Sophia Rahman reveals how Lucy Cavendish College ignited her entrepreneurial journey.
Having had the wonderful opportunity to grow up in both the UK and China, my passions naturally spread across languages and cultures from an early age. I loved my time in China, and my interest in the culture of that society led me to pursue Chinese studies at university. Cambridge offered me the opportunity to study Late Imperial Chinese Literature and completed my cultural journey. The joy of being a Lucy Cavendish student was the privilege of meeting and interacting with several incredible individuals whose wisdom and expertise played a pivotal role not only in shaping my educational development but also in hugely impacting my subsequent endeavours after leaving the academic environment of Cambridge.
After graduating, I was fortunate to work for different AI start-ups at a time when the industry began to see a seismic shift in the technology landscape. What drew me towards this field was the startling potential of technology and the singular role artificial intelligence was beginning to play in reshaping our world. As I navigated the challenging yet exhilarating start-up ecosystem, it was the power of AI that really amazed me. Its ability to transform raw data into valuable insights and pave the way for smarter solutions cemented my belief in its potential. I am now the co-founder and CEO of Sophos Education, an AI-powered tutoring platform that aims to democratise high-quality and personalised learning for secondary students.
In 2021, I joined the inaugural LucEnt Challenge with my co-founder Eleanor Bird, whom I met during our time at college, and we saw it as a golden opportunity to learn from experts in the field and really turn an idea into a reality. The experience, guidance, and feedback we received during that weekend acted like a high-intensity crash course, packing years' worth of enterprise insights into a compact session. Participating in events like the LucEnt Challenge introduces you to a group of like-minded students, mentors from the field, and an array of inspiring individuals with a wealth of entrepreneurial knowledge. Beyond being just a competition, it’s a journey that could potentially lead you towards an entrepreneurial path after your time at Cambridge.
The introduction of the Female Founders Prize is a wonderful initiative, particularly considering our college's vibrant community of entrepreneurial students. During my time at Cambridge, I was fortunate to cross paths with numerous female entrepreneurs whose stories fuelled my personal journey. The Female Founders Prize brilliantly illuminates the amazing accomplishments of entrepreneurial women within our college. At the same time, it serves as a beacon of inspiration, encouraging more female students to take the leap and immerse themselves in the exciting world of entrepreneurship.