20 Years Since Graduation!

Reflecting on Judi-mae’s University Experience: 20 Years Since Graduating from the UEA 🎓

It has been 20 years since Judi-mae graduated from the University of East Anglia (UEA) with a Bachelor of Science in Business Information Systems. Her time at UEA, starting in 2001, was instrumental in shaping both her career and personal identity.

Growing up with a father who was a highly sought-after software engineer, known for his specialised knowledge and experience that took him around the world as computers became more mainstream, Judi-mae was immersed in technology from a young age, playing DOS games on 386s in the late 1980s, exploring gaming and word processing on Gateway 2000 machines and attending Microsoft’s Live 95 event at Earls Court when she was just 13.

Some of Judi-mae’s favourite childhood computer games which she played using the MS–DOS operating system and then Windows PCs as computing technology evolved.

Judi-mae was constantly surrounded by computers; hardware, network equipment, software and from the age of around 14 (1997) she was lucky enough to benefit from a home network of linked computers which she used for learning, research, homework, communications and gaming – often network gaming with her father & younger brother.

At the UEA, she excitedly pursued her passion for IT, communications and business through a degree hosted by the UEA’s School of Computing Sciences. The curriculum was a blend of technical and business-focused subjects, preparing her for the evolving digital landscape. The key topics covered during her degree included:

Business Information Systems Concepts
Business Computing and Mathematics
Financial and Management Accounting
Database Design and Implementation, SQL
Web Design and Development
BIS Design and Architecture
Coding, especially Java
Business Analytics
Information Technology Security
Server-side Web Development
Marketing Principles
Digital Marketing

Judi-mae’s final year project, which compared the communication methods of the telegraph era to modern-day text messaging, combined her interest in technology with a love of historical perspectives and human psychology. This project allowed her to analyse how communication had evolved, especially bearing in mind the impact of modern technology.

Outside of the lecture theatres, Judi-mae embraced her individuality, known for her eclectic fashion sense and individuality. Her graduation ceremony in 2004 was a memorable affair, with Judi-mae sporting her hair in bunches, a shaved gap in her eyebrow and a cherry choker, a testament to her quirky style that she still proudly displays today.

Judi-mae graduating from the UEA in 2004 with fellow School of Computing Sciences students

While her degree gave her a solid technical foundation, Judi-mae also had a passion for the psychological aspects of how people interact with technology, particularly within business and marketing contexts. The merging of these two fields in her mind throughout her degree course led her to pivot towards a career in digital marketing, where she has excelled for over two decades, often being the first to introduce digital strategies to businesses.

Her time at UEA laid the foundation for a career that blends creativity, technology, and strategic thinking and she remains deeply grateful for the experiences and education she received.

Reflecting on her time at UEA, Judi-mae feels immense gratitude for the experiences, education and personal growth she achieved in the 3 years she was there. The university provided a solid platform from which she launched a successful career in marketing – heavily weighted towards digital – fields she continues to innovate and excel in.

The friendships, lessons and passion for creativity and technology she gained at UEA remain central to her journey, both personally and professionally 👑