Katie Mitchell (OLCS 2014) recently came back to campus as part of her 10 Year Reunion and the memories of her time at Our Lady’s Convent School, know known as Amherst, came flooding back.
Katie said, “Looking back, there are so many memories. I still laugh thinking about those first moments meeting the girls. Who knew those friendships would still be such a core part of our lives to this day.”
The canteen in particular holds some special memories, and as with many alumni there was one particular lunchtime favourite, in Katie’s case it was – banoffee pie! “I was so obsessed that the canteen staff would save me an extra slice if I was running late. Two slices? Count me in! It was not just about the dessert – it was those little gestures of kindness that made school feel like home.”
The feeling of the school being like ‘home’ and being a nurturing environment is something we hear frequently from OLCS alumni across the ages and Katie feels the same, “I still remember our applied science classes, they were so much fun. We were detectives for a day, investigating like pros. It was so interactive; it was so different to our other classes. But perhaps what stands out most is the environment of support. I never felt pressured to chase perfection or A*s. It wasn’t about being the best; it was about giving my best. That kind of encouragement gave me the mental space to truly find my rhythm, even when things were tricky, especially with my dyslexia. The teachers understood, supported, and celebrated our efforts, not just our results.”
Katie’s time at OLCS wasn’t smooth sailing academically and she found A Levels challenging and after her first year of AS Levels, realised her journey at OLCs was coming to an end. She said, “It was bittersweet, but looking back, it was the right choice for me.”
Following the challenges of Sixth Form though, Katie went to the University of Westminster to study art and film and now works in animation. She is also the Chief Experience Officer and co-founder of swvyl – a platform that uses immersive technology to help users experience the world from neurodivergent perspectives. So how did Katie start her career path? “It all started with Mrs Petchler, who sent me a BFI Academy form for a film class. This was after I had left Sixth Form, and with help from Liana, a good friend of mine, I (we) filled out the application and I got in. That week-long course in London was my first real experience with film, and I absolutely loved it. I still remember being so surprised by the red buses – clearly, I was easily impressed! That course planted the seed, and the rest is history.”
At university Katie focussed her work on how to be an ally and advocate for autism awareness – something she is deeply passionate about which culminated in a major piece of work exploring autism and sensory overload. This project didn’t just reflect her advocacy – it opened doors. Katie said “It landed me my first job at a production studio, where I had the privilege of working with an incredible team on conservation projects about plastic in the ocean and sound pollution. That role was a dream come true at the time, but it also gave me an insight into the management side of production. Those experiences led to a milestone moment: working on ‘James Bond: No Time to Die’. My first film project! From there, my career continued to grow, leading me to a feature animation studio where I contributed to Oscar nominated films like ‘Nimona’, as well as other notable projects such as ‘Entergalactic’, ‘Garfield’, and more.”
Behind the scenes Katie’s passion for autism advocacy was still driving her to create spaces where neurodivergent individuals could thrive. Katei Said, “That passion led me to connect with like-minded people, including one of my now co-founders. After a year of brainstorming and conversations, we launched swyvl which offers a research-backed journey into neurodivergent perspectives, using immersive technology, AI, human-computer interfaces and industry specific seminars to foster a world where differences are celebrated, and inclusivity is the norm. It’s been quite a journey, and OLCS played a role in it all. The foundation of soft skills I developed there – empathy, communication, and collaboration – continues to guide me in everything I do. It’s funny how the butterfly effect works.”
The future holds lots of ambitions for Katie and is an ever-growing list! “One of my biggest ambitions is to see my startup succeed – this is something I’m actively working towards, but it does not happen overnight. My main goal is to help people understand what it feels like to be neurodivergent and to encourage empathy and patience. If I can change just one person’s mindset to be more open and accepting, that would be a huge win for me. It is all about fostering acceptance and creating spaces where everyone feels understood.
In the background, I want to dive deeper into underwater filming and photography, an area I’ve been enjoying and exploring. This passion will eventually lead me to direct my own feature-length documentary, which I plan to submit to film festivals and awards. Lots of exciting goals ahead that I’m really looking forward to!”
