Monwara Ali

What are you doing now?

I lead a charity in the London borough of Waltham Forest as the charity's Chief Executive Officer. I am also a founding director of a Community Interest Company, Stow Inspire, that helps turn shelters into homes for single parent women in Bangladesh, and I am the Chair of the EDI Committee at the Chartered Institute of Fundraising.

What did you find most valuable about your course at Westminster?

The researching, analytical and legal reasoning skills I developed have been transferable and helped shape my ability to write strong funding bids that have helped to sustain some of the charities I have worked in over the years.

Why would you recommend Westminster as a place to study?

I always had great support from my tutors and the extracurricular activities certainly made a difference. I got to spend two months in South Carolina doing an internship as a part of the Criminal Justice module at the end of my second year.

What was the best thing about being a student in London?

There is huge diversity and everything from entertainment to food and shopping is within close proximity in London.

What advice would you give to someone thinking of pursuing a similar career to you?

Make sure to approach volunteering as learning opportunities where you can put the theory you learn from academia into practice. A variety of working environments will teach you to fully develop your transferable skills and discover your strengths earlier on in your career. Seeking mentoring or coaching will also help you to continuously grow and lead your own career progression.