Katapult X

We received some feedback from Cassandra. One of the students from Birmingham City University attended our first Katapult X event at BCU which helped her overcome her imposter syndrome. Then what happened? 👇 ''When opportunities like these arise, you take them and run with it! As of this time last year, I was asked to speak at the House of Lords - I would’ve told you to “be for real”. Till this day, I cannot fathom the experience. Having dinner with CEO’s, our pictures taken by the amazing Papparazi team (they always got my best side), being reminded of how excellent you are outside of the academic world, cracking jokes with a politician and lastly creating great connections with people who see your potential outside of your academic pursuits - all I can say is wow. All it took was 1 email invitation, a bag full of courage and my fuzzy winter boots to one of the Katapult X networking event ‘tackling imposter syndrome’. Every now and then I still feel alien but when you surround yourself with fierce Kristina D. and optimistic Jay Rohman’s, no opportunity is impossible'' - Cassandra Boadu Thank you, Cassie, for your kind words! It's amazing to see your development and we couldn't have done it without our sponsors Cognizant Rohit Alimchandani and the leaders who attended the event Dr. Colin Williams, Soumbeet (Som) Sarangi, Manjeet Aujla, Lord Walney, FARIDA GIBBS, Byron Dixon OBE, Sarah Walker (CISM), Rt Hon. Justine Greening, John Rowlands, Clive Higgins, Monder Ram, Jamie Murphy, Emmanuel Asuquo, Reshma Sheikh, Rachel Power, Anju Abel, Benaifer Bhandari, Venkat R., Warrick Matthews, Ellie Galvin, Kaji Hussain who engaged with Cassie and supported the other students throughout the events.

🎉 Event Wrap-Up! 🎉 On the 23rd of October 2024, we had the privilege of hosting our Katapult X: How To Be Successful in Business - Corporate Careers & Entrepreneurship event at the University of Northampton. It was a fantastic day filled with invaluable insights, networking, and mentorship for students who joined us to learn from industry leaders. A huge THANK YOU to all the incredible corporate leaders and successful entrepreneurs who volunteered their time to share their experiences and knowledge with students. Dr. Colin Williams Rohit Alimchandani Shaid Latif FCIPS Alison Howman Madeleine J. Charles Senabulya Ameera Francis Jamie Murphy Your dedication to helping the next generation develop and grow is truly inspiring! Special thanks to Demi King and Claire Parsons for your hard work in making this event a success—it wouldn’t have been possible without you! 🙌 Thank you to all the students who participated, asked thoughtful questions, and engaged in our workshops on networking and interview skills. We hope you’re feeling more prepared and inspired for your future journeys!

I had the privilege of attending the Katapult X event, "Uncovering Secrets: How to be Successful in Business". It was an incredible opportunity to hear inspirational stories from industry experts. I was able to network and gain a life-changing experience. A huge thank you to Katapult X, Cognizant, Demi King and Claire Parsons of UniOfNorthampton Student Futures for organisaing such an inspiring event. I'm exicted to apply these learnings to my career journey.

Big thank you! to Katapult X for the business networking event yesterday. It was an amazing opportunity to meet the head of procurement Madeleine J. at BDO who pitched the amazing graduate scheme they offer,Jay Rohman head of IT sourcing at Lloyds banking group and other corporate bosses/entrepreneurs. They helped in navigating my way through the corporate life and gave very strong ideas of what it takes to make it as well as simulated mock interviews to better prep me. I really learnt a lot from this event and I will definitely be attending the next event. Special thanks to Dr. Colin Williams for a powerful speech about his past and the trials he had to overcome aswell as sacrifices he made.

Over the past year, I’ve had the honour of supporting Katapult X through Cognizant and it’s genuinely been one of the most fulfilling projects I’ve ever supported. Jay Rohman and Kristina Drysdale the inspiring founders of Katapult X, are on a mission to empower students from diverse backgrounds, especially those without access to the networks and resources they need to thrive at university and beyond. Their dedication is second to none—they manage full-time careers while creating regular opportunities for young people to connect, learn, and grow. What makes their events truly stand out is how practical and impactful they are—covering topics like imposter syndrome, mentorship, entrepreneurship, and networking. I’ve been lucky enough to attend sessions at Birmingham City University and even the House of Lords, and support Manchester Communication Academy. I always leave feeling energised and inspired. Complete credit to Rohit Alimchandani, Chair of D&I at Cognizant, for ensuring our support is not just in name but in action. From exploring careers in football and life sciences at Wembley Stadium to meeting F1 engineers at Aston Martin F1 Team and even cricketers inspiring students in schools, the priority is to provide real, hands-on opportunities for young people. It’s amazing what’s possible when passionate people come together to support the next generation, and I’m excited to see where Katapult X goes next! 💡 David Bond John Rowlands Midhusa Mohan

