Duncan Parvin is a Director at Wells Fargo Bank and Career Ready mentor. Find out how his experience has inspired him and his mentee, Conrad.
As someone who benefitted from support and coaching growing up, Duncan knew the value of having a mentor, and wanted to give back to the next generation.
“When I was young, I was diagnosed with severe dyslexia, and had I not received additional support and coaching, I would likely not have gone to university and got a job in finance. I was lucky enough to have parents who could provide this additional support and I am very conscious that without it my life would have been very different.
It’s because of this that I am keen to help young people who might not have the opportunities I had to make the best of themselves.
I believe that there is so much potential in so many young people that may be missed because they don’t have the support to achieve their ambitions, and in some cases may not even understand what opportunities are available to them or how to access them. A mentor can help a mentee understand what opportunities are available to them and how best to achieve them.”
The chance to change a life
Duncan mentored Conrad last year, supporting him as he progressed through the Career Ready programme.
“When I met Conrad, he was clearly intelligent, driven, and ambitious. He knew what he had to achieve in his A levels, and which of them he needed to focus on to get onto his chosen university course, however he didn’t know what came next. I tried to show him what it was like working for a large financial institution in the City of London.”
As part of their mentorship, Duncan organised a visit to his office to give Conrad real-life insights into the world of work to help prepare him for life after school.
“While Conrad is entrepreneurial and keen to start his own business, I thought it would be good to invite him to the office to meet some colleagues and get a feel for what it was like working in a corporate environment. We subsequently held a mock graduate assessment day for Conrad and 8 other Career Ready mentees to help prepare them for their internship interviews. I hope that both experiences helped develop his confidence and ambitions.”
By the end of the programme, Duncan had noticed a significant change in Conrad’s outlook on his future.
“Conrad has really benefitted from the exposure to the finance industry he gained through the Career Ready programme, both through coming into our offices and through his internship at SVB. This aspect of the programme has really increased his ambition and confidence.”
A mutually-beneficial experience
Being a mentor hasn’t just helped Duncan give back through voluntary work, but given him an insight into the barriers young people are facing in today’s job market.
“It’s been a hugely rewarding experience for me and has helped me develop a better understanding of the efforts young people are putting in to succeed in school and beyond – and the hurdles that some are forced to overcome. I will leverage these insights in my current role when looking to develop junior talent. It has also inspired me to dedicate more of my time to mentoring programs both internal and external to Wells Fargo.”
Reflecting on his preconceptions about mentoring, Duncan is happy he decided to volunteer with us at Career Ready, and shares his advice for anyone considering it.
“I wasn’t sure whether a 40-year-old banker would be the most relevant mentor for someone still at school, but this experience has taught me that as long as you listen and encourage, you can make a positive impact. So, I would say, do it! Whatever your experience is, you will be able to make a difference.”
