My degree gave me key critical thinking skills and the ability to communicate and negotiate clearly and concisely

A photo of Rebecca Crosby
Rebecca Crosby
Head of Alliances, Catalyst IT
BA English Literature
2012
Rebecca is Head of Alliances at Catalyst IT.
A photo of Rebecca Crosby

What are your main responsibilities?

  • Deciding strategy for key vendors/alliances/ partners
  • Defining the go-to-market strategy for key target markets
  • Ensuring key skills are present throughout the team
  • Identifying potential M&A targets

What other jobs have you had since graduating?

  • Channel Account Manager
  • Account Manager

How has your degree from the School of English and your time at the University of Sheffield helped you in your career?

My degree gave me key critical thinking skills and the ability to communicate and negotiate clearly and concisely.

What is your greatest achievement to date?

Running a £5M business unit, creating a new Data Science practice from scratch.

What career advice would you give to a student interested in studying English?

A degree in English gives endlessly transferable skills, which are relevant for any industry. Focus less on specific careers and more on industries that you find interesting. Look at where alumni have gone to work to give inspiration. Try a variety of different roles/industries as work experience placements if possible. Reach out to people whose career path seems interesting and ask for mentorship opportunities.

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International undergraduate scholarships

We offer a generous package of financial support for international undergraduate students, including scholarships worth £10,000 towards the annual tuition fee.

Applications are open for existing offer holders for an undergraduate degree programme starting in autumn 2025.