University of Northampton ....Here we come! 23rd October 2024. We are excited to be hosting our event at the University of Northampton - Katapult X: How To Be Successful In Business - Corporate Careers & Entrepreneurship. We have an incredible lineup of corporate leaders joining us to engage with #students and deliver workshops on the topics of: - How to#Network - Top 5 #Interview #Questions Why do we do this? It's to give students from lower socio-economic access to corporate #leaders and successful #entrepreneurs so they can hear from them first-hand what it takes to be successful. The one thing we love about these events is that all our guests are volunteers, they join because they are passionate about helping young people develop and grow. Big thanks to Demi King and Claire Parsons who are organising this with us - it's going to be fun!

Leaders Who Inspire: Social Mobility in Action with Rt Hon. Justine Greening At Katapult X, we were honored to have Justine Greening as our keynote speaker, sharing her incredible journey from growing up in a working-class family to becoming a leading voice in British #politics. Her story is one of resilience, ambition, and the power of #education. Justine’s path wasn’t easy. Raised in Rotherham, she faced many of the challenges that young people from disadvantaged backgrounds still experience today. Yet, with determination, she became the first in her family to go to #university, breaking barriers along the way. Her rise from those humble beginnings to serving as Secretary of State for Education, and championing social mobility through The Purpose Coalition, is a testament to what can be achieved when opportunities are unlocked for everyone. The statistics speak for themselves: - £140 billion: That’s the estimated cost to the UK economy from lost potential due to stalled social mobility, according to the Social Mobility Commission. - 18 months: The disadvantage gap in education, with #students from poorer backgrounds falling behind their wealthier peers, worsened during the pandemic (Education Policy Institute). - Only 1 in 5 people from lower socio- economic backgrounds make it into elite professions like law, finance, and politics (@Social Mobility Foundation). That's why at Katapult X with our community of corporate volunteers to we provide that helping hand to students through workshops and engagement activities to build them selves up. Come and join the journey and make a difference. #SocialMobility #Leadership #inclusion #Inspiration #diversity #equity Danny Davis

@Katapult X: Behind the Scenes at Aston Martin! A huge thank you to Helen Dixon and Midhusa Mohan for organising an unforgettable experience day at Aston Martin F1 Team! We had the privilege of inviting students from Greater Manchester Academies Trust and Birmingham City University, giving them a unique opportunity to explore the world of Aston Martin up close. The #students toured the factory, participated in hands-on workshops, and engaged with #engineers and the wider Aston Martin team to discover what a career with this iconic brand truly looks like. John Rowlands, Executive Principal at GMAT, shared how this experience has transformed the students' outlook and raised their ambitions. It's inspiring to see how powerful real-world exposure can be in shaping young minds and expanding their #career aspirations. According to research by the Education and Employers Charity, young people who participate in four or more employer engagement activities—such as workplace visits, #internships, or career talks—are 70% less likely to become unemployed later in life. Additionally, 75% of employers agree that work experience should be a mandatory part of education, as it builds both practical skills and confidence, helping students pursue their ambitions with greater clarity (CIPD). At Katapult X, we believe that by connecting educational institutions with corporations who can provide these experiences, we’re not just helping students explore career options—we’re equipping them with the tools and inspiration they need to aim higher and achieve more. This is why Rohit Alimchandani, Kristina Drysdale and I are proud to work together so we can open doors and inspire the next generation of #talent. #diversity #inclusion #equity

Katapult X: Rising Star Award I’m excited to share that Kristina Drysdale and I have been collaborating closely with Birmingham City University to establish the BCU & Katapult X: Rising Star Award. This award recognises a remarkable individual for their outstanding contributions, development, and tenacity as a high-potential #student poised to become a talented #leader. Choosing a recipient from such a pool of talent was challenging, but we are thrilled to announce that the Rising Star Award goes to Khadija A. (aka Khadija Bashar)! Please join us in congratulating Khadija on this incredible achievement! #leadership #talent #university #inclusion #equity #pmawardsbcu Ellie Galvin David Bond