Nivritti Samtaney

Current Employer/Organisation Name

Self-employed

What have you been doing since leaving Exeter, and what are you doing now?

After leaving Exeter where I had studied Psychology, I did a master’s in Counselling in Education in Bristol. I then decided to take a career risk and do the Teach For India fellowship for two years where I taught in an under resourced school for two years. I then worked as a program manager and senior program manager at Teach For India for the next 9 years. Recently I quit to pursue a passion project with the children I had taught 10 years before. Some of them had transitioned into high income schools of their own merit and their experiences making that transition had been challenging and very interesting. Together with a director and the students, we wrote and shot a film on their lives and stories which is now in post production. Having completed this project, I will go back to a full time career in the Education sector (non profit space) and work on leadership development for the sector.

Why did you choose this career? And what do you enjoy most about your work?

I felt that my skills would be most useful in this context. When I started working here I realized that I was constantly being challenged and constantly learning. The sector keeps me on my toes! I love that and also love the people that I have met here. Both the students who are so loving and hard working, and the people who work in the sector- so passionate and inspiring!

Please tell us if you were a member of any societies, groups or sports clubs?

International Soc, International students council, Hindu Soc, Latin and Ballroom and I did some fitness clubs that I can’t remember the names of now!

What did you enjoy most about your programme and what was the biggest highlight?

I loved that we did so many different courses/ subjects in the first two years. I feel like I have a wider range of knowledge because of that. My biggest highlight was doing my dissertation and actually going into schools and surveying children- it was daunting and yet exciting!

What did you enjoy most about studying here?

The amount of things I could be involved in- clubs, work opportunities, volunteering! The range was awesome!

Why did you choose to study at Exeter?

The campus! It is so beautiful. The town didn’t seem too big and intimidating. The place felt like home. It was great for my subject and it wasn’t as cold!

What skills and experiences have been most useful for your career?

The ability to research and form opinions; data analysis and identifying trends and making decisions; presentations and working with others; being responsible for myself. All these came from experiences studying psychology and living in Exeter.

What advice would you give to a current student who wishes to pursue your career?

Take the risk and do it! You’re young and if you don’t like it, you can change your field of work. But nothing challenges you like social work and working with children! So volunteer a lot and see if you enjoy it.

What are your plans for the future?

I want to work within leadership development for the sector, there’s a gap in what the sector needs -the problems are massive- and what ability exists. I want to help to bridge that gap.