In this episode of the After Aston I... podcast, hosted by Aimee and Geoff, the spotlight is on Arese Ugwu, an Aston University alumna and renowned financial educator, author, and filmmaker. Arese shares her journey from studying Business Management at Aston to becoming a key figure empowering African millennial women with smart financial decisions. She talks about her struggles with personal finances and how they inspired her to create educational content, including articles, the bestselling bo...
Jun 11, 2025•35 min•Ep. 16
In this episode of After Aston I…, co-hosts Aimee and Geoff are joined by Rupinder Kaur , founder of Asian Women Mean Business. Rupinder shares her inspiring journey from navigating the corporate world as a South Asian woman to leading a platform that empowers South Asian women to overcome self-doubt and step into leadership roles. She discusses the cultural challenges faced by South Asian women in the corporate world and the importance of community support, culturally relevant mentorship, and c...
May 14, 2025•36 min•Ep. 15
In this episode of After Aston I…, co-hosts Aimee and Geoff sit down with Daniel Franklin, an Aston alumnus and the executive editor of The Economist . The conversation spans Daniel's illustrious 41-year career, during which he covered significant global events such as the collapse of communism, the global economic crisis, and recent US elections. Daniel discusses the evolution of The Economist into a global media brand and shares his experiences editing 'The World In' annual edition. The discus...
Apr 16, 2025•34 min•Ep. 14
In this episode of After Aston I…, Aimee and guest co-host Abby welcome Harley Cunningham, Senior Strategy and Performance Manager at Virgin Media O2. The episode delves into Harley’s personal journey of transforming workplace bereavement support following the heartbreaking loss of her son, James. Harley shares the development and implementation of an innovative bereavement strategy, including 'Hug in a Box,' and offers valuable insights on how companies can better support grieving employees. Th...
Mar 05, 2025•36 min•Ep. 13
In this episode of After Aston I.., hosts Aimee and Geoff welcome Lorraine Copes, a successful entrepreneur and advocate for racial equity in the hospitality sector. Lorraine shares her journey from graduating from Aston University in 2001 with a BSc in Logistics to building a two-decade-long career in hospitality, working with renowned companies like TGI Fridays, Shake Shack, and Gordon Ramsay Restaurants. Lorraine discusses her experience launching Be Inclusive Hospitality, a not-for-profit or...
Feb 05, 2025•34 min•Ep. 12
Geoff and Aimee kick off series 2 with a conversation with Aston graduate and Olympic boxer, Delicious Orie, also known as DJ. DJ transitioned into the world of boxing at 18 and since then has represented Team GB in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, won Gold at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games, Gold at the European Championships, and more. In this episode, DJ shares the inspiration behind his switch to boxing, his rigorous training regime, the significance of competing at his home Games, his future...
Jan 15, 2025•33 min•Ep. 11
Geoff introduces Aimee as the new co-host of the After Aston I… podcast! The two tell us what to expect from the upcoming series, due to land on the airwaves very soon! Series 2 will bring you more candid conversations with Aston University alumni – some of the UK’s most employable graduates – as we hear the remarkable stories of where their careers have taken them. If you’ve not yet subscribed, go ahead and hit that little bell. You’ll be the first to know when a new episode drops, and you’ll m...
Dec 11, 2024•2 min
In this season finale of the After Aston I… podcast, hosts Katrina and Geoff are joined by Rachel Krol, a Project Engineering Manager at Mondelēz International. Rachel, an Aston University alumna with a degree in mechanical engineering, shares insights about her exciting role with the snack giant. She discusses her involvement in various projects, including the production of well-loved snacks like Cadbury chocolate bars and Creme Eggs. Rachel also talks about the challenges and pride in working ...
Aug 07, 2024•26 min•Ep. 10
In this episode of the After Aston I... podcast, co-hosts Abby, who is filling in for Katrina, and Geoff, engage in a captivating conversation with Aston alumnus James Henderson. Graduating from Aston University in 1990 with a degree in Management and Administrative Studies, James has built an illustrious career in the luxury goods industry, including prestigious roles in Formula One yachts and private aviation. Currently, he serves as the CEO of Exclusive Resorts, a leading private travel and h...
