Mahad Ali

I came out of university with a law degree but had a passion for social change. I wanted to get a grounding in issues particularly concerning young people. Which led me to do an MSc in Social Policy & Planning at the LSE. The programme got me well-versed in everything from race and the criminal justice system to understanding the intricacies of the welfare state.

Since then, my career path hasn’t been linear, but neither should it be working in the third sector. After the course finished, I focused on grassroots work with young people within communities in East London. Before this I had the opportunity to take those tangible experiences and use them to inform education and skills policy for young Londoners working at the Greater London Authority for the Mayor. Working across both sides of the divide is vital for anyone trying to fund and create change with young people.

I was lucky enough to work as Director of Programmes for Career Ready, a national Social Mobility, a tremendous charity supporting young people from underrepresented backgrounds into careers of their choice. Whilst now I am working as the Executive Director for a grant giving body the Commercial Education Trust, helping to drive their strategy to improve outcomes for young people across the UK.

Alongside my day job, I have been able to use my voice and my creative writing for stage and screen to spotlight some of the key issues highlighted in my studies in the Social Policy Department. I was fortunate to have been given the opportunity to take a three month sabbatical to take part in the BBC Writers Academy, learning how to write for the BBC flagship shows and developing my own independent projects. Too often following graduation, students give up on their creative pursuit, but I have found writing has supported and energized my interest in the sector and vice versa. 

I am currently in the midst of having my debut play “My Brother’s Keeper” staged at Theatre503 February 14th, 2023. The play tackles the hosting of refugees in a coastal town and the challenges they have to face. The play is an attempt to show we can tackle our challenges through policy and art. Finally, I would just say no career is linear but your interests and application of these are a great place to start.