarms! I'm not a morning person at all, but truly loving my job certainly goes a long way to get me out of bed. I really enjoy supporting staff and students from a new perspective outside of working directly in the education sector. 

If you were stranded on a desert island, what three items would you want with you and why?

I'd be rubbish on a desert island, but I'd definitely need sun cream as I burn super easily! I'd probably want a blanket, as it could be used as shelter, a pillow, to keep me warm – there's a lot that a blanket could do! And an endless supply of good food would also be pretty handy…

How would your friends describe you?

I think they'd say I'm super organised and empathetic, but definitely indecisive! It also depends on who you ask... I can be a little shy with new people but super chatty once I feel comfortable. 

Gemma Neale, Head of UK Sales

What made you want to work for Unifrog?

I’ve known about Unifrog for a number of years and I’m really passionate about the mission to level the playing field for all young people. I’ve previously mentored some students who have used the platform to help them to make decisions for their future and it widened so many opportunities for them. It is also really exciting to be part of something that is constantly changing and adapting based on the needs of the schools we work with.

What's your favourite Unifrog tool and why?

This is very hard to choose! I love all the resources available on the Know-How library. Whether you want to learn about the costs involved for studying abroad, how to support your local community, or understanding how protests work… there’s all the information you could possibly need! I also would have loved to have access to the Special Opportunities tool when I was at school; it’s so useful to see all of the summer schools, scholarships, and internships in one place.

If you could meet any celebrity, who would you choose and why?

It would be great to meet Jodie Comer. It’s amazing how she can master speaking in so many different accents. I’ve recently watched the National Theatre Live performance of ‘Prima Facie’; I was absolutely gripped all the way through.  

What's your favourite pizza? 

My all-time favourite would have to be the ‘Manca’ pizza (mozzarella, poached pears, honey, and gorgonzola) from my local pizza restaurant in Norfolk. But otherwise, anything with pineapple!

Greg Brown, HE Partnerships Manager

What does a good work day look like to you?

The great thing about working at Unifrog is that every day is different and we are constantly innovating! As a University Partnerships Manager I’m often travelling, so when not on the road at conferences or fairs I really enjoy working from home in the peace and quiet. Plus, I always get to choose the 'office' music!

A good day will involve meeting with Unifrog partners, which requires me to be flexible with timing – I could be speaking with people in India in the morning, Europe at lunchtime and the USA in the evening!

What’s the most exciting thing that’s happened to you whilst travelling for work?

A couple of years ago I was in Singapore visiting some Unifrog schools and I decided to take a trip to the ‘Treetop Walk’ in MacRitchie Park. I knew there were lots of macaque monkeys around but I didn’t bet on just how aggressive they could be. As I was crossing the bridge I saw them sizing me up but decided to take a selfie on the bridge anyway. Just as I was looking at the screen, I could see a big macaque monkey charging at me from behind! It jumped on to my shoulders, reached into my bag and tried to grab my stuff. Thankfully I’d seen it coming so turned around quickly and fought him off. He was obviously after the Unifrog booklets in my bag…even the monkeys are keen!

Where are you living at the moment?

A few years ago I moved to Copenhagen from London. I love living here and because Copenhagen is a lot smaller (and quieter) than London, it means you’re never too far from the beach or forests as well as the city centre. The best thing is the freedom to cycle around the city. Danes are obsessed with cycling, and there is even a word - ‘Copenhagenize’ - which describes making a city better for getting around by bike. The food is also amazing and although I’m not that into seafood (which is a big deal here) there are plenty of delicious pastry shops and ice cream stands to keep me happy. If you need an excuse to visit, just google ‘Nyhavn Sunset’.

You grew up in Northern Ireland - what are your favourite things about it?

Northern Ireland has a unique charm to it which is hard to find anywhere else. It’s a small place with a real sense of community. If you meet another person from Northern Ireland elsewhere in the world, then you’ve an instant friend. Despite its small size, it has amazing scenery, from rugged rocky coastlines to sprawling mountains and lakes. The slower pace of life makes it a lovely place to relax when I’m home visiting family and the food always goes down well - an Ulster fry with potato and soda farls, Fifteens and Yellowman honeycomb! 

Helen Clifford, Account Manager

What made you want to work for Unifrog?

I had just finished a PhD and wanted to stay in the education sector, but move more towards outreach and access. I had only just started the job search but when the role with Unifrog came up I was really keen to apply, and it worked out really well! Unifrog’s social mission is really important to me, and I love feeling that I’m a little cog in an organisation that’s making a difference to people every day.

What does an average day as a Partner Success Lead look like?

Busy! We get lots of emails and calls to answer helping our partners to get the most out of Unifrog, as well as solving any tricky technical issues for them.

If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?

I can never say no to noodles, so I'd probably choose pad thai! 

What’s your karaoke song?

I’m not a big karaoke person (don’t tell anyone), but I have learned from past experience that Uptown Girl is never a good choice because the chorus always goes on for far longer than you expect and requires some serious breath control!

Jack O'Keefe, Area Manager

What gets you out of bed in the morning to go to work?

Physically? A combination of my alarm and wafer-thin curtains (hello, early morning light). Beyond that, I’d say a sugary breakfast and the fresh promise of a new day.

More seriously, I’d say people – I love them. I’m lucky that my role involves fairly constant introductions, interactions, and opportunities to hear stories and build pretty exciting relationships. I’m becoming very familiar with the sound of my own voice though, and nobody is getting out of bed in the morning to listen to that (probably).

