August 16, 2022

HSBC UK Case Study: Isobel Salmon & Michelle Sung

As part of our Step Up program, 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 6 months. 

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

HSBC UK Case Study with Isobel Salmon & Michelle Sung 

Mentor: Michelle Sung | Director | Leveraged Finance | Mid-Market Financial Sponsors 

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

I opted to be a mentor as I thought it would be a good chance to develop my leadership skills. Having had the benefit of formal and informal mentoring throughout my career to date, I felt I was at a point to utilise the skills I have learned so far. I also felt strongly that the audience of Step Up, being young women, is a group I am passionate about supporting.

How would you summarise the program? 

It has been really good. Firstly, the formal coaching training at the beginning has been beneficial – not just during Step Up but also provided me with skills I use daily. Secondly, it has been a pleasure getting to know Isobel, my mentee, and providing coaching/guidance when she applied for graduate schemes.

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

Finding out the fantastic news that Isobel has successfully applied and secured a role in the HSBC technology graduate scheme!

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

The power and impact of being a good listener.

Mentee: Isobel Salmon | Business Management Student 

How did the Step Up program help you progress in your career? 

I learned about the HSBC Technology graduate scheme through the two-day careers event that Girls Talk London/Step Up organised, and from that event, I was encouraged to apply for the programme, which I later received a place on. The mentor I was paired with through Step Up supported me through the different stages of the application and interview process for the scheme and was happy to answer any questions she could, as well as offer feedback on my CV.

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

The highlight of the Step Up program for me has been the masterclasses. I’ve enjoyed these as they have given me time to reflect on the different topics in the sessions. Topics included time management, productivity, imposter syndrome and personal branding; we learned how to develop in these areas and heard how they navigate them from people in the technology industry. The masterclasses also allowed me to talk to other people on the programme about the session topics, which was really insightful and engaging.

What was the biggest lesson the program taught you? 

Step Up taught me to believe that I am good enough to take on opportunities within the technology sector even though I haven’t completed a degree in a technology-adjacent area. I learnt more about the possibility of working in this field through the careers exhibition and the individual masterclasses. They offered me time to reflect on the attributes that I have and would be able to bring to a role in this field, even if I don’t have as much experience as other applicants.

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 Step UP 2023 here. We can’t wait to get started!