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When Lucy left Newcastle-under-Lyme School in 2014, she couldn’t have imagined that a decade later she’d be part of the global consumer insights team for one of the world’s most iconic fashion houses — Ralph Lauren.
Today, as Global Insights Director, Lucy’s career has spanned Ralph Lauren, L’Oréal, and Ted Baker, with roles that have taken her deep into the world of data, marketing, strategy, and digital innovation. Yet, when she looks back, she says many of the skills she uses today began forming at NULS – often without her realising it.
“You don’t realise it at school, but it shapes you in ways that show up later — how you work, how you communicate, your mindset. Everything you learn builds on what came before.”
Lucy joined NULS in Year 7 and threw herself into every opportunity going — drama, tennis, music, and academic study. From an early stage, she embraced school life with enthusiasm and curiosity, always ready to try something new and get involved.
She credits her teachers and the school community for encouraging her to grow in confidence and independence.
“Teachers are your biggest advocates — even if you don’t realise it until after you’ve left school.”
That supportive environment helped Lucy to develop a strong sense of self and resilience — qualities that have carried her through university and her career. She reflects fondly on how NULS inspired her to “spread your wings, figure out who you want to be, and don’t box yourself in.”
Those words became a guiding principle for her life after school.
One of Lucy’s fondest memories from school is starring as Rizzo in the all school production of Grease during her Upper Sixth year — a highlight that combined her love of performance and teamwork. “It was the best experience! We had such a good cast, we were all close by then, and we just had so much fun. Even though it was stressful with A levels at the same time, it was so worth it.”
Balancing academics, extracurriculars, and personal goals taught Lucy a skill she still relies on today: prioritisation. “My motto has always been ‘work smarter, not harder.’ I learned how I worked best quite early, which helped. You do need balance, though — if I’d only studied, I would’ve been miserable. Having drama as an outlet was so important.”
After leaving NULS, Lucy studied Management with Marketing at the University of Bath, graduating with First Class Honours. While there, she discovered a new passion – cheerleading – becoming both a captain and coach, combining leadership and creativity in ways that later shaped her career. Her early professional experiences, including roles at Ted Baker during her placement year and after graduating and later at L’Oréal, deepened her expertise in marketing and consumer insight. Now, at Ralph Lauren, Lucy leads global research to understand what drives fashion consumers around the world – building insights that shape strategy, innovation, and brand storytelling.
Lucy’s real-world advice for current NULS students remains simple, grounded, and heartfelt: “Find something you enjoy. Think about what you like, what you’re good at, and what you’re not. Then find a job that plays to your strengths and passions. Don’t worry about what others want you to do. We work for most of our lives — you might as well enjoy it!”
She also urges students to see mistakes not as setbacks, but as opportunities – it is important to her to try new things and new roles. Finding your pathway in your career can be hard, but you can try different things and it all be meaningful in some way, even if it doesn’t feel that way at the time. Not everything will go to plan, and that’s okay: “Everyone works somewhere they don’t like at some point. The key is to recognise it, accept it, and move on. When one door closes, another opens — you just have to believe you’re on the right path.”
When asked about her teachers, Lucy’s affection for the NULS community shines through: “The teachers really make NULS special. You don’t realise it until you’ve left, but they truly care and shape you in the right way.”
Her final message for students today? “Make the most of your school years! Teachers always say it goes fast – and it really does. Enjoy everything: the lessons, the drama, the friendships. You learn from all of it.”
Her story is a testament to hard work, resilience, and the quiet lessons learned in school corridors — lessons that continue to shape her journey from the NULS stage to the global stage.
A huge thank you to Lucy for taking the time to share her story and reflections with us. It’s always inspiring to see how the lessons learned and friendships formed at Newcastle-under-Lyme School continue to shape our alumni as they go on to achieve incredible things around the world.
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