Teneo Interns Share Perspectives on the 10,000 Black Interns Experience

For the second straight year, Teneo UK offices welcomed an intern cohort from the 10,000 Black Interns Project. Tolu Afelumo and her fellow interns shared highlights from their 10,000 Black Interns experience and what they learned.

 

Interns in our London office, including Tolu Afelumo (bottom left)

 

Hi, I’m Tolu Afelumo.

I have spent the past six weeks with Teneo’s Financial Advisory business segment in London, and my entire experience has been nothing short of empowering. I feel privileged to have been given a voice in a place where I am not only a minority by virtue of being a young, black woman from East London, but also being new to an office environment and Teneo’s workplace culture. As a medical student at King’s College, I’m used to being on the hospital ward, which is a totally different experience from the corporate world. 

My six weeks at Teneo have been filled with valuable contributions to real-life projects spanning across restructuring, forensics, insolvency and litigation. I was given countless opportunities to network with experts across the Financial Advisory business and have received invaluable advice for personal and professional growth and development.  

Above all, my experience at Teneo was my first real involvement in diversity, equity and inclusion, which challenged me to step out of my comfort zone. I was motivated to contribute to DEI discussions and use my network to collaborate on ideas that will not only benefit me, but will also help the next generation of young people feel more included and empowered in the workplace.

Upon the conclusion of our internships, I interviewed some of my fellow Teneo interns from the 10,000 Black Interns Program on their experiences and have shared their responses below.

 

 Interns in our Leeds office

 

Tolu: What has been your most memorable moment at Teneo?

Sami Bieeu (Strategy & Communications): There isn’t one moment, but going from hearing about a company’s crisis to working on a campaign for the same crisis was probably the most exciting experience of the summer.

Nifemi Idris (Financial Advisory): I’d say the interactive calls we had with the DEI team, where I got to share experiences and learn more about everyone. It felt like a safe place. There was also a discussion with the Multi-Cultural Network ERG, which was extremely insightful. 

Arianna Ward (Strategy & Communications): My most memorable moment at Teneo was the individual intern presentations. It was great to share new ideas and perspectives with the people who work on client accounts. I was able to put together all the new skills I've learnt into something tangible, and it was really well-received. I think this summarises how fruitful and engaging this experience has been. It was a great eye-opener into future career prospects.

 

Tolu: What was your biggest takeaway from the experience?

Boitumelo Tselayakgosi (Strategy & Communications): The ability to learn about dealing with various industries and business problems from a wide range of perspectives: political, commercial, socio-economic and financial. Moreover, gaining true insight from strategy and communications experts and learning from their methods of work. The ability to provide my own insight and value towards meaningful work has been gratifying and beneficial. 

Naledi Maikano (Financial Advisory): It’s been lovely to see how different minds, personalities and backgrounds are embraced in the corporate world. There’s always a place for everyone, whether extrovert/introvert, cautious/carefree, green/yellow/red. I’ve had lots of laughs hearing each and everyone's story and how they navigated their path to where they are now, and it’s absolutely inspiring!

 

Tolu: What is one thing you learned at Teneo that you’ll take with you? 

Zak Ogbe (Financial Advisory): After graduating from university in 2022, I planned to become a Chartered Accountant. My experience at Teneo has taught me that collaboration is key to working efficiently within a team, which will help me in my journey.

Naledi Maikano: It’s hard to name one thing; however, I have learnt that the team wants you to excel. Initially, I thought you had to be perfect and diligent with no mistakes, but I have been reminded almost every day by my “buddy” and talent manager that they’re here to support our growth and provide routes for career development (Teneo’s buddy system is a means of connecting new hires with peers who can answer questions and help with the transition period). 

Michaella Opoku (People Advisory): I've learnt the importance of constant and regular reflection/review of past successes and failures, as well as taking the time to think about goals and achievements for the future. Especially when working in a team, it’s important to talk through ideas and work together so that people can lend a hand to assist you in achieving certain goals.

Ololade Olokun (People Advisory): One invaluable lesson I have learned during my time at Teneo is the significance of networking, which I firmly believe will leave a lasting impact on my professional journey. Through active networking, I have been able to establish connections with senior leaders and interns from various departments. This experience has proven instrumental in expanding my understanding beyond my role within the People Advisory team and has given me more insight into the diverse functions and operations of the organisation. Furthermore, this exposure has allowed me to practice introducing myself and communicating my interests, skills and accomplishments in a professional environment. As a result, I have developed the confidence to engage in meaningful conversations about my qualifications and contributions.

 

Tolu: What is next for you after this internship?

Sami Bieeu: I’ll be going into my second year of university, and I plan to explore other areas in professional services.

Nifemi Idris: As part of my degree, I will embark on a year in industry placement to improve my skill set and further my experience. Hopefully, my journey with Teneo hasn't ended.

 

As you can see, our overall experience as a cohort has been impactful and not only taught us a lot about the various business segments at Teneo but expanded our networks and built upon our skill sets. 

The next part of my own journey includes finishing my medical degree, and maybe exploring more internships in professional services. But my main priority remains working towards improving diversity, equity, inclusion and mental health for individuals and organizations. I believe that with every generation, we can make progress by working together.

-Tolu Afelumo