Alumna, Bridget Lea, shares her rise to the boardroom

I realised at this point that no one else cares as much about your career as you do.

A major juggle began; coursework, two children and working a second job as an IT trainer at the airport. But she didn’t give up and learned that drive and determination are just as important as brainpower when overcoming challenges.  

This and her willingness to put in the ‘graft’ are undoubtedly the factors behind her success. Bridget graduated in 1994 with a degree in IT and has never looked back.  

Put in the graft and it will pay dividends.

Now, the Vice President & General Manager at Snap ​Inc. ​UK, Bridget is responsible for everything related to Snapchat in the UK. This includes advertising, growing the Snapchat community, ​helping people to have positive experiences ​online and creating exciting ​augmented ​ reality ​(AR) ​experiences.  

Her first job after graduating from Manchester Met was doing a graduate position at Marks and Spencer. A role that Bridget describes as traditional and credits with giving her a solid foundation for the rest of her career.  

Recognising the impact of good leadership, Bridget focused on creating a positive culture in her teams that encouraged growth, challenge, support and the opportunity for individuals from all backgrounds to thrive. She has a passion for creating high performing teams, nurturing talent and delivering transformational change. 

Choosing people with talent and the right attitude over those who just had the right contacts or experience has served me well, and I learned that the power of a good team is exponentially greater than that of any individual. 

After leaving M&S, her career progressed quickly, taking her on adventures across the UK and internationally. She has worked for major brands including Topshop, Sainsbury’s and O2.  

Delivering business goals is always thrilling for me but building high performing teams of individuals who go on to achieve even greater things in their careers, gives me the biggest thrill of all.

Ever the multi-tasker, in addition to her role at Snap, Bridget is also a Non-Executive Director for Marston’s PLC, and a member of Manchester Met’s Board of Governors. She is the Board’s Equality and Diversity Champion and a member of the Nominations and Governance Committee. From January 2025, Bridget will also take on the role of Pro-Chancellor and Chair of the Board of Governors.  

Proud Mancunian, Bridget is an active supporter of the University, passionate advocate of diversity in all forms and works hard to elevate and promote those from under-represented backgrounds in her mission to create awareness, take action, and embody inclusivity. 

The importance of future generations making the right choices to continue to combat social injustice, ensure equality for all and build a sustainable future cannot be overstated. There is much to do on this journey and our students are the leaders of tomorrow – the ones that can make sure we get there.