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For two people leading communications at the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative, Sally Wootton (1990) and Mustafa Chaudhry (2008) return to something refreshingly straightforward: common sense, integrity, resilience, trust and humour. In their roles, they have found themselves part of global conversations around finance and sustainability. Yet when asked what underpins their leadership, their answers begin much earlier.
It was only at the end of Mustafa’s recruitment process in 2018 that they realised they shared the same school background. By then, however, the decision had already been made on merit.
“We already thought he was great – we had worked with him when he was at a partner organisation,” Sally smiles. “Then I saw Trentham in his CV and thought – what a small world.”
Nearly eight years later, they are still working side by side. Despite attending school nearly two decades apart, the foundations felt strikingly similar. Sally remembers her time at school as formative in ways she only appreciated later.
“When I look back, of course I remember the hilarious moments – the ones my friends are probably still waiting for me to bring up. But there was so much more to it than that. It was all the little things, the everyday experiences, that really shaped us into the people we became. We had traditions, like the house dance competitions, and there was just so much talent and spirit around us. We laughed constantly. What stays with me most are those moments with friends, beyond the lessons themselves.”
The influence of teachers stands out just as strongly for her:
“And the teachers – they were incredible. So many dedicated, interesting women who gave so much of themselves. It was that combination – great teachers, great friends, and being in such a special place. You don’t fully realise how special it is until you move away.”
Mustafa’s memories echo that same sense of community:
“The people made it fun – there were around 120 in the year, so you knew everyone. Of course, there were groups and cliques, but there was always that sense of community. Some of my favourite memories include group activities as Senior Prefect – Founder’s Day, walking into town together, team building, church assemblies on cold winter mornings. It was such a tight-knit group. That really helped my build my confidence, and showed me how important working together as a group is.”
Both describe a school culture that balanced discipline with warmth. Mustafa reflects:
“I think it was discipline, but not in the sense of ‘you must do this’.’ There was a time to be strict, but they were very nurturing in such a nice way. I did really well in my GSCEs and A levels, so there was always the focus, but we also enjoyed a lot of silliness. We always tried to make work fun and I still live by that — there’s always time for laughter, no matter how stressed you are, and Sally and I encourage that with our team too.”
For Sally, what endures most is the mindset that came with it:
“I think it was probably the quiet confidence our teachers instilled in us, a down to earth sort of attitude. I think that’s probably what our colleagues can see. And what makes us similar, is that down to earth, ‘get on with it’ attitude. That sort of Stokie way. ”
That quiet confidence and ‘down to earth’ approach now underpins how they operate at a global level.
Their professional journeys took different routes before converging in Switzerland. Mustafa built a career in financial research, moved internationally, and gradually found his passion in sustainability and finance. Sally’s path was similarly global: from studying German and moving to Luxembourg, to London, Seattle, Zurich and eventually Geneva mostly working in investment management.
“I’d always had an interest in international politics and development. It was always in the back of my mind – wouldn’t it be cool to work for the UN? I ended up in finance, and then after the financial crisis I lost my job. That was a turning point. I studied sustainable development alongside working, and that’s how I ended up here.”
But for Sally, her real standout moment came earlier – when she chose risk over certainty.
“We built up some really great investment funds and I really enjoyed building a business. That was really interesting. I was very lucky to sort of land in a small start-up and have that influence. And so I always say to young people, you’re very lucky if you find your dream job by not taking risks. And if you’re lucky enough to be able to do that, then do it”
Landing in a small start-up environment and having genuine influence so early in her career shaped her confidence. Building something from the ground up, making decisions that mattered and seeing the direct results of her work reinforced a belief she still shares: take risks when you can. Early courage can define everything that follows.
Mustafa’s path included its own moments of uncertainty:
“Sally and I have both been in situations where we’ve lost our jobs. Things happen that are completely out of your control – it doesn’t mean you weren’t performing. I lost my job twice in 2017. But these moments teach you to take risks. If something’s not working out, try something else. You will always learn something, even if you fail.”
