Speed Mentoring 2025

We’re excited to inform you of one of our highlights of the WOHAA year: Speed Mentoring 2025!

Sunday, 1^st June 2025
1:30 – 4:30pm
Nuffield Hall, London Business School, Regent’s Park, NW1 4RG

Now in its 13^th year, this unique event brings together over 40 professionals from nearly 50 industries for an afternoon of fast-paced, honest career conversations.

Students will have the opportunity to move between tables every 15 minutes, hearing from inspiring mentors and asking the questions that matter to you.

FREE for WOHAA 2024/25 participants, and something we would love for you to take full advantage of.
Non-WOHAA students are welcome to attend for a £20 fee.

We have a wide array of mentors coming from the industries below, with more being confirmed:

Accountancy, Finance, Law, Medicine/Health, PR/Events, Entrepreneurship/Business/Startup, Languages, Oxbridge, Economics, Politics, Engineering, Technology, Music and Drama, Journalism and Writing, Design and Fashion, Health and Fitness, Travel, and International Study.

Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to explore future careers and build connections.
Tickets are on a First Come First Served Basis

Why we run speed mentoring?

“It is always an ambitious task to get as many mentors as possible in one room who represent a broad range of careers – this year we were delighted to host wonderful mentors from a variety of backgrounds. The below “industry” names don’t do enough justice to the breadth and depth of experiences these mentors have. Many have taken gap years, switched degrees, or not had any degrees at all,” says Smruti Sri Ram, organiser of the event. “And that’s perfectly fine! Life and the world of work is not straightforward, and it is important to recognise all aspects of work that enrich you – that improve your mind, body, our planet, and our general wellbeing -it’s not all about your pay slip at the end of the month.”

Smruti Sri Ram - Entrepreneurship, Sustainability & Design

Hi I am Smruti, and I am delighted to present the 13th Speed Mentoring for Wings of Hope. I went to school in London, and took a gap year (in which my friends and I started WOHAA, along with my parents!) I studied Philosophy, Politics, and Economics at the University of Oxford and now help run a sustainable business called Supreme Creations / Bags of Ethics. I work with beauty, design, luxury, retail, and fashion brands to create sustainable packaging. The mission is to encourage businesses and consumers to switch from single-use to reuse. I have a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from London Business School. My passion lies in working with young people, women in leadership, and nature. My current project is called Green Tree Badge aiming to get 1 million young children to learn more about the amazing world of trees.

Katy - Arts & Culture

Katy Wickremesinghe, Founder KTW & The Wick: Award-winning British Sri Lankan entrepreneur, Katy Wickremesinghe is Founder of The Wick & KTW – a content hub and consultancy - bridging the gap between art, business, and culture, ‘connecting culturally curious’ audiences. She works with global brands, institutions, and collectors to build cultural equity and expand access to the art market. Through The Wick she creates expert content and creative solutions, making art and culture more inclusive and accessible. Driven by a commitment to education and diversity she is a Trustee of the Royal Academy, Yorkshire Sculpture Park, Dulwich Picture Gallery and a regular commentator. Katy attended Sydenham High School GDST from 7 – 18 and following this achieved a BA in History from the University of Warwick as well as a Chartered Institute of Marketing Diploma from C.I.M. Photo Credit: RANKIN.

Babita - Journalism & Writing / Author

Babita Sharma is a broadcaster, journalist, and award-winning author with over 15 years at the BBC. Her acclaimed book The Corner Shop explores the social history of Britain’s corner shops and won a Business Book Award. A leading voice on multicultural Britain, Babita has delivered a TED Talk on immigration, collaborated with the National Trust and the Migration Museum, and launched the children’s book series The Adventures of Priya Mistry in 2024.

She has presented major documentaries, including Dangerous Borders (BBC Two), and covered global events such as the COVID-19 pandemic and Black Lives Matter protests, earning her the Asian Achievement Award. Babita also chairs high-profile events including the UN World Investment Forum and COP summits, and serves as Patron of the South Asian Heritage Trust and Trustee of Crescent Arts Northern Ireland.

Michael - Law

I am currently a lawyer at Latham & Watkins, where I advise clients on a wide range of corporate matters, including cross-border mergers and acquisitions and private equity transactions. I went to school in Essex and particularly enjoyed studying Economics, Geography and Psychology. After school, I studied Law at Bristol University. I then spent six months travelling across Europe and Southeast Asia before starting my two-year legal training contract. I qualified as a solicitor in 2017. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, playing or watching sports and cooking.

Neha – Doctor/ Surgeon

I am a Consultant Urological Surgeon working at The Royal London Hospital - Barts Health, with a subspecialty interest in female, functional and robotic reconstructive urology.

