introduction

Dame Sharon Michele White DBE is a British businesswoman. She is currently Chair of the John Lewis Partnership, having previously held a variety of roles in the Civil Service. She was the Chief Executive of the British media regulator Ofcom from March 2015 to November 2019, and was Second Permanent Secretary at HM Treasury from 2013 to 2015. She was the first black person, and the second woman, to become a Permanent Secretary at the Treasury.

Who is the resource aimed at?

Students who want some answers to questions such as "why are all my clothes made in Asia?" and "how do I get a pay rise?" - this is for you.

How can the resource be used?

Listen at your leisure on the bus, while you tidy your room or while you work. Teachers - you might even want to play this to students a bit at a time, before gently (read: enthusiastically) encouraging your students to have a read.

How does the resource link to the curriculum?

Dame Sharon White's experience leading Ofcom could be related to the topic of regulation and market failure in microeconomics, as well as the role of government in regulating industries and protecting consumers.

As Chair of the John Lewis Partnership, Dame Sharon White's knowledge of retail and consumer behavior could be applied to the study of demand and supply in microeconomics, as well as the impact of global trade on domestic businesses in macroeconomics.

How long will the activity take?

The entire episode lasts 38 minutes, but feel free to dip in and out!