jobs.ac.uk - Great jobs for bright people
  • Find a Job
  • Find PhDs
  • Career Advice
  • Jobs by Email
  • Advertise a Job
  • Recruiters
  • Your Account

  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to secondary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

career-advice.jobs.ac.uk

Secondary Sidebar

jobs.ac.uk Career Advice

  • CV and Cover Letter Advice
    • CV Tips
    • Free CV Templates
    • Cover Letters with Examples
    • Personal Profiles
    • CV Resources
  • Jobseeking and Interview Tips
    • Jobseeking Tips
    • Academic Interviews
    • Professional Interviews
    • Jobseeking and Interview Resources
  • Career Development
    • Academic Careers
    • Research Careers
    • Career Progression Stories
    • Professional Careers
    • Working in Industry
    • Career Development Resources
    • Global Careers
    • Working From Home
  • Women in Higher Education
  • FE Career Advice
    • FE CV & Interview Tips
    • Working in FE
    • Managing your Career in FE
    • FE Jobs Profiles
  • Resources
    • Academic Case Studies
    • Professional Case Studies
    • Job Profiles
      • Biological Science Jobs
      • Health and Medical Jobs
      • Engineering and Technology Jobs
      • Computer Science Jobs
      • Physical and Environmental Science Jobs
      • Professional Service Jobs
        • Business Development Manager Jobs Profile
        • Chef Jobs Profile
        • Civil Service Jobs Profile
        • Email Marketing Jobs Profile
        • SEO Jobs Profile
        • Office Admin Jobs
    • Vlogs
  • Webinars
  • Country Profiles
    • Africa
      • Egypt
      • Ghana
      • Kenya
      • Nigeria
      • South Africa
    • Americas
      • Canada
      • United States of America
    • Asia
      • Bahrain
      • Brunei
      • China
      • Hong Kong
      • India
      • Japan
      • Kazakhstan
      • Malaysia
      • Qatar
      • Saudi Arabia
      • Dubai
      • Singapore
      • South Korea
      • Turkey
      • United Arab Emirates
      • Work in Vietnam – Country Profile
      • Work in Uzbekistan – Country Profile
    • Europe
      • Belgium
      • Denmark
      • Finland
      • France
      • Germany
      • Ireland
      • Italy
      • Netherlands
      • Norway
      • Russia
      • Spain
      • Sweden
      • Switzerland
      • United Kingdom
    • Oceania
      • Australia
      • New Zealand
  • PhD and Studentship Advice
    • PhD
    • Studentship Resources
    • Vlogs
  • Need help advertising a job?
  • About jobs.ac.uk
  • Ask A Professional
  • Academic Spotlight Interviews
  • Menu
    • CV and Cover Letter Advice
      • CV Tips
      • Free CV Templates
      • Cover Letters with Examples
      • Personal Profiles
      • CV Resources
    • Jobseeking and Interview Tips
      • Jobseeking Tips
      • Academic Interviews
      • Professional Interviews
      • Jobseeking and Interview Resources
    • Career Development
      • Academic Careers
      • Career Progression Stories
      • Research Careers
      • Professional Careers
      • Working in Industry
      • Career Development Resources
      • Global Careers
      • Working From Home
    • Women in Higher Education
    • FE Career Advice
      • FE CV & Interview Tips
      • Working in FE
      • Managing your Career in FE
      • FE Jobs Profiles
    • Resources
      • Academic Case Studies
      • Professional Case Studies
      • Interview questions tool
      • Vlogs
      • Job Profiles
        • Biological Science Jobs
        • Health and Medical Jobs
        • Engineering and Technology Jobs
        • Computer Science Jobs
        • Physical and Environmental Science Jobs
        • Professional Service Jobs
        • Civil Service jobs
    • Webinars
    • Country Profiles
      • Africa
        • Work in Egypt – Country Profile
        • Work in Ghana – Country Profile
        • Work in Kenya – Country Profile
        • Work in Nigeria – Country Profile
        • Work in South Africa – Country Profile
      • Americas
        • Work in Canada – Country Profile
        • Work in the United States of America – Country Profile
      • Asia
        • Work in Bahrain – Country Profile
        • Work in Brunei – Country Profile
        • Work in China – Country Profile
        • Work in Hong Kong – Country Profile
        • Work in India – Country Profile
        • Work in Japan – Country Profile
        • Work in Kazakhstan – Country Profile
        • Work in Malaysia – Country Profile
        • Work in Qatar – Country Profile
        • Work in Saudi Arabia – Country Profile
        • Work in Singapore – Country Profile
        • Work in South Korea – Country Profile
        • Work in Turkey – Country Profile
        • Work in United Arab Emirates – Country Profile
      • Dubai
      • Europe
        • Belgium Country Profile
        • Work in Denmark – Country Profile
        • Work in Finland – Country Profile
        • France Country Profile
        • Work in Germany – Country Profile
        • Work in Ireland – Country Profile
        • Work in Italy – Country Profile
        • Work in the Netherlands – Country Profile
        • Work in Norway – Country Profile
        • Work in Russia – Country Profile
        • Work in Spain – Country Profile
        • Work in Sweden – Country Profile
        • Work in Switzerland – Country Profile
        • Work in the United Kingdom – Country Profile
      • Oceania
        • Work in Australia – Country profile
        • Work in New Zealand – Country Profile
    • Studentship Advice
      • PhD
      • Studentship Resources
      • Vlogs
    • Need help advertising a job?
    • About jobs.ac.uk

Women Leaders in Higher Education – Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell

Manchester uni

Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell, President & Vice-Chancellor, The University of Manchester, kindly agreed to answer questions about her career.

