Jessica Spence, 1994

Jessica Spence read Philosophy at Clare and was the first President of Brands at Beam Suntory and is now their President of North America, leading commercial operations within the region.

Who was your greatest Clare influence and why?

My greatest Clare influence was Dr Richard Gooder, my first Director of Studies. I was a mixed prospect at interview (applying for a subject that patently didn’t suit me!) and predictably wanted to change within the first term. I was terrified of what he’d say, and the feeling that I’d let him down, but his answer was simple “I knew you would change subject, but we thought you’d like it here” – I’m so grateful he believed that! 

Jessica's Story

Clare has shaped my life in so many ways. It’s given me my closest friends, including my husband, incredible memories, but crucially my voice and my approach to thinking and learning. People find it hard to believe but I was an astonishingly silent child. Even as a teenager my school reports often read (I paraphrase) “we think she’s intelligent, but she doesn’t say much so we’re not quite sure”.  Being given the opportunity to learn in an environment where it was just me, with nowhere to hide, but also nobody (apart from a world expert in their field!) to feel nervous of, gave me my voice. I gained confidence in my point of view and confidence that it merited being listened to.

But it also gave me a foundational grounding in how to think and learn – which has served me incredibly well as I’ve navigated a global career. I loved the start of a new week when I had nothing more than a topic area (usually not a prescribed essay title) and a very long list of suggested readings to be found in obscure parts of the University Library (allowing for ample tearoom breaks!). Clare taught me how to think and learn, not to know. When you work across Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas as I have, you understand quickly that you “know” very little (and most of it is useless!). All you have is the power of your thinking and your ability to learn. Clare gave me that.

My memories are so vivid. There are the “big” moments – Freshers’ Week, the May balls, the Bumps and the exams. But the strongest memories are the everyday ones.

Many are just the sheer beauty of Clare. The nightly walks across to the Buttery from Memorial Court, through the mist on the bridge with the lights of Old Court gleaming warm in front of you. Or the mornings waking up (generally frozen to the bone!) in our set on E Staircase and looking out over the frosted King’s and Old Court lawns.

But many of course are of the people. My first phone call with my college “Mum” – the start of a now nearly 30-year friendship that is as close to family as you can get. The late-night cheese toastie with then my first-year neighbour and now dearest friend (who found me extremely odd initially, but warmed to me!). Getting to know my now husband (I thought there was something there, he politely but firmly disagreed for the next four years!).

There is something in the magic of Clare that creates fertile ground for lifelong bonds. I don’t know the secret – I think it’s a combination of the people it chooses, the values it embraces and the atmosphere it creates, but you leave Clare with a set of incredible relationships. I’ve been thrilled to see the increasing diversity of our community, and love thinking about how rewarding it must to be to be at Clare right now.