Emily Ward Asks

I'm an investigative sixth former trying to find answers about the real world of work by interviewing amazing people about their different experiences in their respective industries. WHY? Because I don't know what I want to do yet! Listen in to this podcast to hear the info that really matters.

Latest episodes

08 May 2025

Childhood Lessons to Lifelong Leadership: Insights from Sarah Kerr-Dineen

Emily Ward engages with Sarah Kerr-Dineen, Head of Oundle School, to delve into the shifts within the educational landscape over the past decades. Kerr-Dineen starts by outlining her personal educational experiences, influenced heavily by her teacher parents, and describes her unexpected journey into teaching. She discusses the increasing focus on understanding the learning process and how technology has redefined classroom interactions, particularly due to the pandemic. Kerr-Dineen also highlights how teaching has continually adjusted to meet these challenges, always aiming to enrich the learning experience for students and educators alike.

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28:48

24 January 2025

Tom Fleming: A Journey into Asset Management

In the episode of Emily Ward Asks, Tom Fleming, an asset management expert from London, shares his journey in the financial industry. From his start at Fidelity Investments to further specializing in the private credit space, Tom elaborates on his roles within finance. His path has been significantly influenced by his passion for mathematics and the valuable expertise that he gathered over the years.

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29:14

02 September 2024

The Modern Actuary: Balancing Risk and Rewards with Chris Mansi

In this podcast, Emily Ward interviews Chris Mansi, Chief Investment Officer at Willis Towers Watson, to explore the role of actuaries. Mansi elaborates on how actuaries measure and manage risks, touching on fields like insurance and pensions. The importance of mathematical skills is highlighted, with Mansi emphasising how A-levels and university studies can pave the way for a successful actuarial career. The discussion also covers the professional qualifications required to become an actuary, shedding light on the extensive exams and support provided by employers. Mansi concludes by discussing the competitive salary and vast opportunities within the profession.

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21:42

17 August 2024

Adventures of an Equine Surgeon: Dave Rutherford's Experience

In this episode, Dave Rutherford shares his journey from veterinary school in Edinburgh to becoming an equine surgeon and lecturer at Nottingham Vet School. With 20 years of experience in practice, Dave discusses the various paths he has taken in his career, including internships, further training in New Zealand, and work in Australia. He emphasises the diversity and opportunities within the veterinary field, such as research, teaching, and surgery roles. Dave also reflects on the importance of work experience and the impactful, sometimes challenging, moments in his career.

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21:38

06 August 2024

Language Lessons to Sustainable Harvests: Seb Richardson’s Farming Story

In this episode, we explore the fascinating journey of Seb Richardson, a farmer in Northamptonshire. Seb shares how he transitioned from teaching English in St. Petersburg to managing his family’s mixed farm. He delves into the importance of following one’s passion, as his initial love for the Russian language led him to meet his wife and grow personally. Now a regenerative farmer, Seb discusses how he aims to work with nature, using sustainable practices and constantly seeking incremental wins in his profession.

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19:54

21 July 2024

Wine and Words: How Academia Led to a Wine Career in Beijing for Edward Ragg

In this episode of 'Emily Ward Asks,' we hear from Dr Edward Ragg, a wine educator based in Beijing. Edward shares his journey from an academic career in English literature to becoming a notable wine educator. He discusses the importance of transferable skills he gained from his teaching background and how they helped him transition into wine education. Edward also touches upon his unique experiences, including participating in a wine tasting competition between Oxford and Cambridge, and how important qualifications and a leap of faith led him to establish a successful wine education business in China.

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28:25