Page 15 - Future Leaders Magazine

PROFILES

FISAYO ADEBAJO, 21 FAITH ADEWUMI, 21

School University of Leicester School University of Leicester
Subject Management and Finance (BA) Course Management Studies and
Year Graduated Marketing (BA)
Grade First class Year Second
Grade Average 2:1
Fisayo recently completed an internship as
Finance Analyst at Barclays Investment Bank Faith is the secretary of the University of
and took her wealth of experience back to her Leicester African and Caribbean Society. This
many extra-curricular roles at the University entails being the backbone of the organisation
of Leicester. LAOLU ADESINA, 20 by arranging meetings, booking rooms,
These include her role as secretary of the managing data, communicating important
Networking Society, which she also co- School University of Bristol information to members via email and
founded. Here she hosted events and sessions Course Economics and Management (BA) recording minutes. She also ensured members BUSINESS & FINANCE
for students across all academic year groups. Year Second stayed interested and involved. This role
“The ability to appropriately liaise with Grade average 2:1 allowed her to develop strong written and
younger and older individuals as well as verbal communication skills, problem solving
professional bodies proved extremely As vice-president of the University of Bristol’s skills, strategic thinking and negotiation skills.
important and beneficial in this role. It’s a skill African and Caribbean Association, Laolu’s In February 2017, she became the co-
I have been able to apply in other areas of my main role pertained to increasing integration founder of a women’s empowerment
life,” she says. and development of members and the wider organisation called Belles Network,
In her second year, she was appointed the university. “This allowed me to immerse connecting and celebrating incredible women
secretary of the Finance Society responsible myself well into the university through through social media and hosting events. In
for organising events and keeping the hosting and marketing events I put together,” addition, in her second year she was a peer
communications between committee and she explains. These events included a mentor at her university, which gave her the
society members intact. networking event at the KPMG Bristol offices, opportunity to provide valuable support to a
As a mentor for the HEAR (Higher which the Mayor of Bristol attended. student, giving academic and non-academic
Education Achievement Report Mentoring) Laolu also set up a mentoring scheme advice, support and encouragement. This
Programme she provided advice and support for the BME Students at a local secondary sharpen leadership skills such as emotional
to a student through their first year. school, for which the ACS members were intelligence, motivating peers and trust
given sufficient training to become effective worthiness.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years? mentors to some of the underachieving pupils
Running an impactful and recognised online at the school. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
platform for women in the corporate world. During her second year she was also As a senior manager or partner with KPMG.
elected as a course representative for
the School of Economics, Finance and
Management, where she voiced the opinions
of her peers to the faculty staff. Actively
seeking the opinions of others in this way
helped her to sharpen her communication
skills and learn how to effectively relay
different arguments and concerns back to
third parties with a views to resolving them.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
As a senior manager or partner with KPMG
and carrying on work as an internship mentor.

OCHAN AKOM, 21 effectively making him second in command
after the President.
School University College London In this role, he often had to make tough
Course Economics (BA) decisions under pressure.
Year Graduated “There were instances where I had to make
Grade 2:1 decisions (and go against members) to remove
or scale down what were previously extremely
Ochan has been an active member of the popular events due to the monetary situation
Lwo Cultural Group (LCG) for more than we were in,” he says.
10 years. Despite this, during his tenure the ACS put
The London-based Northern Ugandan on hugely successful events such as
community organisation is devoted to the the creation of IMPULSE LDN (a yearly
celebration and promotion of Acholi Culture, welcome party for London ACSs) while
performing cultural dances throughout the improving the budget for the following year
city, including at the 2012 Olympics. performance and assimilation. During his by about £2,000.
More recently he has taken the role of second year at uni, Ochan was the treasurer of
leading the younger children (age seven the ACS, where he was responsible Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
to 14) in the weekly practice sessions with for managing the funds of the society, As vice-president of a financial organisation.

2017-18 | FUTURE LEADERS 13