The Arts & Humanities are not a 'nice to have' - they are essential in understanding the world
Please introduce yourself, your current role and if possible the organisation you work for:
I'm Luke - I work for Airbnb as the Public Affairs and Partnerships lead for Northern Europe.
Why did you decide to study your specific course at the University of Sheffield?
I was always obsessed with history and the way in which the past connects us to the present. Studying politics alongside it was the obvious choice - they are mutually beneficial subjects in understanding how the world works and how we might change it for the better in the future.
What did you enjoy most about your course and were there any specific modules or course activities that were particularly memorable?
I was fascinated by the English Civil War and the way it shaped (and continues to shape) much of our constitutional and political history in the UK.
What did you do when you finished your degree at Sheffield?
I returned to my hometown in Essex and began looking for careers where I felt I could apply my learning in the best possible way, and continue to learn on the job.
How did your degree help direct you to your specific career path?
My degree gave me a natural inclination to steer towards policy and public affairs. I started as an intern within the Civil Service and then went on to various different roles that put me at the heart of British politics during a huge period of change, grappling with issues including the Scottish Independence Referendum, Brexit and not to mention Covid. The skill sets you obtain through a humanities degree are universal - they helped beyond the Civil Service as I then went on to the private sector to see the world through another lens.
What do you enjoy about your current role, and what are some of the biggest challenges?
My current role gives me a huge blend of public affairs, policy and business in an industry that I consider to be my first love: travel. It's a huge challenge to navigate competing interests between the political, private and consumer sectors - attempting to find solutions to issues that we've never experienced before as technology continues to shape the way we live and travel globally.
What skills did you develop on your course and/or via extracurricular activities that have helped you become successful in your current role?
Negotiation is the big one - understanding how individuals, communities and governments have worked together, negotiated or fought for outcomes according to their social and political histories is essential to navigating a career in policy.
What advice would you give to prospective or current Arts & Humanities students at the University of Sheffield?
That the Arts & Humanities are not a 'nice to have' - they are essential in understanding the world and how we apply that understanding to finding solutions for the future. So absorb all that you can and stay as curious as possible.