Bio

Having spent the majority of her working life in fast-based startups building online products in various domains (EdTech, FinTech and UGC), Ellen joined Founders Pledge in June 2021 as Product Director to enhance the digital channels of Founders Pledge. Ellen holds a MA degree from the University of Glasgow, and a MPhil from the University of Cambridge.

Q&A with Ellen

Q: If you could choose anyone famous (real or fictional) to have dinner with who would they be and why?

Donald Barthelme, but I’d worry that I’d re-emerge in one of his short stories as a profoundly unlikeable character. Meeting your heroes is such a gamble.

Q: As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Early on I wanted to be a lawyer or a psychologist. Later, I started thinking about civil service and diplomacy. Briefly considered quitting academia and retraining as a playwright or actress. So naturally I ended up in tech!

Q: If a movie was made of your life what genre would it be, who would play you?

Magical realism à la The Truman Show, and I’d love to be played by Maggie Smith.