GC UoM Nancy AGLC 1

Please can you talk us through your career to date?

I initially wanted to study art (I did A level art at art college in the evenings) but I realised how difficult it is to have a successful career in this field, so I chose to take a degree in physiology (despite having dropped biology at the age of 14). During my degree in London I was inspired by my research project and so went on to do a PhD. I then held a series of fellowships for much of my career, finally as an MRC Research Professor. During this time, I did take on several more junior leadership roles, for example as Research Dean for Life Sciences. Then I became Vice-President for Research at The University of Manchester, then Deputy President and Vice-Chancellor, and became President and Vice-Chancellor in 2010.

What inspired you to become a leader?

Nothing specific and it was never my aim or ambition, things just sort of came along and each time I was talked into applying.

Have you ever received help or guidance from a female mentor, and do you have experience of mentoring other women? Please tell me more about your experiences in these areas and the difference mentorship made to yourself and others

Yes, both, though also many male mentors. I have gained enormously from their wisdom and experience, though sometimes you just have to learn the hard way by making mistakes. I have mentored quite a number of women and probably learnt as much from them as they did from me.

During the early stages of your career, can you tell me about any barriers to progression for females that no longer exist today?

No, I can’t honestly say that I was ever aware of barriers, though I was often in a minority (sometimes of one). When I became VC I was the only female Vice-Chancellor in the Russell Group of Universities. Now there are nine, and I am the Russell Group Chair.

What would you consider to be the biggest challenge for females pursuing a leadership role?

Confidence and balancing personal and professional life.

What are the benefits of having women in leadership positions?

I don’t like to generalise, but women often like to work in teams. There is evidence that companies with more female leaders are more successful.

President and Vice Chancellor

Have you ever experienced imposter syndrome, and if so, how did you navigate your way through it?

Frequently. It depends on the situation – sometimes it’s best just to be honest about what you don’t know, other times it’s worth remembering that others in the room probably don’t know any more than you do.

How can women develop their leadership skills?

Watch, listen, read about great leaders (male and female). Get a good mentor and a coach (they are different). Think about your strengths more than your weaknesses and play to them.

How can women support other women in their organisations?

Mentoring, guidance, and giving opportunities.

What advice would you give your 25-year-old self?

Be a bit bolder.

What did you think of our article? - please rate

0 / 5. 0


Share this article

jobs.ac.uk

Start your UK & international job search for academic jobs, research jobs, science jobs and managerial jobs in leading universities and top global employers.

Reader Interactions

You may also like:

  • Audience at the conference hall.

    Writing Abstracts for Conferences

  • Professor Herman Grobler Case Study Career Advice Thumbnail

    Professor Herman Grobler

  • Female scientist working at laboratory

    Sustainability in the lab

Comments

  1. taslima Begum says

    23rd October 2023 at 5:59 pm

    I want to do a phd to develop my leadership skill if I get any financial assistance.

    Reply
  2. taslima Begum says

    23rd October 2023 at 6:01 pm

    Is there any supervisor available who can help me to get a scholarship for PhD in compliance management or change management?

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

5 × four =

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Follow us

Searching for a job in the United Kingdom

Latest Jobs

  • Faculty Position in AI/ML for Biosciences

    Department of Biosciences and Bioinformatics, Xi'an Jiaotong - Liverpool University

    Location: Suzhou

    Salary: Competitive salary in the market


  • Apprentice - Chemical & Environmental Engineering

    Engineering, University of Nottingham

    Location: Nottingham

    Salary: £23,563 - £23,946 per annum, depending on skills and experience.


  • Research Assistant / Research Associate (Fixed Term)

    Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge

    Location: Cambridge

    Salary: £32,546 - £45,413 per annum


  • Post Doctoral Researcher (Level 1) in Mathematical Modelling of the Mechanics of Wrinkling

    Faculty of Science & Engineering - Department of Mathematics & Statistics, University of Limerick

    Location: Limerick

    Salary: £39,877.54 - £45,524.25 per annum (pro-rata) (maximum starting salary €48,412 per annum pro-rata)


  • Research Assistant/Associate in High TRL Aerothermal Testing (Fixed Term)

    Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge

    Location: Cambridge

    Salary: £32,546 - £45,413 per annum


  • Fire Safety Advisor (0.8FTE)

    Safety Health & Environment, Royal College of Art

    Location: London

    Salary: £48,832 - £52,853 per annum pro rata


Footer

jobs.ac.uk - Great jobs for bright people
  • Find a Job
  • Find PhDs
  • Career Advice
  • Jobs by Email
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Terms of use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Accessibility Statement

Copyright © jobs.ac.uk 1998 - 2025

  • Find a Job
  • Find PhDs
  • Careers Advice
  • Jobs by Email
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Terms of use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Accessibility
jobs.ac.uk - Great jobs for bright people

Copyright © jobs.ac.uk 1998 - 2025