Partner Spotlight - Get to know Ella Cathersides - Research Assistant

Partner Spotlight will be running as a monthly series. We all want to get to know our brilliant community a little better and find out the things that make them tick in and out of work.

What is your role and how long have you worked at The Nursery?

I am currently a Research Assistant on the qual team after spending the last 4 months on the quant B&C and M&E teams. I worked in the Ops team for 2 years before I became an RA, meaning I am currently the only person in the company who has worked on every team!

What did your journey before working at The Nursery look like and what led you here?

After uni I did a short stint at a stockbroker in my hometown. The work was certainly different to The Nursery, but I did enjoy my moment in the finance sector. Although, I can still vividly remember the sheer panic I felt when I was a newbie and realised I had input a trade totalling £30,000,000 instead of £300,000. (Thankfully it was very easy to amend).

After deciding to move back to London I applied to The Nursery, wanting to try something completely different. Somehow I was offered a job, even after waxing lyrical about Strictly and Downton in my interview.

If you could switch your job with anyone else within The Nursery, whose job would you want and why?

Mel, because she’s always in the best mood!

What is your proudest moment or biggest accomplishment?

Winning the Headline Act Award (First to grab the mic at karaoke) at The Nursery Christmas Awards 2021

What would you do (in your career) if you weren’t doing this?

Maybe a paramedic – I’m obsessed with Ambulance on BBC1. I think they’re all amazing.

Tell us something about yourself that may be surprising.

Despite being the winner of the Headline Act Award, I only went to karaoke for the first-time last year (but have since made up for lost time)

What’s your go-to Karaoke song?

Love at First Sight by Kylie Minogue has never let me down

Thong Song by Sisqo is also a crowd pleaser

You can only choose one:

Art or Science?

Art -The Hamilton soundtrack is art, isn’t it?

Mountains or Sea?

Sea. Preferably in Cornwall, or somewhere warm.

Cats or Dogs?

Dogs. More specifically, my dog.

Pizza or Pasta?

Pasta. I’m ALWAYS in the mood for pasta.