Page 28 - Future Leaders 2018-2019

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Profiles

KIRSTEN SAMM, 23 SAMSON SHITTU, 24

Arts
School: University College School: University of Hull
London Course: Engineering, Energy
Course: Chemical Technology (PhD)
Engineering (BEng) Grade average: N/A
Year: Graduated First Degree: Electrical &
Grade: First Electronics Engineering (BEng)
Engineering & Maths
Covenant University, Nigeria, First class
In summer 2016, as part of the UCL Young Researchers,
Kirsten shadowed PhD and Masters students. She met two One of just ten students to secure a University of Hull
A-level students hoping to study Chemical Engineering at International Office Postgraduate Scholarship to study his
UCL and promptly became a mentor to both of them. MSc, Samson is determined to ‘give back’ to the city.
She kept in contact with them and helped one to secure her He sits on the steering group for Hull’s Young Talent
own place on the chemical engineering course at UCL. Network – an initiative to encourage young people to stay
Kirsten mentors in various capacities. As a Campus and work in the city – and is planning a speaking event
Ambassador for Morgan Stanley, she attends networking to coincide with Humber Business Week. He has also put
events and shares her experiences and advice with potential forward proposals for local firms to sponsor the best
interns. With SEO London, in February/March, she will be a students and offer internships as rewards.
buddy to interns doing spring weeks at Barclays. She will Samson bucked the rules to get an EU/UK scholarship for his
also be a mentor for the HerCapital programme later this PhD, despite hailing from Nigeria.
year, to help with providing guidance to first year females Following his PhD, he would like to become a professor or a
as they find the direction they want to steer their careers. research consultant in a renewable energy company. Despite
Additionally, Kirsten mentors two first-year girls at UCL via his academic record, he says he is not “the smartest person
the Economics and Finance Society, again providing advice ever,” but has got where he is today through hard work.
and guidance on applying to Investment Banks. So far,
between the two, they have been offered three spring weeks. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
As a professor, and also at the top of my career in senior
Where do you see yourself in 10 years? management, as well as having started my own organisation
Having created a path for myself in the corporate world helping disadvantaged students.
where I am respected and can help others.

IRETUNDE SOLEYE, 21 JESSE WILLIAMS, 22

School: London School of School: Loughborough
Economics University
Course: Mathematics with Course: Entrepreneurship
Economics (BSc) and Innovation Management
Year: Third (of four) (MSc)
Grade average: 2:1 Year: N/A
Grade average: First
As president of the ACS in his second year, Iretunde secured First degree: Law (LLB), University of Lancaster, 2:1
a hefty £10,900 in sponsorship from KPMG, Accenture,
Linklaters and others – up from around £6000 the previous Jesse is one of only two students on the working board of
year. Membership also rose from 100 to 155. the Lemn Sissay Law Scholarships, set up to encourage black
“The extra money came from me thinking outside the box: students from Manchester to study law. “It’s not just about
which companies would benefit from having a presence on getting them to apply, but also helping them get into the
campus?” he explains. Cold-calling Indomie, a food company, profession,” he says. Jesse approached firms, encouraging
resulted in a £700 sponsorship deal alone. them to sponsor students and provide skills workshops.
His manifesto when running for president focussed not only During his undergraduate degree, Jesse was chair of the
on corporate networking and academic elements, but also Lancaster University Miscarriages of Justice Society. Law
the need to unwind: “I wanted to create an environment students are referred cases from prisoners who have been
where we have fun – while still being educated.” through the courts system, and write detailed reviews to
Keen to raise the profile of Sickle Cell Anaemia, Iretunde the Criminal Case review Commission. He was also external
organised a charity version of the popular ‘Take Me Out’ TV officer for the Law Society.
show for London University students at LSE. Attended by He is currently mentor for Debate Mate, teaching secondary
more than 300 people, the event raised nearly £900. school pupils ‘soft skills’ and running two weekly clubs.
Taking a gap year from his university course in 2017/18, And he is a student lead for the Amos Bursary, saying: “I am
Iretunde spent two months working for a financial derivatives where I am because I’ve benefitted from a lot of people.”
firm in Nigeria and took coding classes. “I wanted to be able
to code to have that competitive edge,” he says. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
I want to be high up the ladder in commercial law and
Where do you see yourself in 10 years? to have set up a social enterprise to raise aspirations
I will hopefully be working at a bank and doing the best I can. and help young people.

26 FUTURE LEADERS 10 ANNIVERSARY EDITION
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