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EDUCATION - SAM HOLDERNESS OM'99
What is your profession and current position?
Since 2008 I have held Directorships in the field of private education. Currently I am Business Integration Director for Dukes Education, a family of schools, nurseries, and educators.
How did Monkton get you ready for the world of work?
Although British by nationality, I came to Monkton for 6th form having been born and raised in Singapore. With hindsight there was a lot of culture shock, more so than I realised as an overconfident 16 year old. Coming from the tropics I’d spent my time in shorts at a 2000 student IB school, not CCF, rugby or coming within 20 feet of a tweed blazer. Monkton’s boarding community, particularly Mr and Mrs Dewes, whom I shall be forever grateful to, provided a caring environment to assimilate and grow into.
What is your biggest professional achievement?
When leading a previous organisation, we received the highest inspection result ever achieved in the industry. It was reported that at the time, of the nearly 600 organisations holding accredited status, ours was the first to ever be awarded a perfect report. Delightfully, being the first can never be taken away. This was a team effort, and while I led the team, it was just reward for each member of the organisation’s commitment to excellence.
What has been your most challenging professional moment?
Two immediately come to mind:
- Prior to working in private education, for several years I was a Therapeutic Social Worker based in residential units for young people in care with extremely challenging behaviour. These young people had among the toughest starts to life one could imagine. To this day, this role is simultaneously the best and worst I have had.
- The emergence of COVID 19. Like everyone running a business at the time, the unexpected pandemic moved faster than we could sensibly react to and caused huge fallout, almost entirely out of anyone’s hands. As months went on, we were able to implement strategy to adjust to the new normal, but that period was unlike anything I’d experienced previously.
What inspires and motivates you at work?
I’ve always asked the question “what’s the point”. With work, I wanted the point to be more than a salary – there are several industries that pay better than education. Working with young people is indescribably rewarding, results are immediate because your clients are young people who tell you exactly what you need to hear, whether you agree or not! Helping future generations create foundations for successful lives and best serve their communities as adults is an amazing answer to “what’s the point”.
What is one piece of advice you would like to share with pupils or OMs about getting into your profession?
Life isn’t always linear, while it is important to have a clear destination/goal in mind, detours can often be the most fun. You will see opportunities that may be different to your plan, the skills and experience employers are looking for are far more diverse than you realise, keep motivated and be authentically you.