All high level jobs require an analytical mind, that is a given, and the academic rigour at Loughborough certainly fosters that. But the skill I've most consistently relied on is the ability to distill complex concepts and use data to persuade others and, at times, overruling another's opinion in a diplomatic way. The more I progress into management roles, the more this skill is required - I am still working on it! Students can get a head start on this by engaging in difficult conversations in lectures.

My advice for anyone starting their career is, if something is pulling you career wise, but you are torn with your options or are worried about the repercussions, I'd ask the following: 1) what are you hoping to achieve in career A?; 2) How long will it take to achieve your goals in career A?, and; 3) How could your achievements help you pursue career B? In my case, I allowed myself a maximum of 10 years to win trophies for sports teams, to publish research, and coach individual athletes to win world championships. I achieved this in 6 years, but my achievements helped to rank me as the top candidate from a pool of 500 applicants for my role in Government.

So, if you're struggling to answer those 3 questions, try putting a plan together and see if you can keep yourself accountable to your goals. But if you're not gaining anything tangible from your current path, confide in people you trust and have the courage to change your career, because the biggest risk would be to stay in a rut

Jonny graduated from Loughborough University in 2018.