Guinevere Poncia, 2017

Guin Poncia studied an MPhil in Political Thought and Intellectual History at Clare and now works in international engagement and diplomacy.

Who was your greatest Clare influence and why?

The 1942 film Casablanca ends with the iconic line “I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship”. I am reminded of this quote when I think about my time at Clare because the friends I made are – for innumerable reasons – my greatest Clare influence.  

Guin's Story

Clare was my home whilst studying for my Master of Philosophy in Political Thought and Intellectual History. A haven of great people, great conversation and great gardens. It has profoundly shaped who I am and my career.

 From planning a teach-out on feminist political philosophy during the strikes to protect academic pensions, to the legendary Friday formals for masters’ students (and some very sore heads at breakfast the next day), I have many fond memories from my time there.

 My career since leaving Clare has traversed the world of politics and public service, and I now work on international engagement and diplomacy. To deploy the most millennial of ideas – in what is an increasingly challenging and complex world – Clare gave me an invaluable safe space in which I could grow academically and personally. What I treasure most from my time there are the relationships, friendships and people I had the privilege of spending my time with.

 Being a historian by training, I always appreciated the presence of history when I was at Clare. As one of the oldest Cambridge colleges, I felt a sense of the legacy of those who came before us, as we all worked out how to make the world a better and fairer place for those who come after.