Today, their roles at the UN place them at the intersection of finance and sustainability. Their work involves being sensitive to the needs of many different stakeholders – governments, financial institutions, donors – and taking into account public opinion simultaneously. In a role where language can carry diplomatic consequences, that instinct matters enormously.
“At the end of the day, we are the UN. There are certain things we can talk about, and certain things we cannot. Sometimes what we cannot say is more important than what we can say. It can come down to one word – a word that might be fine today but politically sensitive tomorrow. You have to learn to adapt.”
They also recognise that shared values are essential to their professional lives.
“We sometimes have the same comments on documents,” Mustafa laughs. “We pick up on exactly the same things when something’s not quite right. I’m further convinced it’s got something to do with our background – we have the same sense of humour, the same way of thinking, and the same sense of integrity.”
One of Mustafa’s stand-out memories illustrates the profound impact of their work and the meaningful change it delivers.
“I remember standing in a room at the UN Headquarters in New York with 50 CEOs from some of the largest banks in the world, and the Secretary-General of the United Nations, to launch a framework that is now shifting trillions of dollars towards sustainable activities. Helping develop these impactful platforms is always thrilling. We are making a big difference, and being part of these movements is very satisfying.”
There have been other moments Sally and Mustafa have shared – creating high visibility campaigns, securing major media coverage, helping high-profile figures amplify their work, receiving public recognition — but it is clear that the everyday impact matters just as much.
“Those big moments are exciting, but you don’t get them every day. There’s huge satisfaction in the day-to-day — mentoring people, helping colleagues grow, knowing that what you’re doing has purpose.”
When asked what advice they would offer students, both circle back to something deceptively simple. Sally explains:
“PR is generally common sense and emotional intelligence. And being clear and straightforward. And I think that comes from some kind of foundation that we learned at the school.”
They also review hundreds of applications each year, and the same mistakes appear repeatedly.
“We’ve probably reviewed 1000s of CVs at this point for interns and jobs within our teams. But it’s surprising how rare attention to detail can be; only about 5% of applications actually have good cover letters or perfect spelling. If the cover letter is rubbish, we usually pay little attention to the rest of the application. Your cover letter is really, really important.”
Sally recalls the phrase that was drilled into them at school:
“And that’s one thing I always remembered. Always read the question. And that was drilled into us in exams at school, always reading the question – even in day-to-day life — just reading emails properly.”
They both emphasise curiosity and continued learning:
“It’s not just about showing up at nine and leaving at five. It’s about thinking what you need to do to take yourself further. Our teachers always said to read the news. It’s the first thing I do when I wake up. It’s not just about formal education, it’s learning from other people, whether through networking, or through your team, or your jobs.”
“I’ve learned a lot from Sally and her experience, but we’ve also taught ourselves a lot – how to deal with difficult situations, new skills, new developments in the world of finance. We’ve both spent a lot of time on learning, and that takes a lot of commitment.”
With global responsibility comes pressure. Both are intentional about managing it. For Sally, balance comes from the outdoors in Switzerland – not to mention the fondue and raclette.
“We’re very lucky where we live. Making the most of the outdoors – hiking, swimming, skiing – that’s how I manage it. ”
Mustafa adds:
“It’s really important to make time for yourself, whatever that means for you. Work is always cyclical: there can be extremely busy periods and then there’s quieter ones. So I think make the most of periods where things aren’t as crazy, that’s where you’re able to make more time for yourself. Recognising when things are not going well and getting help if you need it – that matters. I think these are conversations we don’t have often enough.”
From house dance competitions and Senior Prefect duties to sustainability frameworks influencing global finance, the thread between school and career is clearer than it first appears. The values remain the same: integrity, humour, discipline, curiosity, resilience.
Their careers may have taken them to global stages, but their message to students is grounded and enduring: read carefully, think clearly, take risks, keep learning, look after yourself — and build the kind of integrity that allows others to trust you.
Because, as their journey shows, extraordinary impact often begins with very ordinary principles.
Louis Bond: “The site of the camp was much larger than I had ever expected. Much of the camp was destroyed, but there were the cabin like structures at the front of the complex which were tiny in comparison to the number of people who were forced to stay in them. At the rear of the
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