About King’s College London

King’s College London is one of the UK’s most prestigious universities, known for academic excellence and a commitment to preparing students for meaningful, future-focused careers. With over 33,000 students from more than 190 countries, King’s fosters global conversations, diverse learning environments, and strong ties between education and enterprise.

The Challenge for King’s College

King’s College wanted to bridge the gap between academic learning and the lived experience of working in tech, product, or startup leadership.

While traditional lectures and career services were effective in covering job application skills and industry overviews, students craved real stories, the kind that addressed imposter syndrome, explained how roles evolve, and unpacked what leadership actually looks like behind the scenes.

The goal was to find someone who could meet students with empathy, challenge their thinking, and leave them with tangible takeaways, without overwhelming them.

How We Helped King’s College

Polly Dhaliwal joined King’s College as a guest speaker and mentor, delivering a high-impact session tailored to students navigating early career uncertainty, ambition, and change.

Using her background as a product leader, founder, and COO, Polly offered:

• Unfiltered storytelling about navigating leadership roles and start up growth
• Relatable insights into imposter syndrome, confidence-building, and career pivots
• Breakdowns of product, tech, and operations roles, making pathways clearer
• Open Q&A time, where no question was too small or too complex

Polly’s session wasn’t about giving a polished talk, it was about human connection, empowerment, and clarity.

The Results

“Polly made people feel heard and supported.”

The feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Students described the session as “real,” “refreshing,” and “exactly what I needed to hear.”

High student turnout and engagement
1:1 follow-up requests from students seeking further mentorship
Increased interest in tech, product, and founder-led career paths
Positive impact on student confidence and clarity

“Whether replying to a message or speaking in front of a room, Polly gave genuine attention to each person. She broke down barriers with empathy, not ego, and made success feel accessible.”

Looking Ahead

Polly continues to support academic institutions and youth-focused programmes, offering guest lectures, career sessions, and workshop facilitation.

With growing demand for product-focused, people-first leadership insights, King’s College’s collaboration with Polly is part of a wider movement to prepare students not just for work, but for meaningful careers built with purpose and clarity.

Work with Polly

Polly is available for:

• Guest speaking engagements
• Workshop facilitation
• Mentorship and student Q&As
• Product and career storytelling panels

Bring Polly’s unique blend of leadership and empathy to your students