After obtaining A levels in Maths, Chemistry and Biology I studied medicine at the University of Leicester. I completed my higher surgical training in the London Deanery rotating through some of the most prestigious institutions including UCLH, St George’s and Guy’s Hospital and was awarded a gold medal for my performance in the FRCS (Urol) exam. I then spent some time in France further advancing my robotic reconstructive skills.

As a doctor / surgeon, work is a huge part of your life and for that reason you really need to love what you do. The blood, the sweat and the tears but also the joy and rewarding feeling from helping others. A satisfaction like no other.

Outside of work I enjoy exercising, binge watching thrillers and sleeping of course.

Ekta - Pharmacist

Having studied pharmacy at King's College London, I am now a community pharmacist. The profession requires you not only to be an expert in medicines but also to provide as many services as possible to your patients including Smoking Cessation, Vaccinations and treating the new Pharmacy First service to name a few. Pharmacies have taken on many important roles to help ease the burden off GPs and hospitals so you play a valuable role within primary care in the NHS. I’ve always enjoyed science and received A Levels in Biology, Chemistry and Maths.

Outside of Pharmacy I enjoy travelling around the world which you are able to do with more flexible hours as a locum.

I have chosen the community path in pharmacy but I will also discuss the other exciting options available when graduating with a degree in Pharmacy! Please also remember as with any career… Do what you love. If you fall out of love with one path you can always explore others. Look forward to meeting you all.

Rupal – Teaching & Entrepreneurship

Hi I’m Rupal. I’m the founder and lead tutor at Big Brains Tuition. I studied in London, have degrees in Business and Law and then went on to start my own business. It can be really daunting at school, thinking about what to do for the rest of your life but in reality, we all change careers many times. The career you start with is normally just the first step onto a pathway of different occupations and choices. Focus on the subjects that bring out the best in you, follow the opportunities that make you feel excited and bring you a sense of purpose. Come and visit for me for guidance on education, university choices, career prospects, well-being and a big dose of motivation!

Alex - Policy, Civil Service & Communications

I am currently a Policy Lead at the Cabinet Office. I grew up and went to school in South Wales, and my favourite subjects were History, English and Geography.

I then studied Politics and International Relations at University College London.

After university, I did an internship at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, and studied a Masters in Political Communications at the London School of Economics before starting my current role.

I love attending local live music venues and going to as many gigs as possible! Long walks around London are also fun, especially when catching up with mates.

It's so difficult getting started off in the world of work - I applied for loads of different jobs and internships along the way. I’d love to chat with you to find out more about your interests and hopefully offer some advice!

Abhinav - Engineering

My name is Abhinav and I am a big enthusiast of learning things, big or small. By profession, I am an Additive Manufacturing Engineer at Alloyed - a company that specialises in metal 3D printing. My degree in Materials Science from Oxford combined with my passion for automotive design gives me my professional specialities in 3D-modelling and chemical processing. I am looking forward to helping you elevate your professional presentation to the next level! I was a winner of the Wings of Hope Achievement Award many years ago, and delighted to be back to volunteer.

Sanjay - Dental Practitioner

Sanjay Sareen graduated from King's College London and has a special interest in cosmetic and implant dentistry. He developed a passion for implants early in his career and trained under leading implantologists worldwide. He also completed a one-year certificate in Cosmetic and Aesthetic Restorative Dentistry.

With a holistic approach to patient care, Sanjay enjoys working with nervous patients and children. He has extensive experience treating both NHS and private patients and regularly updates his skills through ongoing training.

Combining dentistry with education, Sanjay is an educational supervisor for the Basildon scheme at Health Education East of England, where he mentors and assesses Foundation Dentists. Outside of work, he enjoys films, exploring London, socialising, and playing sports.

Sara - Business & Consulting

Sara Elkholy is the Programme Director for the Circular Fashion Innovation Network (CFIN) Programme. Sara has 16 years’ experience in programme, project, change, transformation and portfolio management. Working across Sustainability, Fashion, Retail, FMCG, Hospitality and the Public Sector, she has managed a diverse portfolio of cross-functional projects and programmes with experience of the full project lifecycle. Sara started her career as a management consultant at KPMG, before moving into industry, working for the British Fashion Council, Ocado, Marriott and HelloFresh, where she has set-up transformation offices and programme teams from scratch, and delivered significant programmes of work.

Chris - Film / Arts & Architecture

Christopher Guy Evans is a film set designer with 11+ years creating immersive worlds for studios such as HBO, Disney and Netflix. He was recently a finalist in the BFDG awards for his work on 'A Gentleman in Moscow'. Alongside film, Chris also consults on narrative-driven branding and spatial design for clients in a breadth of other industries, approaching each creative brief with an acute sensibility to the project's context and a clear, intentional point of view. Chris has a first class degree in architecture from the university of Bath.

