Inspired by the year Queen's was established - 1845 - the University is shining a light on exceptional young leaders through the Queen's Leaders 18-45 project, celebrating students and graduates driving positive change across the globe.

These inspiring individuals are breaking barriers in business, technology and community impact, while embodying the University's commitment to shaping a better world.

Professor Sir Ian Greer, President and Vice-Chancellor of Queen’s University Belfast, said: “Leadership comes in many forms: we are profiling those excelling in their chosen careers, but also those students and graduates overcoming challenges, contributing to their communities and helping to make the world a better place for all.   

“Through this programme, Queen’s will celebrate alumni and students across diverse fields, whose contributions inspire and uplift communities locally, across these islands, and internationally.”  

Harley Semple, transformed from competitive showjumper to Director of Data Solutions at Options IT in New York.

She said: “Growing up I was always fiercely competitive and the main organiser in my friend group – you know the one who was in charge of bookings and boarding passes for the sixth-form group holiday?

“At school, I have to admit I was also a bit of a teacher’s pet and worked hard. I started showjumping aged three which definitely shaped my work ethic from a young age and originally, I wanted to do this professionally. 

“My mum always thought I’d pursue something creative. As a teen, although I no longer knew what I wanted to do specifically, TV shows like Law & Order made one thing clear to me; I wanted to live in America, work in a skyscraper and wear suits to work.

Now, living in Manhattan, I often see TV shows like Law & Order and Succession filming outside our building – a full circle moment younger me would find very cool!"

Varshitha Manjunath is an International Business student at Queen’s who founded two successful companies while volunteering extensively for charity causes.

She said:

“I grew up watching my father, Manjunath BS, who is a business owner of over 40 years, so I’ve always wanted to be a businesswoman. Aged 20 was my first time travelling so far from home, moving 3,000 miles from Bangalore to Belfast just days after my last undergraduate exam. It was a huge leap, but dreaming big and achieving things deemed to be impossible is the mission I’m always on.

I have also been a yoga practitioner for 14 years. When I came to Northern Ireland, I wanted to try more new things, so I found an International GAA programme and signed up for it. For someone who is very active and always busy, GAA felt as calming and relaxing as yoga! It helped me a lot to improve my focus and concentration. 

I’m never low in energy, that craziness to do everything and to be everywhere, the eagerness to learn, that chatty nature and laughter is how others identify me. 

One of the great things about this programme is recognising the valuable contributions different leaders make in their own areas. What is your own take on leadership? 

Varshitha: My fire and entrepreneurial drive – both were fuelled by Queen’s. They kept me storming with opportunities which I’m glad I made use of. The Sustainable Entrepreneur Programme, the Queen’s Graduate School’s Futurum Programme, and real-world consultancy experiences with Grant Thornton and PwC, all helped me hone my existing skills and to identify underlying skills I didn’t know I had. All of this helped me grow both mentally and emotionally strong, which is useful in leadership.

Varshitha at graduation

Harley: I wear a lot of hats in my role, so personality wise, I think you need to be someone that is proactive, shows initiative, is comfortable being out of your comfort zone, and can really get things done, particularly with challenging tasks.  Work ethic and drive is perhaps a number one factor in seeing through these tough projects, along with strong relationship-building skills – getting people on board and bring them together across the organisation.

Harley, since graduating from Queen’s, your career has taken you all the way across the Atlantic. Can you tell us a little about your road to becoming a Data Solutionist in New York?

Harley: I experienced a bad showjumping accident during my A Levels that I was lucky to walk away from. But I used my recovery time to study hard and secured a spot in my first choice course which was Business Management at Queen’s! 

For placement year, I secured an analytics position at the Chicago-based CME Group, despite having no expertise. I returned there part-time in my final year, and then full-time after graduation. I’ll be forever grateful for the experiences I got there, but after a while I knew I wanted some more travel opportunities. 

I applied to Options IT, where I worked globally in technical support working across Singapore, London, and Dublin before transitioning into trading infrastructure. During training in New York, I knew I wanted to be there long-term and initiated the visa process to locate full-time.

The Covid pandemic had other ideas at that point, so for two years I worked remotely for this global firm from my home in rural Tyrone operating on Eastern Time. I said yes to every opportunity – taking on high-level projects in data, business analysis, and Mergers and Acquisitions.

When I finally made it back to NYC, my experience led me to securing the position as VP of Strategy and Operations. My role involves managing top market data clients, business development, brand-building, and executing our CEO’s vision. My strategic focus remains on mergers & acquisitions, helping integrate acquired firms.

Varshitha, alongside your studies, you are the founder and manager of two companies, have volunteered much of your time to different charity causes and won multiple awards for doing so! Tell us a little about that.

Varshitha: Making a difference in people’s lives keeps me going so it was an absolute honour to be presented with the Prestige Award for my hours given to volunteering. Some of the best moments of my university life were spent trying to create impact in the society I lived in.

Though I studied Computer Science at A-Level, I knew even then I only wanted to study International Business and began researching universities worldwide. Once I narrowed it down to the UK, Queen’s ticked all the boxes offering a world-class education with amazing rankings. Now, I co-run Pharmacist Aid, a pharmatech firm using AI and automation to improve efficiency in pharmacies – so I found my way back to tech!

I also lead Meraki Events, which connects high profile artists from Asia with major events in Belfast and Dublin. We’re revolutionising event management through tech intervention and greater representation of BME communities in high-profile events. My roles blend technology, business, and strategy, making them perfect for proactive, adaptable people who are eager to innovate and create meaningful impact.

Every year, hundreds of students from very different backgrounds and experiences graduate from Queen’s. It is this thriving diversity that brings our campus to life and allows students and alumni from every walk of life to see themselves represented as pioneers of our future.

Whether it’s students and graduates excelling in their chosen careers, overcoming challenges, or contributing to their communities, the Queen’s 18-45 Leaders programme will profile those helping to make the world a better place for all.

Find out more: https://www.qub.ac.uk/alumni/18-45/ 

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