Lesley Mulvaney | Finsbury Food Group
After leaving college, where I studied Horse Management, I decided I wanted a career working with animals, I enjoyed a variety of roles including riding instructor and veterinary nurse for 6 years. I then made a decision to change my career path and was employed within various office roles such as Recruitment Consultant, Payroll Administrator and Retail Assistant.
In 2005 I made the switch into HR with Lightbody of Hamilton, the largest supplier of Celebration Cakes in the UK, where I took on the role of HR Assistant. After 3 very successful years within this position, I wanted a challenge! An internal opportunity, within Lightbody of Hamilton, as PA to the Site Director became available. I had no experience of being a PA but felt I had some of the key attributes for that role as I am adaptable, organised, an excellent communicator and very trustworthy.
I have now worked alongside that same Director for 9 years and my career, responsibilities and duties have developed in parallel with his career. During that time I expanded my duties by becoming the PA to our Joint Managing Directors and then last year, PA to the Managing Director as well as the Group Efficiency Director when the role of Joint Managing Director was split. This has led to me becoming involved and having insights into pretty much every area of our business. On top of this I also, support and work alongside other Directors in the Group and Plc as and when required.
Outside of work, I am the secretary for the Lanarkshire Diabetic Family Support Group, helping to bring other families together whose children have been diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. This provided the parents a platform to ask each other questions as well as allowing the children to play and realise they are not alone. I also like to spend time with my family, I have one son who is 16 and Type 1 diabetic as well as interests in yoga and fitness.
Jessica Coggins | University of the West of England
I graduated from the University of Bath in 2015 with a BSc (Hons) in Sport and Exercise Science. My experiences during my education increased my passion for health but also education provision. I started working at the University of the West of England, Bristol, in 2015. My role is Executive Support to the Department of Allied Health Professions, the Faculty Director of CPD and Educational Partnerships and the Faculty Senior Project Manager. In total, I provide support to 10 people in an area that combines both of my passions. In my spare time I also provide administrative support to the Council for Allied Health Professions Research (CAHPR) South West Hub. My work for CAHPR promotes research for Allied Health Professions and creates a research network within the South West.
I feel very strongly about the quality of Higher Education provision, especially for Healthcare students. Student experience is the priority and I ensure I do all I can to keep these standards high. My role ensures time is maximised for the Senior/Executive colleagues within the Faculty. I have recently started researching the generation gap. I have been lucky enough to share my findings with the Department, Faculty and Clinical Colleagues. It is a topic I find fascinating but also an area I feel individuals should understand within the workforce.
I am very fortunate to work within an inclusive and supportive organisation. As an individual with dyslexia, I have learnt that my dyslexia enables me to think differently. I involve myself in various inclusivity and widening participation events with the aim of ensuring equal opportunities for all.
Vix Pym | Westminster City Council
Growing up in Devon I had always wanted to move to London and I did just that after I graduated from Cardiff University with a degree in Journalism, Film and Broadcasting. I began my career at the BBC, starting as a commercial assistant in comedy pitching programs for investment opportunities before moving into News where I scheduled; ensuring staffing and resource requirements were met for broadcast. The role of PA to the Head of World Service News was advertised internally and I was thrilled to accept the position. After 18 months in that role, I was excited to be offered a role at Google UK (on behalf of Career Moves) covering maternity leave as an engineering administrator, looking after one engineering director and two heads. From Google I undertook a series of contract positions including at EE as PA to the Chief of HR and at BBC Worldwide where I was made a permanent member of staff after 6 weeks.
I have been in my current position at Westminster City Council for over 20 months where I am the Executive Assistant to the Bi-Borough Director for Corporate Services. I was recently accepted as Fellow member of the Executive and Personal Assistants Association and last year I was delighted to be nominated and become one of 6 finalists for PA of the Year 2017 at Executive PA Media. I am known for my sense of humor and planning skills, both of which I find equally important to be successful in my role.
Jennifer Smith | Teens and Toddlers
I am an experienced Executive Assistant and Office Coordinator, having worked in local government and the third sector for over 10 years. I currently work at Teens and Toddlers; previously, I worked at the NSPCC and was involved in the creation of their strategy for 2016-2021. I have a degree in Psychology and diploma in business administration for personal assistants.
I am also a member of the Executive & Personal Assistants Association (EPAA), a national body whose mission is to champion, promote and develop the Assistant profession.
Barclays
Barclays is a transatlantic consumer, corporate and investment bank, anchored in our two homes markets of the UK and US, with global reach.
We aim to foster a culture where individuals of all backgrounds feel confident in bringing their whole selves to work, feel included and their talents are nurtured, empowering them to contribute fully to Barclays vision and goals.
Our common purpose is to help people achieve their ambitions – in the right way. This sits at the core of our business and underpins everything that we do. We believe that only a business driven by strong values can deliver strong, sustainable returns.
J.P. Morgan
J.P. Morgan is a global leader in financial services, offering solutions to the world's most important corporations, governments and institutions in more than 100 countries. The Firm and its Foundation give approximately US$200 million annually to nonprofit organizations around the world. We also lead volunteer service activities for employees in local communities by utilizing our many resources, including those that stem from access to capital, economies of scale, global reach and expertise.