Will - Business & Operations

Will is a seasoned operations leader with over two decades of experience scaling brands, optimising global supply chains, and leading cross-functional teams across the fashion, retail, and supply chain sectors. As Fractional COO at TAILR, a deep-tech B2B fashion technology startup leveraging AI to revolutionise garment manufacturing, he is helping drive smarter, more sustainable production at scale. Formerly Chief Operating Officer at the pioneering sustainable design studio RÆBURN, Will led strategic initiatives and delivered complex, high-impact projects for global clients including Vans, Timberland, Disney, and The North Face. Now operating as an independent consultant and serving on the advisory board at TAILR, he specialises in optimising business performance and enabling scalable, ethical growth. Passionate about innovation and supporting mission-led businesses to thrive through clarity, collaboration, and resilient operational strategy.

Beth - Graphic Design & Brand Marketing

I'm a graphic designer and currently manage a team of designers creating marketing and social media content for a large fashion retailer. I went to school in Surrey and studied graphics, photography and maths. I then went on to the University of Leeds to study Graphic and Communication design, before getting my first design job designing children's books. From there, I got a job with a magazine publisher and then moved into the world of fashion where I've been for the last 8 years.

I love to travel, and the best experiences I've had were taking a break after uni to travel South and Central America for 6 months, then later taking a 3 month career break to cycle around Europe.

When I was at school I had no idea what I wanted to 'do', but I was very clear on what I didn't want to do and what didn't interest me, so most of my life choices have been made through a process of elimination. I'm still not quite sure what the next steps in my career will be, but I'll just keep working hard, being genuine and open to new opportunities.

Sugapuff - Presenter/Plus-Size Model

I am currently in the Entertainment industry as a Presenter/Plus-Size Model.

I went to school in East London, Tower Hamlets, where I obtained my GCSE’S. In college I studied Health and Social Care which brought me to The University Of East London to study Youth & Community. In learning how to better understand people from my time at uni, I gained skills and qualities needed to help me with my work in Entertainment.

I got into Presenting in 2012 and have interviewed names such as Ariana Grande, Little Mix, Simon Cowell, Cheryl, Alesha Dixon and many more. Have been featured on Channel 4, BBC, ITV, LadBible, BBC Asian Network, Puberty, GRM Daily, Metro, The Sun and Daily Mail.

In my spare time I enjoy socialising, watching tv, cooking and bringing my creative endeavours to life.

Never stop chasing your dreams, anything is possible. There are highs and lows and sometimes you may feel helpless but you cannot give up. It’s all about trying your best to stay focused and on task.

Patrick - Fashion Designer

Patrick McDowell studied at Central Saint Martins and worked at Burberry before launching their label at London Fashion Week in 2018, with a focus on creativity, sustainability, and circular design. They have since pioneered a made-to-order model using eco-conscious materials, offering redesign and repair services to promote a circular fashion economy. As a strong advocate for education, Patrick mentors students as a Global Ambassador for Graduate Fashion Week and supports scholarships and internships at Central Saint Martins.

In recognition of their work, Patrick was named to the 2025 Forbes Europe 30 Under 30 list and received the Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design. They have spoken at the United Nations on sustainable fashion, championing a responsible future for the industry.

“Sustainability is at the core of everything Patrick does, striving to reinvent luxury through a sustainable mindset.” — Anna Wintour, Vogue

Karim - Health / Fitness/ Wellbeing

I’m currently working as a fitness coach and nutritionist at a private training studio dedicated to improving clients’ quality of life through evidence-based exercise and nutrition strategies. I’m also a medical student entering my fourth year, which has given me a deeper insight into how the body functions, adapts, and responds to both illness and lifestyle changes. This medical knowledge directly enhances the way I support my clients—helping me bridge the gap between medicine, fitness, and nutrition to deliver a more holistic approach to health and wellbeing.

FAQ

What do I need?

Notepad and pen for taking notes, drink and snack if required

Does my whole team need to attend?

No, this is a chance for you to network and learn from different experiences of those in a range of industries

Can my parent/guardian come?

Due to a limited spaces, we ask that you travel on your own or with your team members/teachers

DISCLAIMER

This workshop is delivered by a volunteer for the charity and they are not held responsible for any decisions that any student, parent, guardian, or teacher takes as a consequence for the information given in it.
The advice is strictly that of the individual providing it and is not related or representative of the institutions they have worked at, studied, or been associated with.
The advice is strictly confidential and any personal information should not be miscommunicated or misrepresented in any format, anywhere, (please note that this includes but is not limited to verbal communication, written communication, and social media platforms)

ESTABLISHED___2004

Speed Mentoring 2025