Ameesha Green

My Graduate Story

My name is Ameesha Green and I completed a BA English Literature and Philosophy from University of Birmingham.

I am the founder my own publishing company, The Book Shelf. We help people write and publish life-changing nonfiction books taking them from idea to bookshelf and guiding them along the path to publishing. Collectively, our team of bookworms has worked on thousands of books, and our authors have included New York Times bestsellers, award-winners, and an even an OBE! We believe that everyone has a book in them and that great books make the world a better place, and we're striving to make the publishing industry more sustainable, accessible, and inclusive.

A Day in my Life

As a small business owner and CEO, every day is different. Sometimes, I am “shepherding” authors to help them successfully publish their books. Other days, I am researching trends in the publishing industry and coming up with new ideas for the business. And other days still, I am supporting my team, networking with fellow entrepreneurs, or attending business or book events. Being an entrepreneur is ideal for those who enjoy a varied role and a lot of challenges!

My Journey to The Book Shelf

My path here was a bit meandering! After graduating, I worked for the local fire service for 5 years in a wide range of roles, developing a lot of useful skills along the way. Then I worked in-house for a tech publisher for a few years learning the industry from the inside. After that, I spent a year travelling the world as a digital nomad, freelancing from beaches and forests to launderettes and bars. When I returned, that freelance work eventually turned into me starting my own company.

My Birmingham Experience

Studying English Literature taught me how to analyse books, which helped me become a book coach and editor. Studying Philosophy helped me develop a curious, questioning mindset and the ability to look beyond the surface of things. As such, English Literature gave me tangible skills, while Philosophy gave me an intangible approach. Both have been invaluable in my career.

Two things stand out for me. The first was getting to read books that I otherwise wouldn’t have encountered and falling in love with the medium of sonnets. The second was having time to think about and discuss deep metaphysical and ethical questions. One of my best days at university was when our lecturer challenged us to come up with a persuasive argument that we aren’t dreaming right now. When else do you get to spend time musing on the nature of existence?

Birmingham's Impact

It’s been wonderful to see the development of the careers network and mentoring program over the years. I’ve been an alumni mentor since the program was developed, and it’s been so rewarding to help students on their career paths. I’ve also offered lots of internships through my business, and two of those interns became part of my team. So although these things didn’t exist when I was at uni, it's been great to get involved in them as an alumni.

My Achievements at University

Honestly, I didn’t feel like I accomplished all that much at university. I struggled with anxiety, didn’t make many friends, and didn’t join a single society. As such, my biggest achievement was just getting through university because there were times when I felt like dropping out. Ultimately, I’m glad that I persevered and have been able to go on to mentor students and support them on their journeys.

Advice for Students

The biggest thing I’ve learned is that careers are often a matter of “trial and error”. You don’t really know whether you’ll enjoy something until you’ve tried it, so I encourage students to find ways to experience the career paths they’re interested in before committing to a career in it, whether that’s through internships, work placements, volunteering, job shadowing, or freelancing. If you don’t like it, you can always try something else, and that's far better than getting stuck in a job or career that isn't right for you.