Some of the most pivotal moments in a career happen in the margins - over a coffee catch-up or at a networking event, when someone takes the time to ask a thoughtful question or offer a genuine insight.
These exchanges aren’t always structured. They’re rarely planned. But they can be transformative.
That’s the power of a good career conversation.
I’ve spent much of my career helping people unlock potential they didn’t know they had through coaching and conversations. What I’ve learned is real growth happens when someone takes an interest, shares perspective, and offers their time generously. Often, once is enough.
This is mentoring in its simplest form. A kind of flash mentoring.
We often overcomplicate what mentoring should look like. We imagine long-term commitments or formalised programs, when sometimes all it takes is a conversation that offers clarity, encouragement, or a push in a new direction.
The investment industry is built on relationships and the exchange of ideas. But for people at the start of their career, especially young women, career-changers and those from underrepresented backgrounds, access to professional networks can be limited. And we’re losing promising talent as a result.
That’s why we created Career Connect - a flash mentoring platform designed to make these conversations easier to spark. It’s a simple idea: match early-career talent with experienced professionals for a 45-minute conversation. Think Tinder meets LinkedIn, but instead of swiping right on dates, you're saying yes to career-changing conversations. No long-term commitments, just purposeful connection.
It might be a uni student curious about the day-to-day realities of an investment advice role, or someone looking for feedback on a stock pitch, or a young banker with a quiet but burning interest in private equity, unsure how to break in. They just need a contact in the industry willing to answer their questions and bounce around ideas.
These conversations may seem small, but their ripple effect can be huge. They build confidence, expand networks and make the industry feel just a little more accessible, human, and possible.
And the upside is just as powerful for mentors. There’s the satisfaction of helping someone take their next step, and the professional benefits of a raised profile, broader perspectives, and a deeper sense of connection to the future of the industry.
We often glorify big, sweeping gestures of leadership, but sometimes the most impactful thing you can do is show up for one conversation.
We launched Career Connect to our student and young professional community last month and have had fantastic engagement with over 100 aspiring investors from around the country signing up with interesting and varied profiles.
Career Connect is now open to mentors. If you’re keen to be involved, find out more and register here. Or feel free reach out to me for a conversation about it.
Share: