In January, around 100 students were fortunate enough to welcome back Dush Pathmanandam, class of 1987, for a talk about his career, life experiences and memories at Latymer. 

Dush hadn't been back at school since his A levels so it's fair to say that there were a few buildings that he didn't recognise! His talk was in the school's amphitheatre, the Seward Studio (or what some former students would fondly remember as part of the gym). 

Coming back to school, Dush shared a candid reflection: it's so easy to overlook the things and people around you until you've stepped away. Teachers, the freedom to think for yourself, and the buzz of school life can all fade into the background when they're part of your daily routine, but, as he pointed out, these are the very things that quietly shape you. 

His talk wasn't a list of tips for success; instead, it was a gentle reminder that staying curious, adaptable, and enjoying the journey are just as important as chasing achievements. 

Dush spoke warmly about the school itself. He admitted that he didn't realise until much later in life how much Latymer shaped him . The high standards built confidence and independence and encouraged thinking beyond the obvious path. Sitting in the Seward Studio, a new hall in an albeit familiar setting, he couldn't help but joke that students probably won't believe any of this just yet — but that's exactly how life goes. 

That theme of resisting expectations ran through his early decisions. Like many Latymer students, Dush was initially guided towards medicine, reflecting the school's long-standing reputation for producing medics and dentists, as well as his parents' influence (they were both doctors). Eventually he settled on Actuarial Science. He described weighing up universities (his mum vetoed Australia straight away) and picking a course with real substance - and then being floored by a 40-hour academic week in the first year. But the variety mattered: economics, computing, investment, and even Japanese in his final year, "just for the hell of it." His takeaway was refreshingly simple: "use what's around you, be curious and don't be scared to do something a bit different".

Dush was honest about his career too: there was never a grand plan - just a pattern of saying yes. Yes to opportunities that made him nervous, yes to taking on responsibilities before he felt ready, yes to learning on the go. One story got a big laugh: at 23, managing the UK and European investments, he grew a goatee to look older and walked into a meeting where people waited for "the senior person", only to realise it was him. The story wasn't about showing off; it was about culture. If you're in the right place, he said, age doesn't matter nearly as much as curiosity, effort, and being willing to learn. 

Turning to the world today, Dush was refreshingly direct about change. Now working as a Managing Director at Goldman Sachs in New York, he talked about how AI and technology are shaking up entire industries - but he insisted that having excellent communication and people's skills and telling a good story still matter just as much. One interview story summed it up: a candidate claimed to have read the Financial Times since age twelve, but that wasn't what impressed him. He was looking for people with range, with joy, with some real-life experience - not just those who'd practised being serious. One of his main interview questions remains 'What isn't written in your CV?' 

Dush wrapped up with advice that felt both encouraging and challenging: enjoy yourself, look beyond North London, be intellectually engaged and see the world for yourself - not just through headlines or social media. As Dush said "there is not a ceiling on your diversity of thoughts". Success, he suggested, isn't about sticking to a rigid plan; it's about building a life you're genuinely curious about and happy to talk about. Talks like this remind us that the school's story doesn't stop at the gates - it keeps going, wherever its alumni end up! 

If you'd like to explore speaking at a talk like that or attend the annual Latymer Careers Fair, please email Beatrice Cami, Development & Alumni Relations Manager, at alumni@latymer.co.uk and make sure to tick the relevant items under 'Interests' on your Latymer Links profile.

Photo: Dush Pathmanandam and Beatrice Cami, Development & Alumni Relations Manager.
Main contributor: Aayan A., Year 13 student.