Jul 03, 2024•26 min•Ep. 9
In this episode, Katrina and Geoff speak to Sue Noffke, an Aston University alumna who has built a successful career in the finance sector. Graduating in 1989 with a degree in business and biochemistry, Sue gained early experience in investment during her placement year at Schroders, a global asset management company. She returned to Schroders post-graduation and has risen to head its UK equities division, managing a portfolio worth 6 billion pounds. Sue shares insights into her role, detailing ...
Jun 05, 2024•29 min•Ep. 8
In this episode of the After Aston I… podcast, guest host Abby steps in for Katrina to join Geoff and discuss leadership and personal growth with Paul Matthews, an Aston alumnus and leadership coach based in Australia. Paul shares his journey from working in corporate roles across various sectors in the UK and Australia to establishing his own leadership coaching practice. He emphasises the importance of powerful conversations in leadership, the shift towards a work-life balance, and how mindset...
May 08, 2024•21 min•Ep. 7
In this episode of the ‘After Aston I…’ podcast, Katrina and Geoff interview Grace Smith, an Aston University alumna with an exciting career in the media industry. With a background in public policy and social studies, Grace initially ventured into roles unrelated to her current profession, including working as a corporate tax inspector. However, following a lockdown project, an unexpected opportunity led her to make a career shift, embracing roles as a BBC radio presenter, voiceover artist, liv...
Apr 02, 2024•26 min•Ep. 6
In this episode of ‘After Aston I…’, Katrina and Geoff chat to Gabriella Bossman, a 2015 Politics and International Relations graduate who’s moved her career to Norway. They chat about Gabriella’s experience working and running a business in a different culture, her observations about the importance of language, the approach to work-life balance in Norway, the differences in business ecosystems, cultural adaptability, and more. Gabriella also talks about her work in the green tech space and her ...
Mar 05, 2024•28 min•Ep. 5
In this episode of the After Aston I... podcast, hosts Katrina and Geoff welcome Simba Rwambiwa, the co-founder and managing director of Palm Love Care Services. Simba shares how his personal experience of looking after his late mother inspired him to start his own healthcare company focused on providing in-home care. He explains the positive impact of in-home care on the quality of life for patients and shares his passion for helping others. Simba also talks about his experience as a contestant...
Feb 06, 2024•20 min•Ep. 4
In this episode, Katrina and Geoff delve into the music industry with Sunjay Kohli, an Aston alumnus who has worked with major companies such as Ticketmaster International, Warner Music Group, and BMG. Sunjay shares valuable insights into the music industry and advises those aspiring to work at a record label. He discusses how he navigated the corporate and 'glitzy' sides of the business, working with iconic artists such as Kylie Minogue, Rita Ora, Louis Tomlinson, Alt J and KSI, and how he’s tr...
Jan 07, 2024•23 min•Ep. 3
In this episode, Katrina and Geoff sit down with Aston alumna Grace Ubawuchi, Founder and CEO of the innovative frozen cocktail brand Xīn and Voltaire. Grace takes us through her journey from being a Business and International Relations student at Aston University to becoming a trailblazer in the drinks industry. Throughout the conversation, Grace emphasizes the importance of problem-solving and tenacity in entrepreneurship, highlighting the challenges she faced in freezing alcohol and establish...
Dec 04, 2023•28 min•Ep. 2
In this episode, Katrina and Geoff speak with Christine Kelly, an Aston University alumna and the founder of 'Little Kickers', the world’s biggest and most successful pre-school football academy and an international franchise program. Christine talks about her journey from graduating with a degree in International Business and Modern Languages to her career in finance, why she decided to start 'Little Kickers', and her experiences running the business and expanding it globally. Christine also to...
Nov 03, 2023•21 min•Ep. 1