A whistle stop tour of the training and experience I’ve gathered over the years in one quickfire session, fuelled by my own belief in the value of education. Early career fundraisers and those new to HE will benefit from this can-do and morale boosting session, covering tips for meetings and making the ask, as well as confessing some mistakes, navigating the weird and wonderful world of academics, steps for career progression, tackling imposter syndrome and sharing some “made it!” moments. This will be an inspiring talk with practical and easily applicable advice for attendees to take back to their institutions and forge ahead with real belief in their potential, their careers and our sector.