How can a postgraduate degree from the Global Development Institute influence your career during a fragile time for the development sector? As part of our drive to gather stories from across our alumni community, we caught up with Laura Dempsey, GDI alumna and Head of Individual Giving at One World Together to discuss her ambitions, career trajectory, and reasons for studying in Manchester back in 2014…
Why did you choose the University of Manchester and what are your favourite things about the institution?
As a Manc born and bred, I was well aware of the University and how exciting the student scene was in Manchester. As a 17-year-old, though, I was pushed further afield for my undergrad by the need to get out of the town I had grown up in! When I began considering a Master’s, I knew it would be a perfect opportunity to finally have the Manchester student experience, and it was a bonus that GDI was hugely respected in the field I wanted to study. The institution is world-renowned, and I love the buzz of Manchester University — something is always going on. There is such a large and diverse student and academic population that the opportunities to explore and learn new things here are endless!
Why did you choose your course?
After my undergraduate degree, I spent a few years trying to break into the field of Global Development through various voluntary roles and was actually living over in Australia at the time. I came to the point, though, where I knew I needed a deeper understanding of the critical issues impacting development across the globe and started to explore International Development Masters. GDI’s offerings really came out on top when comparing development departments across the UK, and I was really drawn to the academic curriculum paired with the practical fieldwork that the course offered. I studied International Development: Social Policy and Social Development from 2014 to 2015 and undertook fieldwork in Uganda.
How has your career developed since leaving Manchester? Tell us how your role with One World Together came about?
I met so many incredible peers and mentors during my time at Manchester. After I graduated, I actually ended up working with two peers and two academic staff from my course — Nicola Banks and Dan Brockington — on a research project mapping the UK Development NGO Sector (based out of Sheffield University & Manchester University). It was a great opportunity to dip my toe into research, and the findings from this research shaped the next stage of my career.
Discovering the sheer scale of the funds that flow through the charity sector and the huge contributions made by the public to global development organisations really sparked my interest in fundraising. I moved to Toronto, Canada, where I spent over five years working for a charitable foundation that aimed to democratise access to online fundraising by building affordable fundraising software. I was lucky enough to work with thousands of charities across Canada and dived into the technology sector almost by accident.
When I decided to return to the UK in 2024, almost serendipitously, I spotted that Niki was looking for fundraising support for One World Together, and it was great to get reconnected. I had cheered on One World Together from a distance as I had kept up to date with Niki’s research and the launch of OWT via Linkedin. I was so inspired to see an organisation that was looking to build a new way of giving, tackling so many of the problems I had seen time and time again in my work (too much funding restricted, lack of trust, endless project-tied grant cycles…)
How has your qualification shaped your career?
The Master’s from Manchester, I believe, gave me a strong critical grounding and understanding of structural challenges that have shaped how I have approached all my work since. It was the starting point for me jumping off into a career in the fundraising space, and it’s funny how it’s now almost come full circle, working out of the University again!
Do you have any advice for current/prospective students at the GDI? What are the challenges/opportunities you see facing graduates in the current moment?
Just do it! I remember wrestling with whether I was ‘academically proficient’ enough for a Master’s. I wasn’t always the most committed student during my undergrad, but I think this level of study can offer such a different experience. I believe you’re clearer on what you are passionate about and committed in a different way — undertaking my master’s was one of the best years of my life! My other piece of advice would just be to take advantage of everything Manchester has to offer — talk to everyone, join clubs, go to socials. There’s such a wealth of knowledge, adventure and fun to be found, and you never know who you might meet!
In terms of challenges, it sounds cliched, but obviously AI will change the future of work. It’s something everyone seems to be talking and feeling uncertain about. There’s no doubt things will shift, but learning will always be of value. If you get the chance to study at Manchester and dive into a subject you’re passionate about, it’s an opportunity not to be missed!
Note: This article gives the views of the author/academic featured and does not necessarily represent the views of the Global Development Institute as a whole
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