Windō’s Post

It never ceases to amaze me on the power of writing down your goals and looking at it regularly, things begin to change to make it happen. The month has been filled with doing things that really fills me. I recently co-hosted Mentor Mondays session where c.150 colleagues got to hear from the fabulous Zainab Kwaw-Swanzy and Natalie Ojevah MBE career journey. There were so many nuggets shared including personal branding, sponsorship and living with purpose. Then I took part in a panel discussion as part of multicultural event with c.200 students looking to apply for apprentice,internships and graduate programs at Barclays. I got to share about my career, impact of culture/upbringing with the effect it has on how you approach work and life at Barclays. These events are all so crucial in driving more diversity in the workplace. It was a reminder on the power of representations and so pleased to see the positive feedbacks. Finally, I got to attend career spotlight discussion with the amazing Rufaro Chiriseri, CFA and beautifully hosted by Feyi Osinuga, ACA, CFA. Conversation was filled with so many insights including owning your space/voice, always backing yourself and the power of your network to name a few. I cannot believe how fast May has gone. As I reflect on the events of May, I am reminded there is reason we often hear ‘mindset is your most powerful tool’ because it really is. Therefore investing the time to cultivate the right mindset is a reward that never stops. We get into our heads on why we should not do something, waiting for the right moment or why we are not ready for something. However growth and big rewards happens when you are out of your comfort zone. #leadership #diversityequityinclusion

What is the stage of applying to graduate roles and internships do you hate the most? Mine has to be assessments 😩😩I will literally put it off to the very last minute to avoid doing it. It just doesn’t spark any interest in me at all. Good news though, if you’re thinking of applying to any HSBC early career roles, you can utilise the Practice Zone to prepare for assessment!! #HSBCWiserAcademyX #lifeathsbc #applicationtips

The future is bright at Randolph Brooks Federal Credit Union! By welcoming interns into our organizations, companies gain several benefits: 💯 Fresh Perspectives: Interns often bring new ideas and approaches, helping the company stay innovative and adaptable to changing markets. 💯 Talent Pipeline: Developing interns can lead to full-time hires who are already familiar with the company culture and workflows, reducing future hiring costs and training time. 💯 Learning and Development: A culture of continuous learning is fostered, benefiting both the interns and existing employees through mentorship and knowledge exchange. 💯 Enhanced Employer Brand: Intern programs demonstrate a commitment to education and career development, making the company more attractive to future job seekers and enhancing its reputation. Supporting interns creates a mutually beneficial environment, promoting growth and innovation within the company while providing valuable experience for the interns. It was an absolute honor to be able to spend the afternoon with an incredibly talented future workforce. Their stories were inspiring, and their questions were truly thought provoking! Looking forward to witnessing their continued success! Mark, Sonya, Mary, Zachary, Robert, Edward, Barbara, Julie, Edward, Karen, Glenn, Jim, Casy, Dr. Steven L. Hall, Bob

Many thanks to our panelists today Shannon O'Mara, CFA, Susana Rojas Chiros, Justine Gearin, and Makenzie Gorman for bringing to life the Loomis, Sayles & Company Undergraduate Women's Investment Network (UWIN) mentoring and internship program. A few key takeaways on why the program is able to deliver on its mission to "inspire, develop and recruit" a more diverse pipeline... ✅ A business need is driving the program - diverse teams make better investment decisions ✅ The program demystifies the investment industry for undergrads - so they can see themselves there ✅ Students gain early access to mentors and key skills - which helps them chart a path and grow their networks ✅ There is broad support across the organization (over 100 mentors!) and a willingness to take the long view - building a talent pipeline takes time To learn more about UWIN: https://lnkd.in/eC-WjaFP

Dear Young Professionals! 👨🏻💼👩🏽💼                            I've noticed a lot of engagement from Sixth Form/College students on my previous post, and it's truly inspiring to see your eagerness and ambition. It got me thinking – why not share some personal insights that might help you on your journey? Back in my Sixth Form days, I was where you are now: ambitious, unsure, and ready to take on the world. But let me tell you, opportunities didn’t just come knocking; I had to build the door first! Here's how I landed internships at J.P. Morgan, PwC, JLL and Allsop LLP: 1. I Embraced Visibility 👀 I put myself out there. Networking was my second language – I was constantly reaching out on LinkedIn, attending every event I could, and making sure I was seen and remembered. It’s not just about showing up; it's about making an impression so that when your application lands on their desk, they remember your enthusiasm, drive, and it helps if you’re the only one in the room with a man-bun (at the time) 😅. 2. I Had the Audacity 🙋🏻♂️ If you don’t ask, you don’t get! I wasn’t afraid to ask for what I wanted. Yes, it took some courage, and let's be honest, sometimes it felt like I was overstepping. But guess what? It mostly worked out. I secured shadowing opportunities, had numerous coffees with people in my desired industry and even internships, like the one at JLL – all because I dared to ask my now-mentor. Most professionals have been in your shoes; they understand and are often more than willing to lend a hand. So…ASK! 3. I Was Prepared 🫡 At 16/17, I wasn't entirely sure about what I wanted to do– I was leaning towards investment banking at JP Morgan. But regardless, I stayed ready for any possible conversation. A big shoutout to my economics teachers for pushing me to read the news every morning. Initially awful, but soon, it turned into something I genuinely enjoyed. Staying informed made those intimidating conversations with seasoned professionals more manageable, even with my (lovely) South East London accent 😁🧐. I'm not just here sharing my story – I'm here to be a part of yours. If you're navigating similar paths or have questions, don't hesitate to reach out. I'm more than happy to share insights, provide guidance, or just lend an ear. Just Ask! #FutureLeaders #YouthEmpowerment #CareerJourney #Networking #StayPrepared #AmbitionToFruition #FutureLeaders #YoungProfessionals #SocialMobility #CareerJourney