How has your background in working with schools for charities helped you in this role?

My background at an education charity directly led me to Unifrog and specifically our social purpose. I’ve worked closely with schools serving pupils most affected by poverty, and have seen the extraordinary work that those schools do to close a gap that, as we know, shouldn’t exist. Pupil destinations follow a similar pattern of cyclical poverty and disadvantage, leading to a huge gap in aspiration and opportunity.

Going back further, I went to a struggling state school that was forced to close the year after I left, so my role involves a lot of me thinking ‘I wish I had this!’, whilst witnessing a school leader experience a platform and partnership that can genuinely help them support their most in-need pupils.

Levelling the playing field is a system-wide challenge. I’m fortunate to have a broad geographical scope across South London and the South East, and therefore an opportunity to work with pretty much all forms of school provision. I’m here because Unifrog is doing incredible work to eliminate the pupil aspiration gap, support schools, and improve outcomes for communities.

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?

A fun fact about me is that I’m probably the coldest person you are ever likely to meet, despite growing up in a much colder part of the country (Yorkshire) than the tropical London climbs I find myself in these days. By that I mean two pairs of gloves in the winter, one pair of the gloves in the summer (I kid). So cold is off the menu – let’s flip it on its head and go Mediterranean. I have a vision of being one of those one-hundred-year-old Greek locals who get by playing cards and eating olive oil and fresh tomatoes.

What's the best joke you know?

My Unifrog induction was a ribbeting experience. Get it? I’m here all week!

James So, Area Manager (Asia)

What made you want to work for Unifrog?

When I applied for this job, I was looking for something that would be meaningful, but would also work well for my location, as I’d just moved back to Hong Kong. The role completely fit me as someone who knows the international school market (I went to one!). Plus, I found the job advert on Escape the City, which celebrates meaningful work – something Unifrog is recognised for. The mission was something I could really get behind. Within a few weeks of working here, I realised just how much I wanted to be a part of it.

What does an average day as an international area manager look like?

I meet with schools from India all the way to New Zealand, so I have to structure my day in line with their time zones!

For most of my mornings, I’m responding to questions from schools, so I have lots of calls and emails to pick up. My calendar will be mostly made up of meetings like new business demos and strategy calls.

Then, in the afternoon, I tend to have most of my internal meetings, as part of the team is based in the UK. I can have three to five calls a day on average! But I really enjoy speaking to people around the world and building our relationships ‘face to face’.

If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?

I’d have to go for a local Hong Kong dish called char siu. The version I’m thinking of is the one with two types of meat: crispy pork belly, and barbecued pork with a sticky sauce. You have it with some veg, a fried egg, and rice. That’s the meal I could eat for the rest of my life.

How would your friends describe you?

I think most people would say I’m quite a positive, optimistic person. I always like to see the good in people or situations. I love to meet new people – I’m always chatting away. And I think they’d say I’m laid back about most things, apart from the hobbies I have a goal for, then I’m obsessed about them, like surfing and climbing! But generally, I don’t take things too seriously.

Jen Carter, Employer Partnerships Manager

What’s your favourite thing about your role?

My favourite thing by far is getting out into schools and colleges and meeting my contacts, to chat through how they can use Unifrog most effectively. No two schools use it in exactly the same way, and everybody has challenges which I love to try and overcome. The platform is so flexible in the way it can be incorporated into the curriculum, and the perpetual tweaks and content launches mean that my meetings are always punctuated with exclamations of “I didn’t know it could do that!”. 

As my contacts will testify, I love a cuppa and a catch up, and I really enjoy building relationships with my schools and colleges so that everyone feels supported and able to come to me with anything they might need, be it platform queries, suggestions for future tweaks, or requests for training.

What’s your favourite anecdote about Unifrog having an impact on a student’s life?

Technically this isn’t one of my wins, but a fantastic colleague of mine went into a school on the day the Canadian University search tool was launched, and on a whim (or was it pure serendipity?) she decided to showcase that tool. For one of the students there that day, it opened their eyes to the world of possibilities, and they subsequently applied and were accepted to study in Canada. Unifrog really does change lives!

What advice would you give to your 17-year-old self?

There are a few clichés that I could come out with here and they’d all be true! 

• Act now, apologise later.
• Don’t stress too much; whatever will happen is going to happen anyway.
• Follow your instincts - they are there for a reason!
• Pretend to be confident until it comes naturally.
• Procrastinate less (having spent far too long thinking about these questions, I’m not sure I’ve learnt this lesson yet!)

What do you get up to when you’re not working? 

I’m married with two teenagers and a dog, so they take up a lot of my time! Alongside working part-time at Unifrog, I’m also studying towards becoming a qualified Psychotherapist, a subject I love and find fascinating. I also volunteer at Cruse Bereavement as a counsellor which is incredibly rewarding. 

My favourite way to relax is taking long walks along the river near where I live with my dog. That or playing cards, board games and video games with my kids.

Jethro Martin, Video Producer/Director

What gets you out of bed in the morning to start work?

Video production is all about problem solving, so in general, the people who find themselves in this field tend to love the challenge of finding creative solutions to logistical problems and the satisfaction of seeing a plan come together. Being able to apply these skills to content that makes a positive impact is a huge bonus and one of the big things that gets me out of bed in the morning. Also, coffee.

What’s your favourite thing about your role (so far)?

Meeting new people and talking to them about subjects that matter to them is incredibly rewarding. I also feel very privileged to be able to travel for work, filming in various locations around the UK.

