How do you break into a competitive industry without the tools to succeed? For many young people from marginalized backgrounds, postsecondary job opportunities are impacted by a lack of accessibility, resources, and representation.
To help address these inequalities, leading financial firms such as BlackRock are helping students secure valuable work experience and professional guidance. In 2015, BlackRock partnered with IntoUniversity, a UK-based education charity that aims to help young people from underrepresented backgrounds attain social and financial mobility through educational support. The partnership resulted in Big City Bright Future, a program that initially offered two weeks of unpaid work experience to students enrolled with IntoUniversity. A year later, the program introduced a boot camp week; in 2017, it grew to 120 students across 16 firms and three locations. Now celebrating its tenth anniversary, Big City Bright Future is an annual three-week paid internship that includes global firms. This year’s program, which took place from July 1 through July 19 in London, Edinburgh, Paris, Milan, and Madrid, featured 20 firms with spots for up to 180 students.
For alumni like David Anosike, Big City Bright Future is a platform for personal and social change. Anosike is currently an Associate at BlackRock, where his role involves fostering relationships with UK Pension Schemes, with a focus on enhancing client engagement, broadening BlackRock’s presence, and affirming the firm’s leadership in the institutional sector.
Growing up in Tottenham, North London, Anosike excelled as a student. Although he initially dreamed of becoming a footballer, he wanted to learn more about other professional paths. Educators and adults he trusted kept mentioning financial services, sparking his curiosity about the industry.
During his last year in sixth form, a trader from a finance firm gave a presentation that solidified his decision to pursue a finance career.
“Shortly after that, I got an email from IntoUniversity about Big City Bright Future,” he says. “At the time—this was in 2016—10 firms were involved, including BlackRock. I had no idea what BlackRock or asset management was, but it seemed like an awesome opportunity.”
After he aced the interview process, Anosike joined Big City Bright Future’s 2016 cohort. During his first week, which involved a series of instructional sessions known as boot camp, he learned how to make presentations, network, and communicate in a corporate environment.
“For us, we needed that; we needed to understand how to confidently shake someone’s hand and when you’re presenting, take pauses,” he explains. “Little things like that were so helpful to learn before doing that two-week internship.”
The next phase of the program—a two-week internship—placed Anosike in the BlackRock equities team. Although he didn’t feel compelled to become an investor, the overall experience showed Anosike how to map out a career that previously seemed unattainable.
“I came out of that and I knew I wanted to work in asset management,” he says. “I love the idea of managing money—whether for institutions or individuals—and helping people experience better financial well-being.”
After sixth form, Anosike studied at the University of Leicester, and in his second year, he applied to BlackRock’s competitive summer internship program. Having the Big City Bright Future program under his belt, he was able to thrive because of the skills and mentorship he’d previously acquired.
Today, Anosike fondly looks back on his time with Big City Bright Future.
“Some people that were working at BlackRock at that time became my mentors,” he says. “I still speak to them to this day, and other interns as well. There were people like me with similar ambitions. Their passion and commitment inspired me and pushed me further.”
Succeeding as a finance industry newbie
Programs like Big City Bright Future set up aspiring young professionals for success, but that’s only one part of the equation. What do employees like Anosike have to say to the next generation of Big City Bright Future applicants and finance industry hopefuls?
“Be bold and ask questions,” he says. “It shows you’re engaged and want to learn.”