Hanfia Khan | Carlton Bolling College
As captain of the girl's cricket team, Hanfia Khan must personally stand for all the attributes the team pride themselves on. Loyalty, perseverance, dedication and steel hard determination is what makes her the unique individual that she is. She has a blinding ability to take control and simply captain the situation and take responsibility for the outcomes which happen.
Developed from a girl who struggled to voice her concerns and walked around with her signature slouch and body language practically screaming 'stay away from me', she is now the captain of the first all-Asian girl's team to ever achieve anything like this.
She now stands proud, knowing she is playing a sport which has helped her overcome obstacles and made her the educated individual she is today.
She has had the pleasure on speaking on national TV, doing several radio interviews, filmed for national TV headlines and recived plenty of attention for the many awards the team has managed to pick up.
Looking back, she had come a long way from the challenged little girl that first began her journey three years ago as she has learnt, taught and played within the isolation of society. She now stands a proud performed woman, captain of the team who can genuinely say that cricket has saved her life.
Roslyn Shennan | Rolls-Royce
I grew up in the North-East of Scotland where at school I discovered an affinity for science and maths and was inspired by the Scottish Space School programme with NASA. I pursued these interests at the University of Edinburgh undertaking a Masters degree in Electrical and Mechanical Engineering. During my undergraduate studies I came to Bristol for a 6 month internship with Rolls-Royce where I fell in love with the city, aerospace technology and the energy and satisfaction of working in industry, where science is leveraged to make practical achievements. Returning to Rolls-Royce after graduation I completed an engineering graduate training scheme and have since taken permanent roles developing new civil jet engines for service and in experimental development of gas turbines integrated with novel electrical technology. Within the Future Programmes department I now coordinate complex test programmes, research and publicise emerging technology opportunities and nurture/leverage innovation within the company by running an Innovation Den forum.
Sonal Shah | Barclays
Many years experience in Programme, Project Management Office and Tech, working in large IT and business change programmes and projects.
Successfully changed careers to Tech by taking a year out to study for MSc in Computing & IT and have since worked in a range of IT, Change, Regulatory and digital security projects to the present role as Vice President Delivery PMO at Barclays International.
Outside the Investment Bank day job my commitment, enthusiasm and passion are well received through all voluntary activities whether through my company or externally, where I organize and participate to inspire and share my passion to encourage diversity.
This ranges from Tech or women in senior management to inspire others from deprived backgrounds, from school age through to professional women.
I like to encourage and influence within the fast paced, growing Tech industry and also women in senior management through my active charity work to inspire and be inspired from others by regularly giving back to the community.
An active committee member of Barclays Gender network co-chairing Enable & Engage committee, Lead on the Wellbeing workstream and organize many tech and non tech community based voluntary activities outside the day job. I’m delighted that my company encourages diversity and this is one of the qualities I really appreciate which further give the opportunity to create real impact on the issues that matter such as encouraging more into STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics) and improve the pipeline.
Use of previous experience as a keen voluntary worker ranges from teaching OAPs in my spare time in the local community centre to learn / coach on PC and iPads to become more 'IT savvy' to sharing tips through my passion and knowledge influencing – for example, encouraging more women into IT through my blogs (that have over 12,000 hits and have been published on corporate sites) and help and mentor young people to assist in careers an Tech such as CV help, mentoring to encourage interest for females to join the Tech sector. Also share skills and experience in a professional women’s forum where I actively participate such as speaking at a conference and participate and organise many voluntary forums.
Dr Shola Mos-Shogbamimu | Women in Leadership Publication
Dr Shola is a dual qualified New York Attorney and Solicitor of England & Wales with over a decade of financial services experience working in-house as a trusted senior legal advisor to heads of business and stakeholder partners. Her experience includes providing strategic legal risk management to SMEs and large organisations. She is experienced at facilitating effective decision making to deliver key mandates; brokering strong alliances and cultivating productive relationships to influence and shape outcomes; and demonstrating leadership and mentoring qualities that drive forward developments within respective areas of responsibility www.legaldistinction.com .
She is the Co-Chair of the American Bar Association (ABA) Africa Committee responsible for managing the 400+ member Africa committee in the ABA Section of International Law, which includes managing the basic operations of the Committee, initiating projects of interest including programs (Seasonal Meetings, Forums, and committee non-CLE programs), policies, publications (including Committee newsletters) and communications (including Committee webpages). Liaising and interacting with high-level attorneys within the ABA and forging new relationships externally to contribute to African legal affairs.
She is the Executive Board Director of the Centre for African Business Education (CABE), a UK based institution focused on the development and exchange of practical knowledge on doing business in Africa but also on Africa doing business globally. She also sits on the steering committees of a number of organisations including (i) the International Law Section of the ABA; (ii) Women’s Equality Party; and (iii) Women’s March Global, to help shape and drive positive outcomes on key mandates.
Dr Shola is an activist for women rights and one of the organisers of Women's March London. She was at the forefront of the 2017 and 2018 Women's March and Time's Up rally in London. She has written a number of articles addressing the challenges faced by women and tackling the difficult issues; and featured in British Vogue, Huffington Post, Telegraph, RED, Stylist, Evening Standard, The Voice among others.