What attracted you to apply for the BII Graduate Programme?
What most attracted me to apply was the prospect of working within finance but on something more interesting and international than what was offered by typical banking and asset management graduate schemes. BII offered exposure to the same kind of financial analysis, due diligence and transaction execution that you would find in the private sector, but with the added purpose of supporting businesses and projects that contribute to economic growth across Africa and Asia. The chance to work in these faster-moving, more exciting geographies really appealed to me.
What has been the highlight of your time at BII so far?
My highlight has been travelling to Sierra Leone to perform due diligence on a food security investment that we are now close to signing and disbursing. I loved being able to see the company function within the local economy and the structurally important role it played in securing food stability for millions of people. I spent the full week interacting with the most senior people in the company and getting to know how they manage the different business risks they face. It was a very memorable experience.
What skills have you developed since joining BII, and how did your time at university help you prepare for your role?
Since joining BII, I have developed stronger financial analysis, commercial judgement and stakeholder management skills. Working on live transactions requires you to assess information critically, communicate clearly and balance multiple priorities at once. My time at university helped prepare me for this by teaching me how to analyse complex problems and communicate solutions to those problems effectively. The academic environment encouraged intellectual curiosity and independent thinking, both of which have been valuable in a role where no two projects are quite the same.
