April 2023 – Anne Clarke

At WIBF, we understand the value of investing in your development, but appreciate that many of you have limited time resources.

We are proud to offer a six-month mentoring programme to all members, providing access to some of the most talented professionals within the financial services industry.

Each month, we recognise one of our incredible mentors who give their time and experience to our members.

This month we’d like to thank Anne Clarke, a Senior Consultant for ABSTRACT. A successful career in the financial and banking industries has given Anne the understanding and ability to work at all levels. She is also a qualified chartered manager and an experienced learning and development professional, specialising in leadership development, coaching and psychometric profiling.

We caught up with Anne and two of her mentees, Marnie and Aurna to find out more about their mentoring experience with WIBF.

As a mentor what do you get out of the process?

There is nothing more rewarding than seeing people develop and achieve their goals.

What do you feel you have helped your mentees achieve through mentoring?

I feel I have helped in career planning, confidence, imposter syndrome, organisational politics, personal brand, having difficult conversations, networking, getting promotions, finding the role that is right for them (that plays to their strengths) and goal setting.

Mentors offer you that guidance, support, knowledge and experience. They help you see the possible.

Have you been mentored yourself and what was that experience like?

Many times – my mentors helped me to go further than I ever thought I could go. They gave me courage and confidence to believe I could achieve whatever I wanted both personally and professionally. I have my mentors to thank for me doing what I do today.

I don’t just have one mentor, I have a number of people that help me for different things, so I think about who I need around my table for me to be the best version of myself. I have specific mentors that may provide me with certain information or a skill/knowledge gap. I have people that are able to connect and introduce me and I have people that support my development both on a personal level and a professional level. They tend to be people that inspire me, that will sponsor me, that will connect me, improve me, challenge me, support me and encourage me.

What’s the one thing you’d tell someone who is considering becoming a mentor or a mentee?

Do it! It is so rewarding. Also the things I would tell someone who is thinking about being a mentee is: be prepared to ask for one. People don’t tend to ask, as they assume people are too busy or they don’t want to seem pushy. You are only as good as the people you surround yourself with, so get comfortable with asking for help and surround yourself with people that are good for you.

Always ensure you are clear on the purpose of the relationship (issues in your current job or a future job). Is it an operational, Interpersonal, personal development or career planning need? Also, understand what they can do for you and what you need them for, so that you will actually benefit from having one. Mentors offer you that guidance, support, knowledge and experience, they help you see the possible.

Marnie Gallagher was one of Anne’s Mentees. After starting her career with NatWest at 18, Marnie has built up a varied experience – ranging from customer facing roles, performance & business management, and most recently, communications. Based in Birmingham, Marnie enjoys combining her creative skills, strategic thinking and passion for writing in her current role as Communications Manager for the Commercial & Institutional franchise.

Outside of her core role, Marnie is really passionate about the diversity, equity and inclusion agenda and is a proactive member of NatWest’s Gender Network, leading the committee who focus on intersectionality and collaboration across all of the bank’s employee led networks.

How long have you been involved with WIBF and what prompted you to join the mentoring programme?

I’ve been an active member of NatWest’s Gender Network for the last year, which naturally opened me up to the world of WIBF and the amazing events they host. When the opportunity came up in the summer last year to get a WIBF membership I signed up straight away, and not long after learned about the mentoring programme. I had just started my current role early July, so the mentoring came at the perfect time! Anne and I were matched together promptly and were introduced at the end of July.

What did you want to get out of the mentoring programme? 

Given I’d just started a new role, my goals were focused on building a reputable brand in my new team and wider function, demonstrating credibility and confidence within the job, whilst overcoming imposter syndrome.

…and what did you get out of the programme and can you explain the process?

We decided meeting monthly worked better for me, as I like time in between mentor sessions to process what I’ve learned and put it into practice. The first session we used a chemistry test to see if we clicked and we absolutely did. We both shared our career journeys and how we both got to where we are. And there were so many similarities, so I was more than happy to work with Anne.

After that, the first few sessions we focused on ways of dealing with imposter syndrome by celebrating my past successes, instead of focusing on what could go wrong, as well as being aware of my strengths so I could articulate these to my team. Then we moved on to networking, and Anne totally shifted the way I saw networking – she changed my perspective to viewing networking as building relationships that add value to my career, instead of just meeting new people at events for the sake of ‘networking’.

