The City Mentoring
By: Jessica Rattey
Tags: Tech, Finance, Mentoring, London, Education

Nithin Bopanna introducing the launch to the crowd at Radical HQ, Huckletree Shoreditch.

London is filled with the most amazing array of stereotypes, ranging from the Shoreditch Starter-uppers, Stoke Newington yummy mummies, the Soho media types who are forever on a jolly, to the struggling artists of Tottenham. Arguably, there is no London stereotype that has persisted as long as that of the City worker. To politely paint with the same brush — white, male and connected. They’re well-suited, have mirror-reflection-shiny shoes and might have gone on a gap-yah.

What we continue to see in the UK, particularly in companies in the City is that there is a perpetuating cycle where people help those with a similar background to gain exposure and gain contacts in the industry. Ultimately, giving those with connections a head-start on graduate positions and internships.

You may ask, how do we break the system?

Nithin Bopanna, a man with a vision, is trying to tackle this City imbalance head-on by creating the Success Accelerator.

“I was part of a group of good friends who first met at the University of Kent studying law and had the pleasure (and pressure) of being invited back to a 2017 panel event discussing our diverse career paths ten years on from graduation! The students in the Q&A session posed some really perceptive questions, but also shared how difficult they were finding it to obtain opportunities to work in the City and their gap in exposure to professionals. This was a challenge I couldn’t walk away from as someone who had faced some of the same obstacles down, from the same non ‘Russell Group’ University. Blocked potential is such a shame, especially when it affects the composition of our future leaders and wider society”.

Bopanna, then partnered up with the University of Kent ERASE Careers and Employability Service to create the initiative. Students who don’t have direct connections with companies in the City will now have access to city visits, professional networking and mentoring from City professionals and university staff.

“The combination of support aimed to increase participant’s awareness, access to industry, self-reflection and confidence, therefore, increasing their attainment, retention and chance of achieving a positive graduate destination”.

The Success Accelerator

Last week Radical Company had the pleasure of hosting the Success Accelerator Project at our office auditorium in Huckletree, Shoreditch (Radical don’t mean to blow their own horns, but they’re very good at parties and think of themselves as the hostess-with-the-mostest). Mentors from across the city gathered to share their professional experiences and gain further insight into this valuable initiative. Members represented a number of City stalwarts, notably Allen and Overy, London Stock Exchange, Intercontinental Exchange, Bridges Fund Management, HSBC, Cater Allen Private Bank and Leyton Consultants. All these mentors pledge to encourage and guide participants in the Success Accelerator 2019 intake.

Mentorees chatting at the reception drinks.

When Bopanna was asked to explain the success he had the following to share:

“ A great example of success achieved so far is seen in Sara, a brilliant student now in their third year at Kent Law School. Originally unsure of their career path, Sara wanted to get an understanding of the wider professional world and develop skills. Through the summer networking event held last year for the pilot group of students, she made a strong impression and managed to obtain 3 months of paid work experience at a Venture Capital firm that focuses on Social Impact Investing. What has been encouraging about this particular journey is the mentoring developed organically, with world-class professionals taking Sara under their wing to build a long-term relationship. We are all now excited to see Sara fly on her own terms at the end of her degree.”

We look to replicate this success with the 15–20 students going through the scheme in 2019.

Speaking at the event was Amin Dawuda, who discussed his 20 years + career year in the financial services industry. He touched on the significance of his own personal mentors in forging his career at the London Stock Exchange. In his presentation, he touched on the future of FinTech and what this could mean for professionals and graduates entering the field.

Amin Dawuda discussing his mentors throughout his career.

Radical feels privileged to be involved in such a fundamentally important, passion-driven project. We can’t wait to see what will be achieved Success Accelerator Graduates in the future.

Would you or your business be interested in taking on the role of a mentor? Contact Nithin on nithin.c.bopanna@gmail.com