Which actor would you get to play you in the movie of your life and why?

I would like Danny DeVito to play me in the movie of my life as he is the only actor who could capture the true majesty of my existence.

What advice would you give to your younger self?

Live in the moment. Be kind to yourself. Invest in bitcoin.
 

John Hillis, Employer Partnerships Manager

Describe your role 

I'm an Area Manager covering Leeds down to Northamptonshire - that's about 250 schools and colleges. When I started in 2015 there was just a small group of us doing everything from admin, accounts, sales and marketing, and training teachers. Now there are around 50 of us! My day usually involves demonstrating the platform to potential partners, training teachers/staff, arranging webinars and CPDs, all from home at the moment until the occasional dog bark or doorbell interrupts the little grey cells!

What's your favourite Unifrog tool and why? 

Apprenticeships and MOOCs. I know that's two favourites, but I've always been passionate about both since joining Unifrog. Both my sons did apprenticeships, and the value of MOOCs is something I've always promoted.

What book do you always recommend to other people? 

The Psychopath Test by Jon Ronson, Tell No One by Harlen Coben, and the Bible, by you-know-who. Something for everyone there!

What's your ideal weekend like? 

Walking in the Lake District. I've gone at least once every year since I was 17, apart from the last year due to the pandemic, and 2001 due to the foot and mouth outbreak. I've been lucky to see the Brocken Spectre recently, and the Hale-Bopp comet in 1997. I think I've done most of the Wainwright walks several times.

What's the most unusual thing you've ever eaten? 

In South Africa, we had snake, crocodile, and impala at a BBQ. The snake was like chicken as was the crocodile, and impala was like fillet steak.

Julia Jaworska, Partnerships Lead (Europe)

What motivates you to work at Unifrog?

I've always wanted to work for a company that has a positive social impact, especially on kids and young people. I've benefited enormously from studying internationally and having the right people around me to support my choices. If I could have also had the tools that Unifrog provides, some of the most stressful parts of this process would have been so much easier and simply more fun!

Knowing that the work we do supports young people in making the best choices for their future is what's great about working here. On top of that I really love the culture at Unifrog and working with people from all over the world which is what I get to do as part of the International Team! 

What’s the most surprising thing you’ve learnt working at Unifrog?

The amount of tools and resources on the platform blew me away! Unifrog is so much more than just a destinations platform – it can help students learn about different cultures, acquire new skills, and broaden their horizons in so many ways. The 'if only this was around when I was at school' feeling is strong!

What would your perfect weekend look like?

On a weekend my favourite thing to do is to go for a hike in the Scottish highlands and have a picnic with a view. I've not bagged many munros yet, but you have to start somewhere! Having a drink in the pub after is also a must. Then I'll have a lie-in on Sunday and cook something nice. And if I have a long weekend – I try to travel somewhere I haven't been yet!

What would your superpower be?

Being in a couple of places at the same time – like enhanced teleportation. I do have family and friends in a couple of different countries so it does seem unfair not to be able to be everywhere, always!

Kai Feltham, Primary School Partnerships Manager

What gets you out of bed in the morning to start work?

I’m very much a people person, so the thing that gets me out of bed is the enjoyment I get from bothering other people! I’m not very good in my own company, so whether it’s with a teacher or a colleague, I look forward to that first conversation.

What’s your favourite Unifrog tool, and why?

My favourite would have to be the UK Universities tool. When I was at school, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. I applied for a couple of things, and then panicked the month before I was due to start uni and pulled out at the last minute. Then, I went and did my own research to find what I really wanted to do. So I know that if I’d had access to the UK Universities tool when I was at school, it wouldn’t have been as stressful a process.

If you could eat only one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?

I’m a lover of proper fresh pasta. If money was no object, I’d eat out as much as I possibly could, so I’d choose pasta from an Italian restaurant. I love seafood as well, so I’d probably go for a dish with salmon, prawns or mussels maybe.

What’s your favourite way to spend a day off?

I’m quite a busy person and rarely have a lie-in. So my ideal day off would be getting up around 8 or 9am, having a strong coffee, and probably going for a walk around Gunnersbury Park and doing some dog-spotting. I’d go along to the football in the afternoon - I support Wycombe Wanderers, for my sins - then in the evening, I’d see live music at a venue like Brixton Academy or The Roundhouse. And finally, I’d round it off with a couple of drinks, probably regretting some of my decisions the next morning.

Kathryn Donnelly, Account Manager

What made you want to work at Unifrog?

I was a teacher before this and I loved Unifrog - I thought it was an absolutely brilliant platform. But the main motivation for me is to ‘level the playing field’ for students, giving students who aren’t in privileged positions the opportunities to learn what is available to them. I worked in the north east in a deprived area, so I was able to support those students as a teacher, but now I can help students nationwide by working for Unifrog!

What does an average day as an Account Manager look like?

An average day involves helping lots of teachers via emails and video calls. It’s great because I get to speak to so many people across my region. I’m just about to book my first face-to-face school visit too, which is exciting. 

What book do you always recommend?

I was an English and Film Studies teacher, so I recommend L'Étranger by Albert Camus - it’s amazing - or Ernest Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises. Both a bit miserable, I’m afraid.

Build the best ice cream sundae

This is so difficult! My dream sundae would be chocolate-heavy, as I’m a bit of a chocoholic. I think peanut butter ice cream on the bottom, maybe some chocolate sauce… Ben & Jerry’s cookie dough ice cream… then some more chocolate sauce… lots of whipped cream (a must), nuts, and some more chocolate sauce. And maybe some more chocolate ice cream in there.

