On Wednesday 24th January, we had the privilege of welcoming Dr Alex Mahon to speak at our first Spring Term Hale Lecture. Alex is the first female CEO of Channel 4 and her talk was incredibly well received by students, staff, parents, and guests from invited schools: St Marylebone School and Wetherby Senior. Isla in the Lower Fifth led the session by introducing Alex, who then delivered a fascinating talk on her incredible career journey to date. Her career journey began with aspirations of becoming an astronaut, leading onto studies in Physics and subsequently undertaking a PhD. Her career then progressed into a variety of roles including technology and 3D software design, and she eventually went into television and production management. Alex became the CEO of Channel 4 in 2017 and has since built on the company’s unique ethos of being ‘Altogether Different’, working on major broadcasts such as the Paralympics and revolutionising the company’s digital output.

During her talk and Q&A with the audience, Alex encouraged the students to think about who they are and what they like when they are deciding what career path to pursue. She also reminded us that life is not perfect (as shown on social media!) and that we should never be afraid to be different. She also gave us three timeless pieces of advice: get done what someone tells you to do, think about how you behave and treat people how you want to be treated. Reflecting on female leadership, Alex also drew on her experiences throughout her career and encouraged us to not let being a woman stand in our way to success. She emphasised the value of using our voices and standing up for those who are marginalised in our communities. Finally, she concluded by urging us to never be afraid to ask for help, because most people are delighted to be asked for help! Daisy (LV) and Maya (LV) followed up with questions on the impact of social media on broadcasting with a few additional questions from the audience. The afternoon concluded with Elsie (LV) thanking Alex on behalf of FHS for an inspirational and thought-provoking talk.

Miss Bere, Assistant Head (Teaching, Learning and Innovation)