The Student Sessions

Halima from the University of Northampton talks about navigating university life when feeling disconnected and the importance of being proud of yourself and celebrating your triumphs. Listen to more of Halima on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Buzz Sprout!

In this episode, we sit down with Laura and Jack from Publicis Groupe to explore how they built an innovative emerging talent program entirely from scratch over the past few years. Designed to fully immerse new joiners in the world of advertising, PR, and media, the programme places participants in real-world scenarios—from creative briefs to client presentations—pushing them beyond their comfort zones and fast-tracking their professional growth. We dive into the philosophy behind the program, how it prepares talent for the fast-paced industry, and why concrete learning and development structures are central to Publicis’ approach to nurturing the next generation of thinkers, creators, and leaders.

Second year law student, Diego, talks about his lack of direction and guidance when first entering university and the importance of keeping a strong mindset to push yourself. He also talks about his personal progress with networking events and how this inspired him to help other law students attain their own work experience. Listen to more from Diego by clicking on the episode!

On this episode, Sandali from Aston University chats with Tonia about her journey navigating a new country when moving to the UK for university and how she managed to adjust to her new life and becoming independent. Listen to more of Sandali on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Buzz Sprout!

In this episode of the Student Sessions, Liverpool John Moores University student, Charlotte, talks with us about the emotional difficulty she faced when transitioning to university life, a struggle many others are experiencing, and advice on how she overcame the overwhelming feelings of it all. Hear more from Charlotte by listening to her episode on the Student Sessions!

Is it important to target people in their early career? In this episode, we sit down with Sharon, a seasoned professional with 32 years of experience at Coca-Cola across sales, finance, and HR. Sharon shares how her team works closely with psychologists to create safe, supportive environments where young employees can express their anxieties, grow with confidence, and thrive in their early careers. Why focus on early career support? Sharon explains how investing in young talent benefits both the individual and the company—building a foundation for future leaders while gaining motivated, hard-working team members in the present. If you're passionate about workplace wellbeing, youth development, or shaping the next generation of professionals, this episode offers practical insights and real-world impact from inside one of the world’s most recognised companies.

Overcoming barriers and self-celebration, Jason Arday

Professor Arday is Professor of Sociology of Education at the University of Cambridge, Faculty of Education. He is a Trustee of the Runnymede Trust, the UK’s leading Race Equality Thinktank and the British Sociological Association (BSA). Jason sits on the Centre for Labour and Social Studies (CLASS) National Advisory Panel, the NHS Race and Health Observatory Academic Reference Group and the ITV Cultural Advisory Council.  Professor Arday’s research focuses on the areas of race, higher education, intersectionality, mental health, neurodiversity and cultural studies. In this episode, Jason shares his story of overcoming barriers and why self-celebration is an important part of our journey.

Professor Seun Kolade, Head of Research at Sheffield Business School, is a seasoned academic with a focus on digital transformation, circular economy, and transformative entrepreneur Ing. A recognised agile leader and senior fellow of the Higher education Academy (SFHEA), Prof Kolade is the author of more than 80 academic outputs, and has led numerous funded projects and international collaborations.

Imposter Syndrome, Wellbeing and Self-Care, Peter Olusoga

Dr Peter Olusoga is a Senior Lecturer in Psychology at Sheffield Hallam University. His PhD thesis, completed in 2012, focused on stress and coping in elite sports coaching, and his current research focuses on burnout and well-being in high-performance environments. Dr Olusoga is a BPS Chartered Psychologist, an experienced consultant, and host of the award-winning sport and performance psychology podcast, Eighty Percent Mental.  I this episode, we discuss imposter syndrome, the importance of wellbeing and tips to cope with negative self-talk.

Building relationships and connections, Alberta Mason, L’Oreal

Alberta Mason is a Senior Talent Acquisition Manager within L’Oréal UK and Ireland.  With 20 years of experience specialising in graduate and senior level recruitment, she is an innovative and passionate industry expert who, during the pandemic, amassed a tiktok audience of 10,000 through providing bite sized employability support online.  Alberta currently manages the L’Oréal for Youth programme, which is the business’s global initiative to provide more in-depth employability support for the next generation who would be entering the working world in the "new normal" following the global pandemic.  The L’Oréal for Youth employability webinars are designed to be thought provoking, innovative and interactive, with candidates emerging having gained tangible skills that will improve their future career opportunities.  In this episode, Alberta talks about how to network effectively and build relationships for future success.