How I grew my confidence through ELBA’s student mentoring programme

“Back in January 2015, I was struggling to secure an internship and didn’t really know where I wanted to start my career. So, I applied to a mentoring scheme run by the East London Business Alliance and Queen Mary University (where I study BSc Economics). My initial mentor was unable to continue with the programme, but never did I expect that John Griffith-Jones, Chairman of the Financial Conduct Authority would become their replacement.

Since last April, I’ve met several times with John, chatting about everything from career paths to family holidays. He has been incredibly generous with his time, even making time between mentoring sessions to help me prepare for interviews.

Reading on John Griffith-Jones’ impressive career left me both excited and terrified before meeting him. I had no idea what to expect and how to prepare for the first session, but he put me straight at ease. I had many ideas of what I might want to do post-graduation, which he helped me to narrow down by sharing his vast experience in the industry. What I most value about this unique opportunity is the exposure to senior management, dispelling any myths I had and developing my confidence in communicating in a professional setting.

With John’s advice and support, I completed a summer internship in the Home Office, and have secured a graduate role at Accenture for after I graduate this summer.”