Khadija Jackson, Account Manager

What do you like most about your role?

I'm really passionate about social mobility through schooling and education. For seven years I was a maths teacher and year leader which allowed me to see firsthand the challenges faced by students when thinking of their lives beyond Year 11. I also experienced the challenges that can be faced by teachers in terms of time and resources to help students discover the educational/career pathways available to them. 

Being an account manager for Unifrog is so exciting as I'm able to show tools and resources that will help eliminate a lot of these issues. Students, regardless of their background, have fair access to understanding the pathways available to them and how they can get there. Staff also have access to resources that are easy to use, save time, and are impactful – an absolute dream for teachers! Knowing that I am a part of making this change is what I love about the role. 

What part of your job do you find most challenging?

The most challenging thing is choosing only a few parts of the platform to demonstrate during training sessions! The platform has such a wide range of tools that are so useful and, as a former teacher, I want to talk about every single one as I know how much of a difference they can make in the classroom.

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?

I'd definitely live in Canada! I had the opportunity to complete part of my degree in Toronto and I instantly fell in love. I love the friendliness, the Sakura in High Park, and, controversially, the knee-height snow in the winter. Also: Tim Hortons - need I say more?

What gives you energy?

Engaging with art gives me energy! I especially love the theatre and I go whenever I get the chance. After seeing a play or musical (even if I've seen it three times before!), I feel completely buzzed with positive energy.

Laura Charter, Account Manager

What’s your favourite thing about your role at Unifrog?

It's too hard to pick just one thing! I love working closely with teachers and schools to make their careers provision as seamless as possible. I also come from a background of working in social mobility, so working for a company that really supports students in understanding all the options available to them is really rewarding! It’s also so exciting to be part of a dynamic company that constantly innovates to improve its service, and as a bonus, the team here is so nice! 
 

Which frog are you on the Personality quiz?

I'm a glass frog – ‘enthusiastic, warm characters, curious about everything and everyone’. It couldn’t be more accurate!
 

What's your favourite way to relax?

I’m actually terrible at relaxing in the traditional sense! My version of unwinding usually involves doing as many adrenaline-fueled activities as possible. Playing rugby is pretty much my version of yoga.
 

What's your karaoke song?

‘All the Small Things’ by Blink 182 is my karaoke song! It brings out my inner teenager every single time! I'm actually a massive country music fan… but it's hard to sing!

Lizzie Brennan, Data Manager

Describe your role as Data Manager at Unifrog

As Data Manager, I help to maintain and update all of the information we have on our opportunity search tools, as well as researching and designing new tools to add to the platform. This means my job can have an instant impact on hundreds of thousands of students all around the world, which is very exciting! It's super important we have the most up to date, impartial information to show to students to allow them to make informed decisions about their future.

What’s the most challenging part of your job?

I'd say the most challenging part of the job is making sure that we are always on top of the latest developments and releases in education-related data. There are lots of great data sources which release data on a whole range of different areas in education, from the amount of students who go on to a graduate job once they finish a particular course at a particular institution, to the latest Ofsted reports for a school or apprenticeship provider in the UK. We need to make sure we have the most recent, relevant information to share and also look out for any new data points which we could use to supplement the information we already have. Getting feedback from students and teachers using the platform is also crucial to making sure we achieve this.

You were very involved in Unifrog’s move to a new office. How did you make sure that this would be somewhere the team were happy in?

People spend a good chunk of their day at work so we wanted to try and make the new Unifrog office a place people enjoy coming to, rather than just somewhere they have to be! We've made sure the space has lots of light, plants and colourful furniture to promote a happy, positive environment and we’ve also made sure people have the chance to add their own touches to the space. As we've now moved over from a shared to a private office, we've also invested in an office radio and it has exposed us to lots of questionable music tastes…

What are the best and worst bits of being an Arsenal supporter?

I was brought up an Arsenal fan, with my family all having their roots in Islington, but unfortunately during our glory days I was too young to appreciate how good we were. It's good to know our history, but since I started taking a serious interest it all went downhill and let's just say the struggle is real and I'm missing my favourite Frenchman…

Lucy Lundstrom, Area Manager (Americas)

Describe your role at Unifrog

As the International Area Manager for the Americas, I get to work with our current partner schools to make sure they are having the best Unifrog experience possible while also connecting with prospective partner schools in the region. That means that I’m often communicating with teachers and counselors, giving demos, and running training sessions for the platform.  

How has your background in education helped you in this role?

Before I started at Unifrog, I was an English language teacher for nine years in Latin America and the US. My students worked so hard and had incredible aspirations, but didn’t always have great access to information about the opportunities that might await them outside of high school. I noticed that applying to universities seemed like an overwhelmingly stressful ordeal, or students would often just apply to nearby schools that were familiar because they didn’t have the tools to sift through the many, many opportunities that were available to them globally. I really believe in Unifrog’s mission, and I like to think that my background in education has provided me useful experience to empathise with and better understand the needs of students, teachers, and counselors who are contending with the sometimes challenging process of higher education applications.

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?

This is such a hard question! I love where I live now, in Colombia, but I would ideally like to be somewhere close to the mountains where I can get outside and enjoy nature easily! I’d be deliriously happy to live in a cosy alpine cabin with beautiful views and maybe a lake to swim in nearby! 

What's your party trick?

It’s not much of a trick, but mine would probably be immediately gravitating toward all of the animals in the host’s home and disappearing into a corner somewhere to befriend them!

