The Pink Dynasty programme is successful because we attract the strongest talent pool of women and empower our members to achieve their professional and personal goals. Follow us as we celebrate the successes of our rising stars.
Deborah Owolabi – Pink Dynasty Alumni, 2014 Cohort
Since graduating from Pink Dynasty, I have completed a gap year during which I worked at Standard Chartered Bank in the Group Country Risk and Group Technology and Operations departments. This valuable experience helped me to gain an internship at a charity that aims to help disadvantaged students from London’s inner city to gain employment in the financial services. I am now in the final year of my Arts and Sciences degree at University College London and feel much more equipped and confident about entering and excelling in the world of work than I did before taking part in the programme.
Five of the greatest lessons I learned through being a member of Pink Dynasty:
Five
Adopt the mentality of a sponge
You can learn something from everyone, including your peers
Hostility to learning from others, of whom you think have nothing of your interest to offer (or, pride) will get you nowhere
Learn to be an excellent student
Learn from those who do things well
Not to envy, but to imitate, with an understanding that you are still to be yourself
Four
A willing and real mentor is a terrible gift to waste
By real, I mean a mentor that does not sugar-coat the realities of the working world
To make conversations easier for themselves
My mentor, and this scheme as a whole, taught me:
The world of work will be challenging –
And any good job should be
You must learn to use past adversity to your advantage
It has the potential to help you more than you may currently see
Three
A wise person knows that there is a time to speak and a time to be silent
Though, when the time to speak comes, you should not remain silent because of the people you fear
In a professional or academic environment, the root of this is often the following thought:
“Compared to them, I am not good enough to be here”
In situations where you can expand your professional network
Do not go into the corner with close companions and take a seat
Speak to the other individuals present. Don’t be afraid – you can learn from them
Remember that they also breathe, sleep and eat
Two – A
Stop complaining
Two – B
Pink Dynasty not only developed me as an individual
Giving me the knowledge and skills I need to succeed in which ever career I pursue
The scheme also gave me the amazing opportunity to put what I have learned to use
But, as aforementioned, the opportunities you are given are not solely for you
So never be selfish with what you have received
Always be willing to help others
As you are well equipped to support the growth of your community
One
You have not yet arrived
Let this lead you to action, not to worry
Do not grow complacent
As this is not the end of the journey
Instead
Seek challenge and opportunity over comfort and ease
And when you reach the glass ceiling
Use it as a table for your tea