Social Mobility: Be the Change You Want to See

To mark Social Mobility Day, WIBF partnered with HSBC to host an inspiring and thought-provoking discussion on how we can create a more inclusive financial services industry by widening access to opportunity and challenging assumptions about who belongs in the sector. The event brought together senior leaders, emerging talent and alumni from social mobility programmes to share personal stories, practical insights and tangible actions that can help drive change.

Hosted by WIBF Social Mobility Co-Lead Daria Preston, the panel featured Chris Pitt, CEO of first direct; Sian Pierce, Director in HSBC’s Ultra High Net Worth team and Co-Lead of HSBC’s social mobility network, STRIVE; Omolara Oyedeji of StepStone Group and alumna of Making The Leap; and Lexie Simmons, a Career Ready alumna and degree apprentice at Allianz. Together they explored the role of confidence, representation, mentoring, sponsorship and workplace culture in helping people fulfil their potential.

Talent is everywhere, but opportunity isn’t

Throughout the discussion, one message remained constant: the challenge isn’t a lack of talent, but unequal access to opportunity.

As Daria Preston reflected in her opening remarks, social mobility is about far more than opening doors. It’s about ensuring people can see themselves in the industry, recognise that they belong and believe that a career in financial services is genuinely within reach. Echoing this sentiment, HSBC’s Siobhan Moran highlighted how aspirations are often shaped not by ability, but by exposure, networks and the examples people see around them.

The conversation repeatedly returned to the moments that can alter the course of a career. For Omolara Oyedeji, it was a chance conversation at a Jobcentre that led her to Making The Leap, giving her access to workplace skills, confidence and an insight day at a private markets firm – an opportunity she had never imagined for herself. For Sian Pierce, it was the encouragement of an athletics coach that inspired her to return to education after leaving school at 16 to become a hairdresser, eventually leading to university, an internship with HSBC and a successful career in financial services.

Their stories illustrated how a single conversation, one opportunity or one person willing to offer encouragement can transform someone’s future.

Chris Pitt also reflected on his own journey as the first person in his family to attend university, describing the challenge of entering an industry where he rarely saw people from backgrounds like his in senior positions. Representation, he explained, isn’t simply about visibility- it helps people believe that success is possible for them too.

The discussion naturally evolved into the role that mentors and sponsors play in making that success a reality. While mentoring provides guidance, encouragement and a sounding board, sponsorship goes a step further by actively creating opportunities. As Sian Pierce explained, sponsors advocate for people when they’re not in the room, opening doors to new experiences and progression. Omolara Oyedeji reflected on how both mentoring and sponsorship helped her turn an internship into a long-term career, with others recognising her potential before she fully recognised it herself.

Confidence emerged as another defining theme. Lexie Simmons encouraged attendees to embrace opportunities, build networks and not allow rejection to discourage them.

“The door might be shut in your face ten times, but it might be left open one time.”

Chris Pitt reinforced the message, reminding attendees not to place senior leaders on a pedestal.

“What’s the worst that’s going to happen? They say no.”

The panel also looked ahead to the future of work, discussing both the opportunities and challenges presented by AI. While artificial intelligence has the potential to make careers information and development more accessible, it may also reshape traditional entry-level roles. The discussion concluded that technical skills alone won’t be enough; qualities such as curiosity, adaptability, critical thinking and continuous learning will become increasingly important as careers evolve.

Key takeaways

• Social mobility is about more than access; it is about visibility, belonging and opportunity.
• Representation matters. People need to see others like themselves succeeding.
• Mentoring provides guidance, but sponsorship often creates career-defining opportunities.
• Confidence can be developed, and a single conversation can change a life.
• Insight days, internships and workplace exposure remain some of the most effective ways to broaden aspirations.
• Organisations benefit from socioeconomic diversity through wider talent pools, stronger decision-making and greater innovation.
• Everyone can play a role by opening doors, sharing their story and helping others navigate their careers.

What can you do?

Social mobility is not something that can be solved by one organisation, one programme or one individual. But everyone can play a part. Whether it’s sharing your career story, mentoring a young person, offering an internship, challenging assumptions in recruitment or simply encouraging someone to believe in their own potential, small actions can have a lasting impact.

As the panel demonstrated, one conversation, one opportunity and one person willing to open a door can change the trajectory of a career.

If you’d like to support social mobility, consider working with one of WIBF’s Social Mobility partners, becoming a mentor, sharing your experiences or exploring ways to widen access and opportunity within your own organisation.

If you’d like to get involved as a volunteer as part of the WIBF Social Mobility team, please contact Daria.Preston@WIBF.org.uk.