Our networking events for black professionals and allies will be ‘nurturing’ – Forde

Our networking events for black professionals and allies will be ‘nurturing’ – Forde



The organisers of a networking event for black professionals in the financial services sector want it to be “nurturing” for all who attend, while providing useful career advice.

Atlyn Forde, head of engagement and inclusion at Pepper Money, recently teamed up with Aleka Gutzmore, financial wellbeing, mortgage and protection adviser at MoneySprite, and Jeffrey Krampah-Williams, national key account manager for Santander, to hold the event, which took place on 28 October, during Black History Month. 

The aim of the event was to give black professionals and allies the opportunity to network with each other and learn how to engage with peers. 

Following its success, a second event has been planned for 10 February. 

 

A welcoming environment 

Speaking to Mortgage Solutions, Forde said the response from attendees was that they felt “instantly welcomed” at the event. 


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“Some people don’t often get invited to events and when they do, they can feel awkward in the room, or feel they’re not meant to be there, or they’re not received well. It’s an uncomfortable feeling,” Forde added. 

She said people told her that was what made the event different from others. 

The event also “empowered professionals at all levels”, as it had a mix of people with a lot of industry experience, such as Damian Thompson, director of landlord at Nationwide’s The Mortgage Works, and Richard Goppy, director of membership at Paradigm Mortgage Services, alongside people who had just started their careers. 

With people like Nathan Blissett, founder of Dwello Mortgages, and Michael Brown, business development director at Paradigm Mortgage Services, in attendance, Forde said attendees felt they were able to meet professionals they had not come across before to hear different opinions and experiences. 

 

Feeling represented 

She said this gave attendees a sense of “not being the only one in the room” and let them know they could also be given a platform. 

“I guess that’s what happens sometimes. People feel that, ‘no matter how hard I work, I’m never going to get this opportunity, or am I always going to be overlooked’. But having those people in the room was really important.

“I think we were able to make individuals feel that they had a place there, and that there were opportunities for them,” Forde said. 

 

Doing things differently 

The inclusivity of the event appealed to others who may feel out of place in the sector, Forde said, as younger professionals and people from other underrepresented groups were also in attendance. 

Seeing younger people go to the event made Forde think the industry should reimagine the way it tries to attract this demographic to the sector, she said, as a more diverse, less formal atmosphere could give them “a sense of belonging” and provide valuable opportunities to network with other professionals.

The event featured food and music from African and Caribbean cultures and supported two black-owned businesses – Flake Bake and Borough 22. 

“A lot of these events just follow the same model and maybe it’s time for something different. That was also what was quite nice about it. It felt very different,” she added. 

 

Bringing people together 

The event welcomed around 60 professionals from across the sector, including those working in protection, HR, the legal sector and cybersecurity, which resulted in “great conversations”, Forde said. 

The event also achieved its goal of bringing together like-minded individuals. 

She added: “Everyone in the room was really excited and happy to be there, including the allies. Allies felt very comfortable in the room too. The ones I spoke to said they were happy that they’d taken the time out and wished others had come along to embrace possibly being uncomfortable, if that’s what it takes. 

“Thinking you’re going to be in a room and be in the minority, which is what we have to do.” 

“But they felt that it was a really good thing to be there. Everyone in the room was like-minded and really understood why it was important to create this safe space for people in the industry,” Forde said. 

Networking tips were shared at the event, including how to build a rapport, break through discomfort and consider what you bring to people, rather than what they can do for you. 

Forde said the event made attendees “curious” because the recommendations from the panel “ignited, maybe, conversations that people may not have had”. 

Ultimately, she said it “clearly filled a gap”. 

She said the organisers were initially hesitant about how it would be received, as people were sometimes uncomfortable talking about race, but the sentiment during and after the event was that “we so needed this”. 

The organisers plan to hold more events and Forde said she would like to see firms in the sector get involved and partner with them.

The first event was sponsored by Nationwide and Pepper Money. 

“We really want to create a nurturing space, as well as learning, empowerment and networking,” she added. 





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