Tomi Babson is ESG Analyst at AXA XL, and is a 2020 graduate of ELBA’s Eagles programme. Tomi tells us about his current role, his time as an Eagle, and how this led him to where he is now, and gives advice to those considering applying for the Eagles programme themselves.

Please provide a short outline of your current role and a brief description of any other relevant career experience
My role is mainly focused on strategy and innovation. I focus on finding the emerging risks and opportunities relevant to the type of businesses which we write. This also includes working with our underwriters and brokers to understand their risk appetite from an ESG (environment, social and governance) standpoint and making sure we have products/services that accommodate this. My previous roles were also focused on ESG – so it has given me a good understanding of the area and what some companies consider as material ESG issues. Each role has contributed substantially to my personal and professional development and allowed me to develop and enhance new skills.

Tell us about your experience of the Eagles programme
I was part of ELBA’s 2020 Eagles cohort. My Eagle’s placement was with a bank in the ESG & Sustainability team. This role was mainly focused on reporting and benchmarking against the wider banking community. It was a very fast-paced and demanding opportunity, but also very collaborative in nature. It helped me to navigate working in large and complex organisations and being able to work with others to deliver large projects whilst also getting a good background of how the bank works.

What have you gained from the programme?
I learned a lot about interpersonal and organisational skills through the Eagles programme. It also deepened my understanding of the corporate environment and how large businesses operate. I was able to improve my communication, analysis and stakeholder management skills too.

What have you done since you finished the internship/placement?
Since I completed the Eagles programme, I moved to Sustainalytics, an ESG ratings company which serves mainly institutional investors with ESG research on public and private companies around the world. I then transitioned to my current role at AXA XL.

Tell us your top piece of advice for others considering the Eagles programme
Eagles is a fantastic opportunity for you to learn about a particular area and give you the skills and commercial awareness that can help to find a more permanent position once you finish.