Matthew Jones, Area Manager

Describe your role as an Area Manager at Unifrog

Every day is different and there is no ‘normal’ or ‘repetitive’ week. As I cover north west England, north and mid Wales, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man, I travel quite a bit. One day I can be over in Enniskillen in Northern Ireland, the next in Greater Manchester (take a look at a map of the UK - it’s some distance)!

There’s no normal 9-5. Some days I’m on the road at 5.30am or catching a flight over to Belfast at 6am and not walking back through the front door until gone 9pm later that night! Whilst demanding and often very tiring, it’s also exciting, rewarding and most importantly, doesn’t bore me to death! I enjoy the role as it keeps me on my toes and at the end of every day I feel like I’ve achieved something.

You've lived in Anglesey all your life, tell us your favourite fact or thing about what it's like to live there?

Bar two brief stints elsewhere yes, I’ve lived in Anglesey my whole life! When I was 16, I left Anglesey and joined the British Army as an Electronic Avionics Technician in Harrogate. But it wasn’t what I anticipated and I left after 12 months to go back into education and work towards university.

Anglesey really is such a beautiful place to live and many of the teachers I meet love coming over to Anglesey in the summer! What I most love about it is it’s a great place to bring up my daughter (who’s now two)! It has everything - from my family and friends, beautiful beaches, countryside, the mountains of Snowdonia just round the corner and the cities of Liverpool and Chester within a short commute.

What made you want to work at Unifrog?

So, it’s quite an interesting story. I was at home (set the scene) doing some work when I got a call from a friend (and now colleague Tom) asking if I was interested in speaking with his boss regarding a possible job. Out of interest I accepted and Alex, Unifrog’s co-founder, set up a Skype call to show me what exactly Unifrog was.

At the end of the call, Alex asked me for an answer. In my mind I already knew I was going to say yes but I didn’t want to look overly keen and asked for a few days to consider his offer. The next day, I called Alex to accept and made my way to the old office in Bethnal Green on the Saturday afternoon to start training for the following week - dedication!

Seeing how fantastic Unifrog is for supporting kids to make the right choice, to really broadening their horizons and how they can make their aspirations a reality is what sold the job to me. When I joined the army, I wasn’t aware of half the options available to me. I made a naïve decision at 15 without really considering all my options. So you could say what made me want to work for Unifrog is the fantastic product, Alex and Coralie’s vision and my own experiences from having made uninformed decisions!

What do you do to unwind?

I love spending time with my beautiful daughter Raya and dog Baxter (yes, named after the dog in Anchorman!), whether it’s family days out or just a walk with a pit stop to the park. A simple walk is the best thing ever, with Raya jumping up and down in muddy puddles (all parents will be able to relate). Other than spending time with family, I’ll have the occasional day out with friends watching football - from the lunch time kick-off to the evening kick-off and every match in between!

Meryem Ismail, Account Manager

What's the best thing you've learnt at Unifrog (so far)?

When passionate people come together, they can achieve incredible things. It’s inspiring to see how much Unifrog has accomplished in the last ten years, and I’m so excited to be part of the impact we’ll have over the next ten (and beyond!).

On the Personality quiz, which frog are you?

I came out as the ‘Fire-bellied toad’, which I thought sounded a bit intense at first, but the summary – ‘reserved but full of drive and passion when it’s about something I really care about’ – does hit the nail on the head! I’m a classic extraverted introvert – I love connecting with people and experiencing new things, and I put a lot of energy into things I believe in, but I sometimes need to remind myself to take a step back and recharge! Overall, I’d say it reflects my thoughtful and passionate nature quite nicely.

Where is the best place you've travelled to, and why?

This is a tough question as I’m that person who says ‘I could live here’ to just about anywhere I visit! But if I really had to choose, I’d have to say Mexico. As a foodie, it’s hard to beat! I especially loved San Cristóbal de las Casas - a peaceful town in the mountains with friendly people, diverse culture with unique traditions, and stunning landscapes nearby. Add it to your bucket lists!

What gives you energy?

Spending quality time with family and friends and being outdoors. I love a good board game night, though my overly competitive nature means this doesn’t always end well, but it’s safe to say a long walk in nature always resets me!

Michelle Butterworth, Content Creator and Editor

What do you like most about your role at Unifrog?

I love that I get to learn about so many things. When researching for a new Know-how guide or Subjects library profile, I’ll be looking for answers to questions like ‘what’s the difference between ophthalmics and optometry?’, ‘why study in Canada?’, or ‘what causes anxiety?’ Discovering lots of interesting facts is definitely a perk of the role! 

How do you make sure you keep in touch with the team when you're working remotely?

I think Slack has definitely been a game changer - it makes it so easy to brainstorm new ideas or get advice from someone in the team, so I try to use it pretty often. It’s also nice to take part in things like the online yoga class. 

What's the best concert you've ever been to?

The best concert would have to be Rammstein. They really know how to entertain a crowd and their pyrotechnics are mind-blowing.

What's at the top of your bucket list?

I’ve always wanted to try cliff jumping. And if I could do it off Haew Suwat - the waterfall featured in The Beach - that would be a huge bonus! 

Nalin Narang, Video Producer/Director

Describe your role at Unifrog

As a Video Producer/Director, I help bring our platform’s videos to life. From sharing career insights to showcasing our partner employers and universities, our team makes many different kinds of videos. I get to meet people from all walks of life, travel on location for shoots, and sometimes jump into the edit suite. It’s a dynamic job that blends creativity, variety, and purpose.

