Brewin Dolphin was my first “proper” job after university, and I celebrated my 10-year anniversary in October 2021. Prior to that, I did every part-time job going including working in a children’s nursery, manual labour and working on the 2011 census, but my favourite by far was being a chef.
My current role involves working with all kinds of clients – private individuals, trusts, charities and corporate entities. I help them to identify their savings goals and aspirations, and provide them with a plan on how to achieve them.
Most recently, we’ve been delivering a specific proposition focusing on financial wellbeing among our business network. Given its links to overall wellbeing, this has been particularly well-received in these volatile times.
I love the variety of what I do, the people I get to work with, and really value the strong relationships that are created along the way.
The last couple of years have been particularly demanding but rewarding in equal measure.
I enrolled on a part-time MBA, backed by my employer. At the same time, I moved house and my partner had our first child, throw in a global pandemic and a marathon for good measure and it’s fair to say there have been some challenges.
I’ve always been quite an ambitious person so it wasn’t unusual for me push myself like this, but there were certainly times when my time was spread a little too thin. I was able to get there by relying on the support of those around me, both at work and home and it really taught me that you can’t do it all yourself.
On a personal level, I have just become a dad, so naturally I want to set a good example to my daughter and show her the sky’s the limit for her own aspirations.
Professionally, I have ambitions to ascend to a more senior role within Brewin Dolphin. Our current CEO used to be my head of office and I aspire to follow a similar path. My recent MBA has opened my eyes to the importance of strong leadership and gave me a much greater understanding of all areas of business. I hope I will be able to put some of this theory into practice as and when opportunities present themselves.
I feel particularly strongly about the importance of establishing a great network. Network internally and externally because you never know when you will need that little “leg up”.
I don’t mean just thrusting your business card in as many faces as possible, but nurturing genuine relationships with people similar to yourself – as well as those who might challenge your position and open your eyes to a new perspective.
Generation Next is exactly the kind of group I wish was available when I first started in my career. It would’ve been great to connect with a diverse group of like-minded professionals as we all grow through our own career journeys.
From what I’ve seen so far, Generation Next organises great events with excellent speakers. The members I’ve met have been really welcoming and come from a range of disciplines. In my role as a board champion, I look forward to growing Generation Next’s presence across the East Midlands.
Generation Next is a support network for young professionals aged between 18 and 35 based in the East Midlands. Its membership package gives young workers access to its events programme – which connects delegates with likeminded individuals, as well as leading business professionals from across the region, to build their networks and skills. For more information on how to become a Generation Next member, click here.
