"It was a pleasure to be interviewed by Rene Carayol MBE.  The interview proved to be a time for reflection and an opportunity to say to the next generation of diverse talent that there are different paths to success.  To show that there are role models they can relate to and that the obstacles are part of the path.  We only need to be willing to continually learn, succeed with integrity and to help others.  Thank you, Rene, for your huge contributions to inclusion and leadership."

Watch the interview on: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-QH_qqvVJk

This valuable conference represents our first co-developed event with one of our key corporate sponsors Anglo American. Our Access to Corporates Programme seeks to bring to our Mentees insights and connections to large corporates as well as leading quality work experiences across a number of sectors. The feedback from our Mentees on this initial Access to Corporates conference has been phenomenal, with our Mentees expressing that they would not have otherwise gained such a life time opportunity, which they so deserve.

Summary of Elham’s talk at the event:

Why Elham Fardad launched Migrant Leaders?

• Only 1.3% of FSTE 100 Board Directors are migrants and all of those have been privately educated. Elham’s mission in life is to help move that number.
• We must generate the pipeline of diverse talent before we lose a generation who have gone through so much and yet because of that will be more driven than anyone, able to take the risks essential for innovation and exponential growth and they come with some of the technical skills that Britain needs more of such as strong Maths and Science. Wouldn’t it be great if we as the migrant population give that gift of economic growth and harmony in communities to Britain, the country that has welcomed us? 

How is Migrant Leaders doing this?

• Migrant Leaders is a leading practice development programme for 16-25 year old first and second generation migrants. The programme provides these young people with 3 components; mentoring from Director grade executives
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Our Mentors Conference brought together Migrant Leaders Mentors from 60 leading large corporates to network, share ideas on diverse talent and hear our CEO Elham Fardad and our Patrons Dr Yvonne Thompson CBE and Rene Carayol MBE speak. We were joined by members of our Advisory Board and our Young Leaders Panel who made a great contribution to the day and helped demonstrate the diversity and leadership of the young people we engage with. To see our full conference materials, watch out for the launch of our Migrant Leaders Digital Programme. 

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6426155654649516032

Our Young Leaders Panel joined a Migrant Leaders workshop day to outline the future Britain they would be proud of. The principles set the direction of the Migrant Leaders Development Programme and how our charity would continue to ‘give back to Britain’ by supporting all young people from deprived and under-represented backgrounds across the country.

Elham Fardad invited as guest speaker where she emphasised the importance of mental health for young migrants “In my experience mental health is in part about being satisfied with the outcomes we have achieved in our lives. It is about fulfilling our potential in the roles that have meaning to each of us, and importantly helping others fulfil their potential. Personal success means nothing without our happiness, health and helping others….”

In celebration of International Women’s Day hosted by Baroness Verma at the House of Lords, Elham Fardad was given a Women of Excellence Award for her professional achievements and further contributions made to others in Britain. Margaret Ali, UK Director of UPF and Robin Marsh, Secretary General of UPF UK avid supporters of gender parity facilitated a very meaningful discussion with the panel of speakers and delivered a message of hope. As part of the panel of speakers Elham Fardad expressed “…my biggest achievement in life hasn’t been about me, it has been about my children. It was my children who inspired me to start the charity Migrant Leaders. It was my children who inspired me to imagine a Britain they would live in where every young person regardless of where they come from had the leadership capability to aspire to become their best, to have the confidence and resilience to go after their dreams. To have the connections and opportunities that are based on merit and achievement ...