What gets you out of bed in the morning to go to work?

As a passionate fan of movies and TV shows, I draw inspiration from great storytelling and bring that energy into my own work. I see every project as an opportunity to improve my craft. If I can get 1% better each time, I know that consistency will lead me toward excellence.

What's your favourite song and why?

I tend to have seasonal favourites, but one song that never fails to lift my mood is Finesse by Bruno Mars. My wife and I did a choreographed entrance to this song at our wedding reception, so whenever I hear it playing, it puts a smile on my face!

What things do you spend money on unreasonably, but very satisfyingly?

I definitely have more streaming subscriptions than any reasonable person needs. And I’ll happily pay extra to skip the ads. No regrets though, I get full value out of each one.

Pam Gardner, Employer Engagement Coordinator

Describe your role

My role as Employer Engagement Coordinator is to make sure that every employer partner who works with us at Unifrog gets the most value out of working with us and our audience. That can range from suggesting our exciting upcoming events to employers to creating a targeted recruitment campaign for them focusing on priorities like geography or sector interests. Supporting the work of our three wonderful Employer Partner Managers largely involves coordinating the data on how well engagement is going with that partner's content or events they’ve delivered with us. During my interview, I said that I envisaged my role as being “the glue” for our wonderful employer team at Unifrog and that must have resonated (and they’re stuck with me now, haha).

What’s your favourite Unifrog tool and why?

This would have to be the Placements tool. In my previous role, I was a work experience coordinator in a sixth form college and I used it! I absolutely love the simplicity for students as they input their information, that it’s so easily manageable for the school/college, and that it brings in a ready-made employer database for the school. The ‘help’ documents and videos are short and accessible to share with student and staff groups too!

What advice would you give to your younger self?

It’s great to be a lovely person and you should always be true to yourself, but don’t forget you can put yourself first too. Have that confidence, believe you are worth it, and go for it!

What things do you spend money on unreasonably, but very satisfyingly?

Having bought not one but two kayaks this year, that is my splurge! Paddling on a quiet lake in total peace is the ultimate satisfaction and worth every penny!

Peter Howarth, Salesforce Administrator

What does an average day as Salesforce Administrator look like?

My days as Salesforce Administrator are very varied, and I enjoy the different tasks each day brings. I'm a big fan of to-do lists, so a day where I can work through many jobs and tick things off is a great day for me. Alternatively, I love a day where I can focus on one puzzle and spend the whole day building and testing a cool solution, watching the Salesforce magic happen! Those days are incredibly rewarding.

Whatever the day brings, everything I do aims to help a fellow Unifrogger and make their work easier, quicker, or better, which is why I love this job so much.

How has your background in Salesforce helped you in this role?

Learning Salesforce in my previous role was invaluable, but at Unifrog, I have been able to flourish and grow so much since starting. The people at Unifrog are amazing and the support from my manager is awesome and gives me real confidence.

What's the one film you think everyone should see?

It has to be ‘Star Wars’! It has shaped so much of my life, to be honest. My first trip to the cinema was in Bury to see ‘Return of the Jedi’ and it was amazing. I collected the toys as a child and the films were all about heroes, bravery, belief, and adventure. As a (childish) adult, I still love to watch the films, new ones and old ones, and I now collect Star Wars Lego, sharing some photos of my collection to show some fellow Star Wars fans at the recent Unifrog Team Day! 

For millions of people, it is a universal shared interest that you can talk about joyfully with people. And now, I get to share the films and TV shows with my children as well. Sitting watching ‘The Mandalorian’ with my children or building a Lego Star Wars model together, you can't beat that.

It's certainly geeky, but who cares!?

Who was your childhood hero?

It has to be my dad. He travelled the world when I was child, selling textile machinery, and we couldn't wait to hear all about where he had been on his latest trip. Hearing all about huge cities and life in the US, Russia, Argentina, India, and Egypt was enthralling. Knowing that he had travelled to all but one country in South America and so many countries all around the world was fantastic.

We also grew up looking at ships, going to air shows, and learning about aeroplanes, going on holiday to Cornwall every year and always visiting the RAF base there to watch the helicopters. Every time we went anywhere with any machines, my dad was always showing us how they worked and talking to anyone who could teach him something. We grew up watching action films together and still do now. He worked hard, was an amazing parent and husband, and made me who I am today.

Rhian Harris, Employer Partnerships Manager

What gets you out of bed in the morning to start work?

I have a young daughter who's an early riser, so I'm up and about every morning by 6.30am latest, no alarm needed! I'll also grab a coffee at the first opportunity, usually when my daughter has gone to nursery. My motivation has always been making a difference, and I look forward to logging in each morning and working out how I can best make a difference to the employer partners I support, and in turn the students using the Unifrog platform.

How has your background in education helped you in this role?

Before joining Unifrog I spent 12 years at Teach First, an education charity working to end inequality in education. I spent much of my time there building and managing partnerships for the charity, which is at the heart of my role at Unifrog now. Before that, I coached and trained teachers, and I now use the coaching skills I developed – such as building rapport and active listening – on a day to day basis when working with our employer partners.

What's the one film you think everyone should see?

My favourite film of all time is ‘10 Things I Hate About You’, which is from 1999 and stars Heath Ledger and Julia Stiles. I can't tell you how many times I've watched it, but 26 years after watching it for the first time I still seem to know most of the lines. It's a millennial classic with an amazing soundtrack. If you haven't seen it, give it a watch!

What gives you energy?

I go to a clubbercise class, which is essentially an aerobic dance class done in the dark with disco lights and glow sticks. It's pretty high intensity and takes all the energy I've got, but gives me energy too! It's a little bit of me-time in the middle of a busy week, and I try to never miss it. 

Robyn Langdon, Events Lead

Describe your role at Unifrog

My role at Unifrog as the Events Lead is to run the virtual events on the platform. This could be from arranging webinars for a small group of students and/or teachers/counselors, straight through to organising large virtual exhibitions attended by 1000s of students from all across the world. I love the process of planning various events, from the event conception, to the end goal of the event being a great success. I really enjoy having lots of events going on at once, and means that the humble to-do list is my best friend!

What gets you out of bed in the morning to start work?

Usually, my dog or a small child! I'm not a coffee drinker, but luckily I'm a morning person, so that certainly helps. But also really enjoying my job; I'm new to Unifrog and already love working here. The days go by quickly and it's a really friendly place to work. I was a bit worried I'd find it difficult working remotely from my home in Plymouth, but that hasn't been the case at all! You can tell that everyone is really proud to be working here and helping make a difference.

If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?

I have this conversation more often that I'm happy to admit and it changes regularly! At the moment, it would have to be pizza, but it must be one cooked properly in a wood-fired oven. There's nothing more disappointing than a sad oven pizza!

What's your party trick?

I can make a turtle out of the metal covering of the cork ('muselet' is the official name) from a champagne bottle. My brother-in-law is French and passed on the wisdom!

Shameel Wahid, Head of Finance

Describe your role

My role is really interesting because of how much variety it has. It includes everything from payroll - making sure everyone gets paid correctly - to managing and accurately reflecting Unifrog’s cash flow and financial position. On top of that, I’m also working on some exciting projects around making our financial processes more efficient and automated through the use of technology and a lot of Excel! 

What made you want to work at Unifrog?

There were two things that really stood out to me about Unifrog. The first was its mission; being a part of an organisation that helps students make some of the most important decisions in their life really resonated to me. The second was its culture; Unifrog’s online resources showed how important culture was to the company and what it stood for, and that mattered to me.

If you were stranded on a desert island, what three items would you want with you and why?

The first two items I’d want would have to be a duvet and a pillow - I really need my sleep, no matter where I am! And the third would be an autobiography of someone else who’s been stranded on an island. I think it would reassure me to know they’d survived it!

How would your friends describe you?

I think my friends would say I’m calm, indecisive, and forgetful. I’ve lost count of the number of times they’ve had to remind me about something! When it comes to making small decisions, I tend to overthink (it might be my economics background that leads to analysis paralysis). But if all hell breaks loose, they’ll turn to me to stay calm!

Siân Phillips, New Partnerships Lead

What's your favourite thing about your role?

I enjoy reaching out to schools and colleges and helping to grow the Unifrog community! I was inspired to join Unifrog as I strongly believe in our mission to level the playing field for all young people by helping them find their best next steps. It's so exciting when a new school decides to join us, as I know the impact the platform is going to have on their student's futures.
 

What part of your job do you find most challenging?

The role can be very busy! Day to day, I'm responding to enquiries from schools, writing campaigns highlighting different platform features, working with our Area Managers to organise demonstrations, and reaching out to schools about our Sponsorship programme. 
 

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?

I would choose Barcelona! It's such a cool city, full of culture, great beaches, and lots of dogs! I love it so much I'm actually getting married just outside the city in August 2024!

What’s your favourite thing to do outside work?

I like exploring new places with my partner and our rescue dog, Isla (featured in my photo at our first doggy yoga session).

Siri Minsaas, Head of International School Sales

What gets you out of bed in the morning to go to work?

Before joining Unifrog, I was a teacher and worked in university access for many years, so helping students find their next step and figure out what they want to do in the future has always motivated me in the mornings (that, and a breakfast of berries and cereal).

What's your favourite thing about your role?

I love getting to work with colleagues and support schools all around the world. I'll catch up with colleagues in Colombia, hear how schools in Hong Kong are getting on, and talk to teachers in Cyprus - it's super varied, and feels like I've travelled the world in the course of the working day!

Where is the best place you've travelled to, and why is it your favourite?

I went to Sri Lanka a few years ago, and it was absolutely incredible. It's really easy to travel around the island, so you can take in all of the stunning beaches and mountain landscapes. We swam with turtles and saw elephants and leopards. The food was so delicious – I'm still dreaming about it! 

What advice would you give to your younger self?

I wouldn't want to mess with the time-space continuum by saying too much to my younger self, but I'd say that it's okay to not have a plan, or for your plans to change. I didn't know where in the world I wanted to live, what I wanted to do with a politics degree, or what job to do after teaching, but not knowing exactly what you want to do just gives you an opportunity to try new things and figure out what works for you!

Stephen Rodwell, People and Operations Director

Describe your role as Head of People and Finance at Unifrog

As my title suggests, I lead on two main things at Unifrog: managing our cash flow; and recruiting, retaining, and developing a happy and effective team. We think we do a pretty good job at making Unifrog a great place to work (hopefully you can see that from our reviews!), but part of my role is to make sure we're always thinking creatively about how to improve – whether that's introducing new perks and benefits, streamlining our internal processes to make them super efficient, or supporting everyone to find their best next steps for professional development. We try to take ideas from everywhere, especially our own team, to continue to make Unifrog an even better place to be.

When you first started, what struck you about Unifrog?

