Sophie Frances Parkin

Member of the Dean’s List, class of 2025

Throughout her time at the Management School, Sophie’s values shone through in everything she did, championing student community and inclusivity, and demonstrating her passion for local heritage. 

Blending business strategy with local heritage

Sophie took every opportunity to continue developing her professional skill set during her MBA, whilst staying connected to heritage and non-profit sectors where her true passion lies. 

Her impact at Sheffield General Cemetery Trust alongside her studies saw her quickly progress from a Marketing Volunteer to Press & Marketing Manager, taking the lead on the Trust’s PR, digital marketing activities, and promoting their programme of community-focused events. 

Entrepreneurial drive

Sophie took the bold step of launching her own consultancy, Yorkshire Rose Marketing, while simultaneously balancing her academic commitments alongside client relationships. Taking this initiative gave Sophie hands-on experience of working with clients including Sheffield General Cemetery Trust, Sheffield Hospitals Charity Trust, and Boost Consultancy. 

Her consultancy work led Sophie to take on a freelance fundraising role as Master Cutler’s Challenge Campaign Manager, managing a high-profile fundraising campaign raising money to support dementia care across Sheffield. She successfully engaged over 50 South Yorkshire-based participant companies, organised the finale event at Cutlers’ Hall for over 100 guests and raised over £115k for the charity.

Continuing her volunteering work in the heritage sector, Sophie supported Sheffield Museums’ Thinking in Colour event at the Millennium Gallery, helping people to explore the philosophy behind the concept of colour.

Embracing student life

Sophie’s commitment to others is second to none. She embodied student life throughout her time at Sheffield positively contributing to the Management School community. A dedicated Academic Representative for the MBA programme, Sophie went above and beyond to ensure every student in her cohort felt welcome and at home, even organising a whole cohort Secret Santa gift exchange. 

As an MBA Student Ambassador, Sophie contributed to the School’s recruitment efforts liaising with prospective students and creating engaging content for the School’s social media activities.

Recognition and leadership

Sophie’s leadership skills extended well beyond the classroom. She proudly represented the Management School in the Global Masters Challenge, where she was nominated team leader and successfully guided her team to a third-place finish out of 60 international teams. 

Sophie also volunteered as a Professional Mentor to a member of SUMS staff, sharing career guidance, industry insights and advice.