Where are they now? Lyanne Nicholl, CEO

From the age of 6 I wanted to be an actor. However, it would likely not come as a surprise to anyone who grew up with me that I found myself in the charity sector as I always had a petition or sponsorship on the go at school.
I have always had a keen sense of injustice, so it was probably only a matter of time, really.

Carousel had already placed me at a couple of temp jobs but then they called me up with ‘something different’. I was to be an Assistant / PA to a consultant within a charity that was establishing a capital appeal.
It all seemed a bit beyond my experience at the time, but Carousel instilled the confidence that I could do it.
I was very nervous at the interview but managed to secure the role on a temporary basis. Well, that two weeks turned into seven years; several job promotions later I left as Head of Capital Appeals and Trust Fundraising.

Gosh, I feel very lucky to have had a fulfilling career in a sector that I love. Seeing the opening of two new facilities at Young Epilepsy (a school and a Medical Centre), in which I played a pivotal role in the campaigns for, was one highlight. Another was securing her Majesty, the Queen as QEST’s first Patron and being inspired daily by the wonderful art and craft scholars that we supported.
As a freelancer, I enjoyed working with a variety of charities, supporting causes close to my heart such as the rights of pregnant women and mothers, veterans and mental health. Having my book ‘Your Postnatal Body – a top-to-toe guide to caring for yourself after pregnancy and birth’ published in 2022 was a huge personal achievement. Also, campaigning for better postnatal healthcare and bringing together a multi-disciplinary group to try to effect change was very rewarding.

I love every day in my current role. It is challenging but invigorating. There is never a dull day in the world of politics and it is gratifying to be working in a space where we know we could make a huge difference to people’s lives. I truly believe in the mission of 50:50 Parliament: to bring about gender equality in our elected bodies to create a better democracy for all. Having an intense passion for your organisation’s vision is key to getting the most out of work. I have a great Trust Board and team and I find the women’s democracy space very inclusive and collaborative. I also get to hang out in Parliament quite a bit and that old building never gets old. 

It’s not advice as such, but I read somewhere that men will put themselves forward for a job when they meet 60% of the criteria, whilst women will often wait until they met 100%. I decided to follow the men’s lead in this respect, to great results!

Don’t underestimate your contribution. Junior members in teams, myself included, will often see themselves as a small cog – but remember, without that cog –  the whole machine falls apart. I was nervous about asking for pay rises when really it is simply about asking your organisation to recognise your worth. I also wish I had let my inner feminist out more in male-dominated areas.

Send off speculative applications to the organisations that really get your energy flowing. If you are passionate about something, it will shine through and you could find yourself being interviewed for a role where your experience doesn’t quite match as a result. Work will not feel so much like work when you are doing something that you love and find fulfilling. Do not worry about meeting all of the job criteria, skills can be taught – passion can’t.

Claudia Winkleman (wouldn’t she be everybody’s?)