Step In, Step Up: An Insight to Banking

On the 26th and 27th October, over 80 Year 12 and 13 female students took part in Morgan Stanley's virtual work experience program designed to give them an insight into the finance sector through talks, panel sessions and interactive activities.

Having woken up ten minutes prior, a mug of coffey in hand, I nonchalantly click on a zoom link and sit back in my chair. As a sixth form student I have taken part in a wide range of virtual work experience over recent months with the hope of gaining an insight into various careers. Unfortunately, I have found that the majority of virtual courses do not wholly replicate work experience in the real world. However, by the end of Morgan Stanley’s immersive two-day programme, I am both excited and motivated to pursue a career in the finance industry.

The programme opened with a short introductory talk by Tosin Akinluyi, Managing Director and Head of EMEA Macro Research at Morgan Stanley. After identifying the disparity between male and female applicants for careers in the Investment Banking Industry, Akinluyi founded the Step In, Step Up program in January 2011. She aims to combat the gender-imbalance at the recruiting stages of Investment Banking positions by educating female sixth form students across the nation of the opportunities available in the industry.

Following Akinluyi’s talk, participants heard from Sarah Harrison. She reminded students that the most important attribute to succeeded in the industry was resilience: ‘You don’t get to the top without failing sometimes.’ As a woman, she explained how it is ‘often difficult to get on the inside’ and that while the gender imbalance in the industry was decreasing, there was still a long way to go.

Before a brief lunch break, students took part in an interactive session led by Janine Elton, Founder and Director of Elton Mellor, who gave students the opportunity to practice their ‘elevator pitches’. She then gave participants her tips for successful networking and highlighted the importance of having a personal brand message.

Sacha Enselm, Managing Director and COO of Morgan Stanley’s Institutional Equity Division, reinforced the importance of diversity in giving different perspectives to draw on while Emily Laino, Managing Director of Global Capital Markets, reminded participants of Morgan Stanley’s ethos and the company’s supportive nature: ‘At Morgan Stanley we have this incredible community which will motivate and push you’, reinforcing the culture of collaboration that is evidently a key to the company’s success.

On the second day of the programme, students particularly enjoyed the networking breakfast with senior employees. The session gave students the opportunity to ask questions in a more informal setting in smaller groups, enabling them to obtain a more in-depth understanding of the Investment Banking Industry.

Although they were detailed, the ‘Teach In’ sessions on both ‘Investment Banking and Global Capital Markets’ and ‘Sales, Trading and Research’ were engaging and simple to understand. Before ending the programme in a surprisingly relaxing fashion with a yoga session, HR Representative Amy Walshe successfully demystified the company’s Application and Selection Process.

As a 17-year-old girl who, prior to the work experience, had a relatively limited knowledge of the workings of the finance industry, I believe Morgan Stanley’s Step In, Step Up programme is one of the most valuable work experience opportunities. The speakers were both knowledgeable and passionate, presenting Morgan Stanley and the investment banking sector as the ideal place for any driven woman with an interest in finance.