Sophie Atton

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Having studied and worked in Edinburgh, Madrid, Berlin and Munich, Sophie moved to London to pursue a career with an international environment and something she was passionate about.
Sophie has been supporting Study Abroad students for over 2 years and has a passion for languages, travel and cooking.

What is your favorite travel memory?

Back in November 2018, I had the chance to go to New York for a week. Even though my toes were completely frozen, I loved watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade! There are so many different pockets in New York, it was really interesting to explore them and taste their culinary delights. I think I ate enough BEC bagels to last me a lifetime!

How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?

I started at LSBU as a Study Abroad Administrator back in April 2018 and since then, my role has changed dramatically! Working in Study Abroad and taking on new responsibilities has allowed me to gain a deeper understanding of global mobility and see our programmes from all angles. I have had the fantastic opportunity to travel as part of my work and attend global conferences which have really broadened my horizons and developed my cultural understanding of the rest of the world.

What is the best story you've heard from a return student?

As I got on one of the red London buses in the summer, I bumped into two Study Abroad students who had previously studied at LSBU. It turns out they were on their honeymoon! Their time abroad with us in London had played such an important part in their lives and relationship that they wanted to return to relive happy memories. It was really lovely to see how a study abroad experience can impact someone’s life in such a wonderful way!

If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?

I would have to pick our semester with internship option as it such a great way to enhance your studies and your professional background. Not a lot of international students can say that they have interned in London for a semester whilst continuing their studies and it is definitely something that will be attractive to future employers. The world is becoming more global and having this experience will really allow you to network on an international scale.

What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?

I would say it’s the service we provide to our Study Abroad students. Dealing with the impact of Coronavirus on our students was a real challenge and I was so proud of my team. We worked together effectively, with our main priority being the safety of our students and ensuring they could travel back home. It was especially rewarding, even after facing these challenges, when students emailed us with a thank you or a positive message about their experience.

What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?

I really think you have to be passionate about what you do in order to be successful. In the Mobility team, we have all had international experiences, whether that is studying or working abroad, and we understand what it’s like for our students to move across the world and live in a completely different place. We are invested in what we do, understand the importance of global mobility, and strive to offer the best possible experience for our students.