Eight Fight for Peace members started 2024 with a new and exciting endeavour, embarking on a seven-week Future Directions programme with multinational investment bank and financial services company, Morgan Stanley.

The programme provides insight into the financial sector and inspires young people to explore potential opportunities available to them in their careers. The cohort spent time developing their interview techniques, CV’S, and approach to job applications, marking the end of the experience by delivering a presentation to the Morgan Stanley team.

Long-time Fight for Peace member, Ocean is currently studying Applied Science at sixth form. We checked in with her to find out some of her experience of completing the programme, and her plans for the future:

“My original plan after sixth form was to go to university, but after attending the sessions of this programme, I feel that an apprenticeship route would be much more beneficial as I would like to expand my horizon and move out of London and explore more opportunities. 

I want to study a subject that has close links to finance and law, for instance jobs roles in compliance, corporate law, forensic accounting and risk.

From the programme at Morgan Stanley I learned a lot of skills, such as being able to deliver a presentation, what to do and what not to do at a job interview, and how to show you have integrity when writing your CV. 

Furthermore, after these attended sessions, I feel confident in applying [my skills] to near future apprenticeships, internships and job role applications, and this is because I have been given the opportunity to introduce presentations such as this in front of an audience I may not be particularly familiar with.

It has allowed me to strengthen my confidence and be comfortable in uncomfortable situations.

I would like to show my appreciation and thanks to all of the members and volunteers who helped out within the programme and its sessions. Specifically, I would like to say thank you to Sabeena and Karen for constantly reassuring me whenever I felt anxious or nervous about delivering the presentation. 

The sessions were always well organised and the content within them was always insightful and delivered by knowledgeable professionals. I look forward to hopefully attending more Morgan Stanley programmes in the future!”

Congratulations to Ocean, Elias, Kara, Kawsar, Amet, Ousman, Raluca and Wai on the successful completion of the programme. 

Our 2024 cohort are the tenth group of young people to participate in the Future Directions Programme. We’d like to extend a huge thank you to our friends and supporters, Morgan Stanley for continuing to provide such brilliant opportunities for our young people – we appreciate you!