August 16, 2022

Step Up 2022: Virgin Media O2 Case Study with Emma Smith & Divya Bagaria 

As part of Step Up, a six-month program for female students in their penultimate year of university, we offer participants access to skills development training, career events and mentorship. Working with our sponsoring businesses, BT, HSBC UK, Virgin Media O2 and Vodafone, we pair our students with mentors to work with them for six months. 

As we prepare for the Step Up program to open applications in August 2022, we’re catching up with our mentors and mentees to find out how the process benefited both parties. 

Virgin Media O2 Case Study with Emma Smith & Divya Bagaria 

Mentor: Head of Customer Delivery Operations, Virgin Media O2 Business 

Why did you choose to be a mentor in the Step Up program?

I chose to support this programme as one of my previous mentors had mentioned how she had supported it and the fantastic work that the programme does.

If you could summarise the Step Up program in three words, what would they be? 

Energising, supportive and inspiring.

What was the highlight of the Step Up program for you?

I had two standout highlights. Firstly, the induction and kick-off event and hearing about how some great female leaders had succeeded in their careers. The second was seeing my mentee blossom, gain courage, become more demanding and push for her needs.

Can you share your most impactful learning(s) from being a mentor? 

Seeing the impact my experiences and advice can make on a mentee and how they will continue to use them to help themselves and others they work alongside. Furthermore, I can set challenges and watch my mentee grow in confidence once achieved and increase her personal brand. 

Mentee: Divya Bagaria 

Divya originally came to the UK 7 years ago to do a master’s in psychology, after which she returned to India to work in various roles (jr. psychologist, content strategist, etc.). However, she returned to the UK in 2021 to do a second master’s, this time in Marketing. Divya began realising that her background in behaviour change could positively contribute to a transition in marketing. After completing her degree, Divya was offered a full-time role as a Senior strategy and planning executive at Hitch Marketing, utilising her diverse skills and background in psychology and marketing strategy. 

Did the Step Up program make you feel more empowered to progress in a career in tech? If so, how? 

The Step Up programme proved to be an amazing opportunity that coincidently began around the same time I was about to become a full-time professional right after university. As an outsider in the UK, the programme empowered me through mentorship sessions, masterclasses and vocal support. It provided the tools that helped me confidently move forward in an industry that would otherwise be quite daunting. 

What was the highlight of the Step Up program for you?

The mentorship sessions with my mentor Emma Smith have been my highlight. I might not be able to articulate everything the mentorship sessions have done for me truly. Still, each meeting with Emma gave me encouragement, feedback, insight and, most importantly, support to grow further. Emma kindly shared her knowledge and experience while gently nudging me to push myself out of my comfort zone. She has been instrumental in harnessing me as a professional, and I am grateful to know that our relationship from Step Up will continue beyond the completion of the program too. 

Can you share your most impactful learnings?  

I can write endlessly on the programme. However, I found that each element of the programme helped me learn how I can become a confident professional. I understand that confidence and effective communication comes from practice. During our interactions with industry leaders, I found that the more I interacted, the better I improved.

Have you received any new opportunities during or since completing the program? 

My aim when I started this program was to adapt and integrate myself as a professional in the UK and build my network. During the programme, I’ve had plenty of opportunities to network with professionals, allowing me to learn and develop long-lasting relationships. Additionally, I’ve had the chance to improve my confidence which has helped me immensely in carrying out the responsibilities of my current role regardless of the challenges. 

If you’d like to learn more about sponsoring our 2023 Step Up program, empowering women in tech and investing in the next-gen of talent, get in touch with the team today at info@girlstalklondon.com.

If you’re keen to experience the mentorship of one of our valued partners, you can apply for the 2023 Step Up program here. We can’t wait to get started!