Through our long-standing partnership with StepStone Group, 10 Fellows recently took part in the StepStone Scholar Programme, an immersive experience designed to provide a real insight into the world of private equity and investment management.
The programme combined a week of preparation sessions delivered by Making The Leap with a final Immersive Day at StepStone’s offices. Working in teams, Fellows tackled a real-life investment opportunity, developing their commercial thinking and presenting their recommendations to experienced investment professionals.
For many young people, careers in private equity can feel inaccessible or difficult to understand. Working alongside StepStone, our team delivered a programme that brought the industry to life, helping Fellows build on the soft skills developed through our employability programmes while gaining valuable industry insight, professional networks and practical experience.
The programme has been running for more than five years, welcoming a new cohort of young people every six months. It continues to provide Fellows with practical experience, exposure to an industry they may never have encountered before and the confidence to pursue ambitious career goals.
The Immersive Day helped bring the sector to life for participants. One Fellow said:
“I learnt so much today! I learnt about the private equity sector and how they incorporate sustainability into their operations. I also learned about all the roles at StepStone and might consider looking into one in the future.”
David Jeffrey, Partner and Head of Europe at StepStone Group, recently reflected on the importance of creating opportunities for young people through community partnerships: “I’m absolutely convinced [partnerships] benefit the local community and helps educate our own team members about the communities they work and live in every day.”
Omolara Oyedeji, MTL Fellow and Alumni Board member, StepStone Scholar and Associate, Real Estate at StepStone Group, also highlighted the confidence and career insight the programme provided: ” Making The Leap creates really impactful programmes that open up opportunities for young people. In my case, having exposure to an industry like private equity has made such a difference in my life. It’s an industry that I didn’t even know I could work in. Having exposure to the programme and gaining an insight into private markets completely opened my mind to what I could do and gave me the confidence to go for it.”
Thank you to everyone at StepStone Group who volunteered their time, expertise and encouragement to make this programme possible. By opening up access to industry knowledge, professional networks and meaningful opportunities, they are helping young people build the confidence, skills and experience needed to progress into the careers of their choice.
If you’re interested in working with Making The Leap to deliver a bespoke employability programme that supports young people while helping your organisation engage with future talent, please contact engagement@mtl.org.uk.