Reflecting on the impact of my mentoring sessions with Anne over the last few months, the result of each session felt like small and simple changes I could make to my behaviours and perspectives, but they’ve all added up to make me feel more confident and capable in my role and career – something that felt like such a huge step when I first started.

What’s next for you professionally?

I’m nearly reaching the 12-month mark in my current role and I’m still really enjoying it. I’ll be spending the rest of 2023 mastering the skills I’ve built, whilst learning more about the wider communications function. That will help for when I get to the end of the year and maybe start thinking about what my next step will be – it will definitely still be in communications and still in NatWest, because I love the culture and the people.

Whilst you have the option to end your mentoring relationship after 6 months, I asked Anne if we could continue ours on an informal basis and she was happy to do so. It’s great to know I have Anne there for continued support and anything else I want to develop on as the year progresses.

What advice do you have for anyone considering joining the WIBF mentoring programme? 

Do it! Forgetting everything else I’ve learned from the mentoring, the biggest lesson Anne has consistently drilled into me is to ask, “If not you then who, and if not now, then when?” This is something I’ve since repeated to myself on a regular basis, inspiring me to take action to champion myself instead of thinking I need other people to do it for me, and always acting in the moment instead of putting it off until a later date, which realistically means we keep delaying and delaying until we forget to do it.

Aurna Tandon is an experienced corporate tax specialist at PwC, dedicated to delivering tax compliance services to her clients, and ensuring that tax requirements are not a burden, but a seamless process. Her passion for diversity, equity and inclusion drives the agenda in her department. She strongly believes in creating a workplace where everyone feels valued and supported.

How long have you been involved with WIBF and what prompted you to join the mentoring programme?

I have been a member of WIBF since 2018. I joined the mentoring programme to access the knowledge and expertise of mentors. Work colleagues who had a WIBF mentor told me it was a hugely valued service offering and it most certainly is.

What did you want to get out of the mentoring programme?

When joining the programme, I wanted to learn from someone who had more experience and knowledge, and could help in advancing my career and provided support and guidance for my personal goals and challenges.

… and what did you get out of the programme?

During my time in the programme, I had the opportunity to receive guidance for my professional and personal growth, as well as insights into how to navigate challenges and reframe them as opportunities. Through the guidance of my mentor Anne Clarke, my confidence increased and I acquired new skills and techniques that helped me navigate both the workplace and personal life.

The process of the programme was structured yet tailored to my individual needs. My mentor Anne Clarke had numerous techniques and assessments to help me understand, develop and grow in confidence. The programme covered a range of topics, including identifying my strengths and values, tackling imposter syndrome, understanding organisational politics, cultivating key relationships, and much more.

The skills and knowledge that I gained from the WIBF mentoring programme have provided me with exceptional skills to successfully navigate both my professional and personal life and, as a result, my progression has been exceptional. Thank you Anne!

What’s next for you professionally?

I have gained so much from the WIBF mentoring programme and it has given me a clear direction of where I want to take my career next. With the skills and knowledge gained through the programme, I am now more confident in pursuing my career goals and have set specific milestones to achieve them.

In the short term, I am looking to implement some of the skills I have learned in my current role to make an impact in my department. In the long term, I am aiming to take on more challenging roles that will allow me to continue developing my skills and expertise in corporate tax.

I am also giving back to my work colleagues and mentoring them, using the knowledge and experience gained through the programme to guide and support them in their own personal and professional growth.

Overall, I feel that the WIBF mentoring programme has provided me with the tools and support I need to take my career to the next level, and I am excited about what the future holds.

What advice do you have for anyone considering joining the WIBF mentoring programme?

I would strongly encourage anyone who is considering joining the WIBF mentoring programme to do so. It is an exceptional opportunity to gain guidance and support from experienced professionals in the field, and it provides a wealth of resources and knowledge that can help you grow both personally and professionally. It has been a truly transformative experience for me, and I am confident that it can provide significant value to anyone who participates.

Thank you to Anne, Marnie and Aurna. If you have been inspired by their stories and want to become a mentor, you can find out more here.