Page 8 - Future Leaders Magazine

NOMINATIONS

s we approach the 10th-year anniversary of Future Leaders looked at our criteria specifically. While the majority of the criteria
magazine/initiative, it’s like we are just getting started. After remains the same, with nominees having to be a current student of
A nine years, we have learnt so much about the work that we African or African Caribbean heritage, under the age of 25 and on
do and continue to gain a deeper sense and responsibility of the a grade average of about 60 per cent or more, for a few years now
amazing impact the magazine has on young people. we have required candidates to have a minimum of 320 UCAS, 20
Something that continues to be one of our main motivations is points up from our original number of 300. This year we once again
to keep providing a strong sense of encouragement for opened the nominations to candidates who had 300
young people from African and African UCAS points, under the condition that their
Caribbean backgrounds. When we extra-curricular activities were truly
started, there wasn’t anywhere where outstanding. This came as a result of
information or examples of what top constantly having to turn away
black students at university were nominees with fantastic achievements
doing could be found. In fact, unless How we and amazing leadership potential,
you were one of those students – due to them not having those extra
and unfortunately the number 20 UCAS points, a factor that
is not that high – a network wouldn’t necessarily get them
of UK-based, high-achieving choose our turned away from a top job in
young African and African the City or with a reputable
Caribbeans between the ages of company in another area, or
18-25, who are mostly graduates Future determine their overall ability to
from one of the best universities be a leader of the future.
in, not just the country, but the We also considered the fact
world, was not really on anyone’s Leaders that quite a few of the organisa-
radar. That’s because that group as tions (corporate companies we
a functioning, burgeoning network have worked with over the years) we
didn’t exist. based this part of our criteria on in the
So we began to build that network first place have started to remove
by first finding these individuals and barriers which prevent talented young
then connecting them to each other through people (black or white) from taking up roles
events, programmes, initiatives and the within their organisations, such as having
magazine itself. Since then other organisations have been perfect grades.
inspired to follow suit, which is a great thing, as it means our aim In saying that, while having A*s has never been the determining
of making these individuals and their stories less hidden from the factor behind whether someone will be a success or a future leader,
community at large – also allowing them to embrace and use the we stand by our decision to continue to maintain a grade level as
power within these networks – has begun to manifest nicely. part of our criteria, especially since we have heard from students
As these networks blossom each year, we are constantly making themselves how inspiring and helpful this has been on their own
sure we remain aware of what is important to these young people, journey. We also can’t dismiss the fact that many of our young
how best to continue to support their development and success and people are the first in their families to even go to university, and
nurture a platform where others can also be inspired. often just don’t know or appreciate the standard which will open
One way of achieving this is by continuing to review the Future certain doors for them in society, as they have no prior example
Leaders initiative from a range of angles. This year, this included to look at outside of this magazine, which we see as a great
looking at our nomination process – which is something we do responsibility. As the saying goes: “Knowledge is power” and
every year, to be fair, whether it is because we are trying to increase ultimately our aim is to equip, inspire and support each student to
the number of Caribbean-heritage students in the publication or ALWAYS work to fulfil their individual potential.
making sure we continue to liaise with universities outside the
Russell Group to find good nominees, as there are a few reasons
why top black students may not be attending one. This year we ADENIKE ADENITIRE, EDITOR

DIONNE GRANT
CONTRIBUTOR/WRITER

Dionne Grant, who was a co-interviewer during this
year’s Future Leaders nomination process, and writer
for some of the profiles, is an award-winning news and
entertainment journalist from London. She is the former
online editor of The Voice newspaper, Britain’s leading
black newspaper, and the former editor of its award-
winning youth-focused magazine, Young Voices.
Dionne is currently a social media editor at BuzzFeed UK.

6 FUTURE LEADERS | 2017-18