For our Alumna of the Month interview, we spoke to Bhanavi Kumar, Account Manager for Healthcare Advertising Company WoolleyPau.
Bhanavi joined Bromley High School in 2013 and left in 2017. She studied A level Biology, Chemistry, Maths and AS French. Bhanavi has an undergraduate degree in Neuroscience from Keele University and a Masters in Computational Neuroscience and Cognitive Robotics from the University of Birmingham.
Please can you briefly describe your current role?
I work for a healthcare advertising company called WoolleyPau, which is listed among the Top 40 creative agencies. I manage projects, collaborating with pharmaceutical clients to promote new drugs and treatments to healthcare professionals, patients, and the public. The variety in my role is what I find most enjoyable. I appreciate the opportunity to work across various disease areas and contribute to creating impactful campaigns . Often, our clients approach us without a clear understanding of their needs, and it’s our responsibility to comprehend their requirements and advise on their business strategy.
“One of the aspects I found most rewarding about Bromley High School was the close relationships I formed with my teachers, especially towards the end of school. They truly believed in us!”
How did Bromley High School help shape your future career?
Bromley High School prepared us for university education and the working world through opportunities like mock interviews, workshops, one-to-ones, and university field trips, instilling in me the confidence that I maintained throughout my higher education.
Once, when I was upset about one of my grades, the teacher who taught me that subject said, “You did better than me.” Considering what an amazing teacher they were, I realised that school teaches us much more than just passing exams and that one performance does not define the course of our lives.
What aspects of Bromley High School did you most enjoy, and find most rewarding?
The close relationships I formed with my teachers, especially towards the end of school. They truly believed in us! Despite finding Chemistry the most challenging subject, it was my favourite. While all my teachers were amazing, Dr. Rowley, who taught me every year at Bromley High School, was probably the reason Chemistry became my favourite subject.
What is your favourite memory of being at Bromley High School?
Singing “The Twelve Days of Christmas” in assembly in December.
What value do you get out of your connections with your fellow alumnae and the wider GDST community?
Long-lasting friendships. The first girl who spoke to me on my first day at Bromley High School is still one of my closest friends; we caught up for coffee last week!
I met a few GDST girls at university, but notably, someone who interviewed me for a job role happened to be a GDST alumna, and it was wonderful to unexpectedly bond over it.