Welcome to the official highlights page of Black Heritage Future Leaders! Tailored to connect our Black Heritage members with top employers and upskill ahead of application season, Black Heritage Future Leaders ensures members make the best first step for their future career.
We have new employers and sessions every year, but here’s a wrap up of 2023! It’s guaranteed to get bigger, better, and brighter every year…
Noon – 12:30pm
If you’re attending in person, you can expect to receive a warm welcome from the Bright Network Events Team at one of the fantastic etc. venues located across London! You’ll then be scanned in, collect your lanyard, and find your name badge – plus, you’ll find some sweet and savoury treats to help get you feeling fuelled for a jam-packed afternoon.
To get everyone feeling comfortable and warmed-up for a day of networking and insights, you’ll head to the main room for a networking icebreaker hosted by the event’s Student Leadership Board. Getting involved is a great way to build your support network and find other like-minded students who may doing the same degree or have similar interests to you.
12:30pm – 1pm
You’ll be ready to take a deep dive into the range of sessions going on throughout the day. We’ll kickstart the day with a welcome and keynote from one of the leading employers attending – previous editions have seen us hear from Black Heritage innovators at BNY Mellon and PwC. Make sure to bring a pen and notebook to write down your key takeaways and learnings that you can draw on as take the first steps in your career.
1:00pm – 2:00pm
Our fantastic Bright Network host will then be joined on stage by an inspiring panel of Black Heritage leaders, ranging from Directors of Technology to Corporate Sustainability and Tax & Legal. They’ll be discussing topics such as the importance of diversity and inclusivity and how this enriches the next generation of workforce.
You can expect to hear real, authentic lived experiences and conversations about their professional achievements. You’ll also learn how they have overcome challenges in the workplace.
Panel sessions are a unique opportunity to ask your questions – such as what DEIB initiatives employers have in place. We’ll open up the floor to you for Q&A so make sure you have some questions ready. Remember the employers want to hear from you as much as you want to hear from them!
2:00pm – 3:00pm
It’s time for networking with firm representatives and early career experts from top employers, all of whom are championing Diversity, Ethnicity, Inclusion and Belonging within their organisation and culture. This is your chance to widen your options and discover opportunities that you may have never considered!
You’ll be able to pick the brains of recent grads who have recently gone through the application process, as well as those reviewing your applications. Plus, you’ll get to uncover what life is really like in your chosen sector!
3:00pm – 3:45pm
As a student launching your career, we know that you want to hear about topics at the forefront of your mind. The second panel session of the day has previously covered topics like ‘Breaking barriers and overcoming obstacles’ and ‘How to build confidence and achieve success at work’, with insights being shared by representatives from Deloitte, HSBC, UBS, Vodafone, and lots more!
You’ll get to understand what your future career could look and solidify the importance of finding an employer that matches your goals, values, and ambitions.
Here’s what Camden had to say about the panel sessions:
“Insightful, Exciting and Inspiring. This event really opened my eyes as to how I could pave the way for black representation and excellence in the financial field as well as how I can identify inclusive employers who prioritise wellbeing and growth”
4:00pm – 4:45pm
See we like to do things in twos! At this point we’ve split all the attendees in half for another round of networking – meaning you’ll either be networking after the panel or joining the second panel session after having an elongated first networking session. This ensures that everyone has a chance to speak to all the employers and there’s no need for a rushed conversation.
You can take your time! If you’ve forgotten to ask a question the first-time round or want to follow up with an employer representative after some reflection, this is your chance!
View the full photo album here.
5:00pm- 5:30pm
We’re bringing everyone back together for the skills session! This is your opportunity to boost your CV and get prepped for the upcoming application season. You’ll gain top tips that you can use to make a great first impression, showcase your qualities in assessment centres and put yourself in the best position to start securing a role. With more skills under your belt, you’ll find navigating the application process a lot less daunting.
5:30pm – 5:45pm
And that’s a wrap! We’ll talk about next steps and reflect on what you’ve learn from today’s event. Plus, we’ll ask you to provide us with some feedback– what you’ve enjoyed but also what we could improve on. Christian's last thoughts were…
“Spent a transformative day at Black Heritage Future Leaders—rich in information and invaluable connections. A must-attend for any driven student.”
Sound exciting? Check out how to attend the next Bright Network event here.
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