Naila - Elevate Mentee
Naila , a former A-level student who recently completed sixth form, joined the Elevate programme seeking hands-on, personalised support and a clearer path to industry.
Already participating in our Insight2Uni programme while applying for engineering courses, Naila recognised the need for expert guidance on applications and leadership skills. She was looking for a one-to-one connection that could offer firsthand insights into corporate life.
“My mentor was really key in helping with my CV and interview preparation. I managed to get my role at IBM, and I truly believe the programme definitely helped me through that entire process.”
Naila, Elevate Mentee
Outcomes
Naila was paired with her mentor, Brendan, creating a partnership that quickly yielded tangible results. The mentorship sessions directly supported her successful application for a Futures Internship in Data and AI at IBM. Brendan provided essential CV support and personalised interview coaching, which Naila credits as key to her achievement.
The Elevate programme structure was also highly effective for Naila. During the second session, which focused entirely on goal-setting, they established both short-term aims such as refining interview skills, and long-term ideas. Naila noted that this gave all subsequent sessions, "A lot of structure," and made them, "Really efficient."
Lasting Legacy
The mentorship provided Naila with invaluable transferable skills. She learnt to approach professional dialogue and challenges by, "Asking meaningful questions and being able to hold conversations." This new mindset proved useful when navigating issues as a Deputy Head Girl and continues to help her in her internship role.
Most importantly, the experience instilled a grounded perspective on career development based on her mentor's own path. Naila embraced the lesson that, "You don't need to know the whole plan, but you just need to know what you want to get out of it." Elevate also enabled Naila to significantly grow her network, connecting her with an Imperial graduate and a senior contact at LexisNexis Risk Solutions.