Sandra Ashton

I first came to legacy St George’s in 2001 to work as a Research Assistant in a research group. If you had told me at that point that I would be part of a new institution, working as a Project Manager in Education, working in a building only 5 mins from where I was born and went to school, well…. I would have simply called you a liar! But that’s exactly what has happened. Life has a way of evolving, if you are receptive to it.

I’ve spent all my life in London, which is a shame because I do like people who are different than me. I would have liked to have lived elsewhere for a time, maybe abroad, but that being said, as a woman of colour there really is no better place for me to live and ‘be me’ than London.

I’m a Londoner, born and brought up in Angel, Islington 53 years ago. My family were poor, one could say impoverished, but what we lacked in monetary terms we made up for with aspirations. I mention aspirations because, whilst I do understand the difficulties and challenges that BAME people face, I also feel that the biggest barrier to progress - and the most dangerous thing for our young people – isn’t colour, it’s poverty… a poverty of Aspirations. You have to be hungry for something, you have to aspire to something! And that’s true for any person of any colour. I think it’s important to say that, whilst I had aspirations when I was young, what I did not have was direction or focus. That’s because I had no role models growing up. I really feel that I have evolved into the person I am today through the circumstances I have found myself in – I haven’t followed a planned route or pathway.

So, my message here is, be receptive to change.  Learn to recognise opportunity, and lastly to practice reflection. As an adult I have found these behaviours to be the things that have helped me survive through some considerable challenges both professionally and personally... It’s so important to be open and honest with yourself, It’s the only way you can enrich your life and live well.

Thinking of growth, when you’ve been somewhere a long-time people think they know you, and they often view you through the lens of your previous roles – surprisingly, they can find your evolution uncomfortable! It can be hard to develop whilst remaining in the same place.

That being said, whilst I understand and agree that it’s good professionally to move around different organisations, I do also feel that there is a negative side effect to the organisation- some things can be lost if talent and knowledge drain away as people leave to go to pastures new. Just when someone understands a place…they take that knowledge away with them, leaving someone else to come in and start from scratch again.

Institutional citizenship is something that I am passionate about… what does it mean to be a member of staff working at City St George’s? How do we enable our colleagues to feel part of that citizenship and value it? How do we work to high standards, receiving reward in all its varied forms?

If I had to pass anything on to young people, it would be “ listen… you can’t get back what you don’t give”

If you want friendship in your life… you must action being a good friend!

If you want loyalty in your life… you must practice being loyal to others!

A bit preachy I know … but it's true!

I’ll end by stating that City St George’s is an exciting place to work, it’s a part of me and I am committed to it.

I love the diversity of staff and students and creating environments where we can all do better. This is what floats my boat and where I draw my energy from, and I suppose, why I became a project manager. Doing a good job is important - If something is worth doing, do it properly. It really is more efficient in the long run and the effects are longer lasting. Plus, it’s your legacy, isn’t it? And I can’t think of anything worse than my colleagues thinking “don’t give the job to Sandra, you’ll never get it done!” Work ethic and Integrity are important to me,

“Whoever is careless with the truth in small matters cannot be trusted in important matters either” - Albert Einstein said that, and you know what? He was right!