It's a great team of people who support one another and celebrate each other's successes; everyone is eager to help and push the platform forward. It's also inspiring that we have a group of experts in Higher Education and post-16 opportunities who are helping lead the discussion about the future of young people.

As a former teacher, why do you think that what Unifrog is doing is important?

Although I worked in a primary school, I know that my Year 1 pupils would still have loved exploring the different careers on the platform! Every year my class made a ‘Book of Dreams’ where each child drew a picture of what they wanted to be when they were older. In a way, Unifrog is just a grown-up extension of that! Even from a young age, giving children ideas about what careers are out there is hugely important in shaping their aspirations.

If you were stranded on a desert island, what three items would you want with you and why?

A corner sofa, the Beatles discography, and a lifetime supply of cheese. What more could you want?

Thaïs Donovan, Primary School Partnerships Manager

Describe your role at Unifrog
My role is really exciting! I'm one of the Primary Partnership Managers at Unifrog, working alongside Kai, and together we're a bit of a two-man band. Our job is to grow the reach of Unifrog Primary, which means doing a bit of everything: going to conferences, launching prospecting campaigns, speaking with schools across the UK (whether prospective or existing partners), sales, strategy, and marketing. 

What gets you out of bed in the morning to start work?
Aside from three alarms and a massive cup of tea, I'd say it's the variety and the bigger picture. I love having a different day every day; it keeps things busy and exciting, and there's no room to get bored. I'm also really motivated by targets, and it feels like the sky's the limit, which is really inspiring! I also love working closely in a small team to make it happen. I'm very lucky to be part of Team Primary. They're such a great bunch, and honestly so on the ball that I probably should be getting out of bed early just to keep up with them… perhaps I’ll start setting five alarms?

What's your top life hack?
It might not be a particularly unique one, but I always come back to some kind of five-minute rule. Whenever I don't want to do something, I commit to just five minutes of it. The idea is that once you're already doing it, you tend to carry on, and it's never as bad as it seemed. I also find the rule works in reverse: if I'm struggling with a task or feeling overwhelmed, stepping away for five minutes is usually enough to reset. If things are really bad, you can even use these together. A little progress is always better than nothing!

What things do you spend money on unreasonably, but very satisfyingly?
I wish it wasn't… but it's clothes… jewellery… bags… shoes. I'm addicted to Vinted. If you catch me staring into the middle distance, I'm probably just thinking about my saved items. I have since implemented a system though, where my wardrobe stays circular: I won't let myself buy something unless I've sold something first! It also massively helps that my wardrobe seems to be communal amongst my friends. I can't remember a time when I had all my things in one place.

Vikki Garner, Partnerships Director (UK and Employers)

What do you find most exciting about working at Unifrog?

So many things! I would probably have to say new developments and the impact they have on schools and students. It's super exciting when you’ve had an idea yourself, or heard about one from the team or a partner school, and then see it develop into a new tool. We always ask a few of our partners to test out new tools, and seeing their reactions as they realise how much of a difference it's going to make to either their CEIAG tracking and management, or opportunities for their students, is equally as exciting as the initial idea.

What part of your job do you find most challenging?

I support the Account Management and Partner Success Teams, and with 2,000 partners to look after, every day is super busy. Our partners provide us with amazing feedback, from how fantastic they're finding the platform to the barriers they have in delivering CEIAG in their schools. I love hearing about these barriers and helping the teams to support our partners to overcome them. I suppose you could say it's our partner schools' challenges that become mine, and I love the challenge of finding the perfect solution. 

Has previous experience as a teacher served you well in this role?

Absolutely! I've had first hand experience of the difficulties when it comes to planning and delivering careers, whether that be a shortage of allocated time, making sure students have the right information for their chosen pathway, trying to create lessons which capture their imagination and raise their aspirations, the list goes on! But it's these experiences - those of the team and of our partner schools - that drive everything we do at Unifrog.  

If you could meet any historical figure, who would it be and why?

This is a tricky one. I'd have to say Rosa Parks. I'd love to go back in time to watch her make a stand against racism through simply sitting on a bus. That one act sent shockwaves through America and earned her the title of ‘the first lady of civil rights’. A phenomenal woman!

Zoe Mackenzie, Head of People Operations

What made you want to work at Unifrog?

One of the reasons I was keen to work at Unifrog was its social mission. It’s quite important to me that my workplace has a wider social purpose. When I had my interview, the staff on the panel were just so friendly too - and having now met the team at the Team Day, I can confirm this goes for everyone else!

What’s your favourite thing about your role?

The best part of my role is the fact that it’s so people-facing. I really enjoy getting to know people, so it’s great to have a role where I get the chance to chat to the whole team, learn what they do, and work out how best I can support them.

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?

I think I’d choose to live in Tasmania. In 2020, before the pandemic hit, I was travelling around Australia with a friend and we stayed with a family who lived there. It’s the most beautiful place you can imagine. There’s loads of independent art going on, vineyards, beaches, and freshly grown food. The family I was staying with had a boat, so we even went lobster fishing, caught a lobster, and ate it on the same day!

The one caveat is that I’d have to bring all my family and friends with me, as Tasmania’s a bit of a distance from the UK!

Which reality TV programme do you think you’d win, and why?

I’m not sure if this counts as reality TV, but I definitely think I could win Pointless. I always used to watch it when I was coming home from school, so I’ve got a good knowledge of the different categories that might come up. You have to do it in pairs, so I’d go with my housemate - she’s got the pop culture sorted, and I studied geography at university. So if the right categories came up, I reckon we could win!