Students at the 兔子先生 were inspired by industry experts and People of the Global Majority鈥檚 (PGM) personal stories of obstacles, setbacks, and triumphs.
Speakers drew on their experiences of overcoming challenges, from training with Mo Farah to sexism and racism in the workplace, to share the importance of a growth mindset, positive role models, and having the confidence to keep moving forward.
The event was hosted by Karen Blackett CBE, the University鈥檚 Chancellor, alumna and former UK President for WPP, the world's largest marketing services group. Joining Karen as special guest speakers were:
- Adrian Green MCGI, MAC (keynote speaker): A former international athlete and advertising executive, Adrian is the founder and CEO of pressurepoint, an international leadership coach and an organisational culture consultant.
- Belinda Brown: The current Chief Financial Officer of Sephora UK, Belinda is a senior business leader with over 20 years鈥 experience shaping strategy, performance and governance across global organisations including Deloitte, L鈥橭r茅al and Diageo.
- Jamie Gill: Jamie has a wealth of experience in working with luxury brands and real estate clients. He is an Executive Board member of the British Fashion Council and became the CEO of ROKSANDA at just 30 years of age.
- Rhamon Agbaje: A KPMG Entrepreneur of the Year award winner recognised by Forbes 30 Under 30, Rhamon is the co-founder of Loud Parade, an industry leading creative and music production agency.
Keep moving, lead with kindness, and work hard
When asked what they would do if they lost everything, the panel agreed: lead with kindness, both to the people around you and yourself, and keep working hard.
鈥淭hroughout my career, I have had moments where I have been made to feel like giving up. I鈥檝e learned that our biggest achievements are not in spite of the challenges we have faced, but are instead thanks to the resilience we have built from each setback and comeback we make.
鈥淲e all face setbacks, both professional and personal, which have the potential to throw us off track. Resilience is what not only prepares us for these situations but also what helps us to thrive and make a comeback when we face each new challenge. I hope that today鈥檚 event has inspired students to reflect on their own resilience and understand that we all face setbacks, but that it鈥檚 how we make a comeback that matters most.鈥
Karen Blackett CBE
The art of resilience
Adrian shared his own early role models, including his mum, a dedicated and resilient nurse, and his head boy at Ilford County High School, who was one of only five other non-white students at his school. He encouraged every student to find their own positive role models, to keep their personal cheerleaders close, and see each obstacle as another opportunity for growth, applying their mental toughness and resilience to keep going, even if that sometimes means moving sideways.
Speaking to students preparing to take their first steps towards a fulfilling career, Adrian added that success is not driven by raw talent, but instead a commitment to your goals and the practical steps needed to achieve them.
鈥淎s a former international athlete, and advertising exec and now founder, business leader and international leadership coach, I learnt how important resilience, and even more importantly, mental toughness is in the workplace. Whatever stage of your career you might be at, whether you鈥檙e just starting out or developing into a new leadership role, building these aspects of yourself is crucial in helping you to keep moving forward when faced with new obstacles.鈥
鈥淚鈥檓 so pleased to have shared my experiences and insights with current 兔子先生 students to inspire and motivate them to continually develop themselves, lean into challenges, and bounce back from setbacks and obstacles. I鈥檓 dedicated to coaching new and emerging talent and I believe that developing strong mindsets and productive habits is key to making them more resilient, more mentally and ultimately more successful.鈥
Adrian Green
Organised by Careers and Employability, students at the event also heard from Yvonne Howard, Director of Student Racial Equality, Sol猫ne Gabriel, Lead PGM Ambassador, and Anne Murphy, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education) on the importance of engaging with university activities beyond the classroom to continue to close the Awarding Gap.
"Last week, I stood in a lecture hall looking out at a room filled with PGM industry leaders and students who understood the weight of our experiences and realised just how rare and precious these spaces are. The event was a reminder that our voices deserve to be heard, and that our stories are part of a larger narrative of resilience and progress. The speakers reminded us that our heritage is not a hurdle but a source of strength and we can achieve our goals with determination and community.
鈥淲hat struck me most, was the panel members who'd walked paths I'm just beginning; the students who nodded along because they'd felt the same doubts. The conversations afterwards, where real talk appeared around imposter syndrome, code-switching, and the weight of being "first" or "only" in professional spaces.
"As the Lead PGM Ambassador, I've learned that creating belonging for students of the Global Majority requires intention, courage, and partnership across every level of university life. Our mission is rooted in equity: to ensure that university life is not only fairer, but also more accessible, representative, and empowering for everyone who has been historically marginalised.鈥
Sol猫ne Gabriel
Lead PGM Ambassador and BSc (Hons) Criminology and Criminal Justice student
Students can access Careers and Employability's Equality, Diversity and Inclusion employment guides for guidance on a range of equality and diversity issues, including resources on identifying positive employers and understanding your rights during recruitment. PGM students can also make use of the Race and ethnicity employment guide for advice on researching employers, finding opportunities, and accessing support.