On the 15th October 2016, the Miranda Brawn Diversity Leadership Foundation made UK history by launching the first diversity lecture aimed at schoolchildren particularly from a BAME background to help increase all forms of diversity including race.
The Miranda Brawn Diversity Leadership Scholarship winners and mentees from the Miranda Brawn Diversity Leadership Foundation Mentoring Programme share their views since winning and how the Foundation has helped them.
Testimonials from the Miranda Brawn Diversity Leadership Scholarship 2016 Winners:
“The Miranda Brawn Diversity Leadership Foundation has been a blessing. As a scholar, I’ve been able to attend the inaugural Diversity Leadership lecture, to buy books for my degree and, above all, I’ve benefitted from the wonderful mentoring of Miranda Brawn.
“I was honoured and appreciative to learn that I was selected as one of the first recipients of The Miranda Brawn Diversity Leadership Scholarship with the Prince’s Trust. As a Social Entrepreneur, campaigning to provide more opportunities for young adults from LGBT and BAME backgrounds, I knew working with Miranda Brawn would be the perfect fit. Miranda’s altruism speaks volumes to me. Her focused and personal approach to mentoring instantly put me at ease and I am in awe of her unyielding dedication to the next generation of Diversity Leaders.
As part of the scholarship, I was fortunate enough to secure work experience at the Black Cultural Archives. This gave me an insight into how they run their events and exhibitions as well as introducing me to an influential network. Within a few months of winning the scholarship, Miranda had invited me to meet HRH The Prince of Wales which highlights the networking opportunities offered via Miranda’s mentoring programme. Thanks to Miranda’s generous support, I am several steps closer to achieving my career goals and I highly recommend the scholarship to anyone ready to make profound changes to their future and community.” – Leanne Lashley, Businesswoman, Founder of Miswits and The Miranda Brawn Diversity Leadership Scholarship (Prince’s Trust) 2016 Winner.
“The scholarship that I have received has been an eye opening and inspiring experience for me. It has been a great blessing to gain advice from someone who is experienced and wise in the areas that I want to work in when I’m older. The opportunities that I have received have given me motivation to keep working at what I want to achieve, even when it gets difficult. The mentoring sessions on public speaking and confidence building helped me to deliver a diversity talk to my year group on how to increase diversity in the media. This would not have been possible without Miranda’s mentoring and continuous support.
I would encourage any person who is interested in law and wants to experience things outside of their comfort zone to get involved in the opportunities that are available.” – Savannah Odeyemi, GCSE Student and Future Environmental Lawyer
“The Miranda Brawn Diversity Leadership Foundation has been critical in my personal development. The Scholarship enabled me to pursue my career interests in the law, allowing me to undertake work experience and pay part of my tuition fee. I have benefited from mentoring which has helped me to identify my career plans. Most importantly, The Miranda Brawn Diversity Leadership Foundation has demonstrated the significance of giving back and offering other individuals the same opportunity while helping me as a next generation diversity leader.” Suffian Hussain, Future Lawyer and Miranda Brawn Diversity Leadership Scholarship (Law) 2016 Winner
“The Miranda Brawn Diversity Leadership Scholarship has been a special experience for me! From supporting my personal endeavours, right through to giving me the opportunity to explore and delve into new sectors of employment, Miranda has been the most supportive and hands on mentor one could possibly ask for.
It was an absolute honour attending her pioneering Diversity Leadership lecture, and I encourage more young people to apply for the scholarship as you will benefit from an array of work experience opportunities, expert guidance and tailored support for your own personal development!” Jacqueline GOMES-NEVES, Future Politician and the Miranda Brawn Diversity Leadership Scholarship (Multi-Sector) 2016 Winner
A few of the scholarship winners for 2016 share their feedback via this You Tube video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkSW5JK3zNg
Testimonials from The Miranda Brawn Diversity Leadership Foundation Mentoring Programme:
“There are three kinds of people I have come to know in my life. There are sharers who believe in the spirit of community and mutual respect. And there are takers who take what they need without regard for consequences. The third and the rarest are the growers. They see the world through a kaleidoscope and have an innate ability to take elements of potential only so that they can weave through them a narrative of progress and growth. Miranda is one of these growers whom I have come to know and appreciate. Her genuine and passionate interest in my development as a person as well as a professional has been nothing short of inspiring.
I first met Miranda during her Diversity Leadership Lecture in 2016 hosted at the University of Law. Although I was just an audience, I was so inspired by her conviction to include more diversity in the UK’s workforce that I ended up writing an e-mail asking her to be my mentor. To my surprise, Miranda not only agreed, but also went beyond my expectations. Within thirty minutes of our first mentor-protégé meeting, I was contacted by a senior associate at a prominent law firm, and within a week, I was arranging meetings with influential people both in law and LawTech to help with my work experience and placement. The kind of openness and generosity I have witnessed from Miranda has been truly extraordinary, and I cannot thank her enough for her unyielding support and belief in me to grow into a better person than I am today.” Edward Byungjin Kang, Full time, GDL Student, University of Law