This was the case for Grammar Woman, Caroline Porter (1997), the Global Head of Business Management and Enterprise Data Services at the London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG).
After graduating from Girls Grammar in 1997, Caroline completed a Bachelor of Business and Arts at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT), before jet-setting off to London on a working holiday visa.
‘After I finished university at QUT, I was keen to see the world and travel,’ Caroline said.
‘There were lots of Australians in London taking the same opportunity, and one of my best friends was already established in London, so I already had a couch to “surf on” on arrival.’
With the Australian dollar so weak against the pound at the time, then AUD $3/GBP £1, Caroline worked in London and used her earnings to travel around the continent, as well as embarking on a solo backpacking adventure through Argentina, Brazil, and Chile.
‘You could say economics and connections brought me to London; it was a well-trodden path. I met many new friends along the way and learned a lot about myself and to be grateful for what I had.’
Part of her desire to travel stemmed from her Girls Grammar days and a love for history.
‘I particularly loved Modern History with Ms Hennessey, so I wanted to see for myself where Franz Ferdinand was assassinated, the Colosseum, and the Berlin Wall—or what remained.’
Her backpacking travels eventually ended, but what continued was Caroline’s new career and life in London.
Caroline took a job with the London Metal Exchange, working her way up from Account Executive to Head of Market Data until, after 15 years at the company, she began her next chapter in the same role at the London Stock Exchange Group, where she currently works.
Despite the hard work and persistence it no doubt takes to thrive in her career, Caroline puts working in this specialisation down to ‘luck’.
‘I was lucky enough to be seconded into a Market Data role on an interim basis,’ she said.
‘Like many things, it was just luck rather than design or ambition. When I started working in the industry it was rather immature but had huge potential, and as more affordable compute (power) and data technologies became available the industry became much more dynamic and innovative and grew very quickly.
‘Data was not yet part of the everyday vernacular, like today. Now everyone accepts the value of data, understands the ethics around data use, and many people are utilising emerging technologies to harness the power of data daily, like ChatGPT and the cloud. This constant evolution still keeps me excited.’
Caroline said some of the biggest lessons learned throughout her career still come back to things she learned in the classroom, all those years ago.
‘Nil Sine Labore often crosses my mind, especially when I have a particularly tricky project, or I’m very busy at home,’ she said.
‘I enjoyed Latin with Mrs Seckold and although I think I laughed the most in her class, it left an impression. When I joined LSEG, the Exchange’s Latin Motto of Dictum Muem Pactum—my word is my bond—seemed rather apt for the trading environment.
‘Not only working hard and with integrity, but the friendships forged in Spring Hill have lasted beyond School days—Grammar women are still among my most trusted coaches, and their experiences have helped me along the way.’
