UCL Connect: How to Master Motivation

Mitesh Vagadia (Chair)

Deputy Director of Student Support and Wellbeing at UCL

I joined UCL in 2013 after working for Hertfordshire County Council for six years as a Personal Adviser to care leavers in higher education. Even though my background and experience were in welfare and support, my UCL journey started in the Student Funding Office. An area of work which was also fundamental to supporting care leavers who progressed to university.

I moved to Student Support and Wellbeing Services in October 2018 as Head of Development, Campaigns and Projects and at first imposter syndrome crept in and it took me a while to realise some of this was down to my own ego. I went from a role where I was the guy who had the answers to the questions to a guy who was always asking the questions, but today I love asking questions and finding out ‘why’. I now believe if I’m the smartest person in the room then I’m in the wrong room.

I was honoured when UCL Connect contacted me to be the chair of this session. Firstly because I’ve never been asked to be a chair and I like pushing myself out of my comfort zone into my stretch zone. But secondly I loved the idea/concept of alumni giving back and sharing knowledge with current UCL students. I’m looking forward to the session and I hope to learn something myself about mastering the art of motivation.

Panellists

Henry Fieldman (MSc Biology of Vision, 2011)

British Rower

Henry is a two time Olympic Medalist coxswain for Team GB in rowing and has the unusual record of being the first coxswain to win Olympic medals in both men’s and women’s crews. 

During lockdown Henry and a group of other athletes, alongside a mentor from the business world, joined together to build talks  and masterclasses to share their experiences from the world of international sport with people from different disciplines. Henry’s focus here was on imposter syndrome. Alongside his sport and public speaking Henry coaches young aspiring coxes through his business Coxing Consultancy. 

Karen Jones PhD. (MPhil Genetics, 1995)

Scientist, Marketing Leader, Coach

Karen is a PhD-trained scientist (molecular genetics of breast cancer) with a post-doctorate from Harvard Medical School (mouse models of familial cardiomyopathy), and 25 years in biotechnology organisations in various commercial roles.  She currently leads the European marketing team for Allergy and Autoimmunity Diagnostics at Thermo Fisher Scientific, where she has transformed the team for greater scale and impact with the aim of reaching over 200 million people who suffer clinical symptoms without proper diagnosis and effective management. 

Recently she has become a certified coach and trainer in women’s empowerment with the aim of improving the gender balance at leadership levels in STEM organisations.

Karen is committed to helping aspiring leaders to have permission to be their most courageous and authentic selves, so that they can achieve career fulfilment without stress and struggle.

Dr. Emma Radway-Bright PhD. (MPhil Rheumatology, 2002)

Lead Therapist at I Need Therapy

Dr. Emma Radway-Bright PhD., is Lead Therapist at I Need Therapy, a London-based counselling service which she established with a colleague after extensive training; and a change in her science-based career. Emma is a qualified Counsellor / Psychotherapist with an additional qualification as a Life Coach. She works with clients online via video-conferencing platforms, expanding her geographical reach to clients across the UK, Europe and beyond. Her clients are mainly professionals who are experiencing depression, stress, anxiety and the general pressures of modern day living.

Emma specialises in trauma - big and small - and works with people to resolve the emotional, physical and behavioural effects of any trauma they have experienced in the past, or more recently. She also specialises in working with parents who have not had their baby delivered to term; as well as new mothers who need support during their transition into parenting. She's also established a niche in Self Care, working to support colleagues and other professionals in establishing routines and tools to better take care of themselves at work and across all areas of their lives.

Dr Amrita Sen Mukherjee (BSc Mathematics with Management Studies, 2004)

Speaker, Positive Psychology Practitioner, Coach, and Disability Advocate

As a TEDx Speaker, Amrita challenged societal frameworks on posttraumatic growth, with groundbreaking research published in the British Journal of Health Psychology. Recognized as an expert, she has appeared on BBC News, various podcasts, and is the Co-Chair of the Disabled Doctors Network. 

Amrita frequently speaks at conferences, including the General Medical Council Symposium and NHS Disability Summit. Her dedication during the pandemic, spearheading a wellbeing scheme, earned awards from institutions like the University of East London and the Royal College of General Practitioners.

A strong believer in enabling personal growth, Amrita brings a unique energy, blending clinical credibility, positive psychology principles, and a genuine commitment to wellbeing. Read more about Amrita on her website.