Looking for a referral to one of these companies: Clifford Chance, KPMG, Fidelity International, and haysmacintyre then keep reading! ⬇ After running a poll on types of student opportunities that you guys are looking for and seeing the 250+ votes. I’m proud to announce this year I’ll be representing the following companies with the Wiser Academy: 💡 ⚖ Clifford Chance - One of the biggest Law firms and a new client that we didn’t work with last year we’ll be promoting multiple roles with Clifford Chance. They are accepting international applications and even have internationally based roles so keep your eye out for the incoming information about them! 🏙 KPMG - One of the big 4 and a client that I had the pleasure of working with last year. I’m sure many of you will be interested in applying to their schemes so really do be sure that you’re letting me know ahead of time your interest with them as many roles will be filled up fast. 💱 Fidelity International - A major financial employer with a stunning London based office near St Paul. I had the pleasure to see this last year and look forward to helping many of you with your applications there. Much like KPMG, these roles can be filled extremely quickly so do engage with polls, comment, or message me directly. 🌆 haysmacintyre - Looking for a career in accountancy? Haysmacintyre has some amazing schemes to help you get ACCA qualified. If you’re interested in seeing the offices of these firms have a scroll through my posts or my featured section. I’ll be releasing the following company specific information shortly so do keep checking the page. 👀 Like and comment to show your interest! 📩 Repost to share this to your friends applying to insight weeks, summer internships, placements, and graduate roles! ♻ 💜

Today is National Intern Day, a day to highlight the importance of internships in career development and to acknowledge the valuable experiences and skills that interns bring to the workplace. I was lucky enough to participate in Morgan Stanley 's Step in Step up program in 2019. The program was to encourage more women to work in Banking and develop our skills for our future ahead. I also completed a few days at Clifford Chance whilst in sixth form which provided an insight into practising law. The skills I developed from both experiences were invaluable to me, here are some examples of skills I gained: ⭐ Presentation skills - I had to present an investment idea in front of 500 other women and 4 Morgan Stanley directors!! ⭐ Confidence - I attended networking lunches with successful bankers and lawyers which taught me to communicate with working professionals. ⭐ Determination to succeed - I listened to several successful women at Morgan Stanley on how they built up their careers and it inspired me to work hard and never give up. Now although I did not go on to be a banker or a lawyer, the skills I learnt at these companies are invaluable and they definitely help me in my career as a recruitment specialist! On this awareness day I wanted to bring light to the importance of work experience, you may not follow that particular career path but the skills you learn are transferable and enable you to smash any job you choose! #workexperience #nationalinternday #morganstanley #cliffordchance

Have you heard? Early Bird Applications for The 10,000 Black Interns Programme are open until 15th September! WHAT’S ON OFFER? ● Paid internships nationwide ● 35+ industries to choose from ● 700+ participating organisations 🏅 🗓 Early Allocations: Some organisations close their recruitment window earlier than others. 🎯Secure your spot: A greater chance of your application being allocated with certain work streams ahead of general applications* *(not limited to:) *Finance Technology Retail, Corporate & Investment Banking Legal Investment Management Management & Strategy Consulting If you’re a Black student or recent graduate, you cannot afford to miss out on this chance to jumpstart the career of your dreams! 10,000 Black Interns #10000blackinterns #careergoals #worklife

Experience, Experience, Experience!!! Meet Kafeel Mohammad a MS Physics student at UCL. He has done spring weeks at EY, Barings and Macquarie. He is also an Incoming PJT Partners, Bank of America, BP, Barclays, BDO Global Spring Intern. He has had mentoring from professionals at Morgan Stanley and BCG. He is also an incoming Macquarie Summer intern. Plus he is an entrepreneur!! 🤯 So safe to say he understands how to secure a Spring week and convert them. Here are his top tips. 1) To stand out you have to make sure you’re engaged the entire time - that means always putting your hand up to ask questions always starting off by introducing yourself briefly 🙋🏾♂️ 🙋🏾♀️ 2) The lunches are a networking opportunity so take full advantage because they’ll be watching especially if it’s in person 🥘 3) Be up to date so read the news leading up to it and also figure out what the company specifically is working on too 📰 4) Read the news after every day to catch up on what happened so you can have the most up to date information on whatever they people at the firm are working on 🗞 5) Be friendly and arrive on time every single day because people are taking note ⏲ 6) Be a team player and try not to consider your cohort as competition (they are) but nobody likes someone who tries to show people up or show off make sure you take in any ideas and build on them 👨👨👦👦 7) For more detailed ideas of what your specific spring conversion will entail just ask someone who did it the year prior 🎤 Please feel free to reach out to connect with him and ask any questions you may have.

Diversity isn’t just a buzzword in finance—it’s a game-changer. Malik Robinson, Managing Director at Citibank, shared, ‘My background as a person of color has given me a unique perspective that drives innovative solutions. Don’t hide your diversity—embrace it and use it to your advantage.’ Consider joining these organizations to build your community! SEO (Sponsors for Educational Opportunity): Provides internships, training, and networking for underrepresented communities in finance. Management Leadership for Tomorrow: Offers personalized coaching and a strong network to help you break into investment banking. ALPFA Inc - Association of Latino Professionals For America: Empowers Latino leaders in finance through networking and educational programs. OutPerformers: Highlight how your diverse experiences enhance your problem-solving and teamwork skills. Your unique perspective is your strength—use it to stand out in the finance industry. #DiversityInFinance #InvestmentBanking #OutPerform