Last night, I was honoured to host, in collaboration with LSE Students' Union (LSESU), a powerful panel discussion featuring LSE alumni who shared their career journeys as individuals from Black, Asian and diverse heritage backgrounds.
From finance and law to coaching and higher education, they offered invaluable insights into navigating the workplace, overcoming challenges, and driving diversity and inclusion.
I can not thank our alumni enough - Ebelina Asaah, Arif Ahmed, Nikhil Dhokia and Seghen Ghezae - for giving up their evening to speak to our wonderful students!
🔑 Key takeaways:
💡 Career paths aren’t always linear – Many speakers transitioned across industries, demonstrating that career growth is about exploration, resilience, and aligning work with personal values.
🤝 Mentorship & outreach matter – Early career schemes, insight weeks, and mentorship played a pivotal role in opening doors and providing professional exposure.
🚧 Challenges persist – From microaggressions to feeling like an "only" in professional spaces, panellists highlighted the barriers still faced by being a minority in the workplace.
🎭 Authenticity vs. professionalism – Speakers stressed the importance of bringing your whole self to work while finding allies and networks that support inclusivity.
🏢 Diversity initiatives are evolving – Companies are introducing inclusive interview ambassadors, reciprocal mentoring, and representation targets to break down systemic barriers.
🎓 Advice for students:
✅ Leverage work experience & mentoring to gain industry exposure.
✅ Seek out workplace allies & networks for support.
✅ Embrace your background - your diversity is your strength!
✅ Stay proactive - engage in outreach, networking & continuous learning.
Discussions like these remind us that progress is being made, but there’s still work to do. Let’s continue pushing for change, championing diverse talent, and creating truly inclusive workplaces.
LSE Careers #DiversityAndInclusion #CareerGrowth #LSEAlumni #MentorshipMatters
