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Power to the Network

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Opportunity Calling – Christopher Willi (P18) reflects on the community.

“In the summer of 2021 I worked at Charterhouse on their telethon. It was really interesting to raise money for the different projects that the School wanted to bring to life, and to get to talk to OCs from different walks of life, professions and locations. Those conversations were brief, but incredibly vibrant, and my fellow OCs would talk quite openly about their careers, their career paths, and pitfalls to avoid.

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My very last call of the whole telethon was to Mark Garnier MP (P81) and I caught him just as he was about to leave his office. Despite this, he made time for me and it was a very friendly conversation, not least because we are both Old Pageites. Mark is the PM’s Trade Envoy for Myanmar, Thailand, and Brunei, so sits in the Department of International Trade.

After a while, he asked what I was interested in as a career. I said that one of my main interests was politics, as who hasn’t been following politics, especially over the last six or seven years? To my surprise, he asked if I would like to shadow him for a week in Westminster and I said: ‘Absolutely!’ There was no way I could turn that down!

I shadowed him in early December, and it was a great learning experience. I did various bits of research around Myanmar, drafted replies to constituents’ emails, and was lucky enough to observe a hearing about business in Northern Ireland. I gained valuable insight into the role of a Trade Envoy. He really went the extra mile and I reported directly to him. This was a great learning experience, reporting to a senior manager and having that level of engagement. It was a bit surreal at times though – actually being in Westminster: I was in the lift with Keir Starmer and Matt Hancock was behind me in the coffee line one day!

This experience demonstrates how many OCs are willing to help, reminding me of when I used the OC network to find work experience last year. It can be daunting, when you first reach out to people through Charterhouse Connect – when you see the senior positions that are listed – but I have repeatedly seen that if you work hard, and have ambition, there are plenty of people in the community who are willing to help and give you that first opportunity. And there’s even more potential if more people get involved.

I would counsel any OC looking for work experience, or even considering a change of job, not to be afraid to ask. You might find yourself with a new coach or mentor to help teach you about their industry, or a great new opportunity. My experience came about because of a 15-minute conversation, which goes to show that anything is possible. So reach out, and make the most of our wonderful network.”

“I have always felt it incredibly important to offer work experience to students. Helping prepare the next generation for work is the responsibility of all of us. If we don’t all make the effort to get youngsters prepared for life in the outside, real world, how on earth do we expect them to take over responsibility in the future?”

“It was a bit surreal at times though – actually being in Westminster: I was in the lift with Keir Starmer and Matt Hancock was behind me in the coffee line one day!”

Since September 2020 we have been proudly supporting our mentors and mentees engage in micro-mentoring relationships. Since its launch we are delighted to confirm that we have nearly reached 100 relationships. We hope that these have been beneficial to all involved, and that the benefits of mentoring reach even more of the community over the coming year.

Last year, for the anniversary of our micro-mentoring launch, we added an additional wing to the programme, encouraging and supporting the development of reverse mentoring relationships.

Reverse mentoring is when more senior or established business leaders opt to be mentored by those more junior, and is particularly helpful when sharing knowledge about new technology, social media, or topics of cultural relevance.

If you would like to find a mentor or become a mentor please use the Directory on Charterhouse Connect and update your profile accordingly.

Alternatively, please reach out to Karen Grindrod in the Foundation Office (karengrindrod@charterhouse.org.uk) and she will be able to assist you.

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