Building the next generation of leaders with Circl

There is a popular proverb that says: “if you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” 

At Benevolent, this rings true in all that we do. We want to go far. Envisioning a world where no disease goes untreated is a bold ambition, and not something we can achieve alone. We believe that when working together, amazing things can happen.

As Director of Talent Acquisition and Development, I am responsible for sourcing the right mix of experience, skill and passion to bring into our team. Our squads are eclectic and diverse, filled with an extraordinary mix of scientific and technical expertise. Though they hail from seemingly disparate fields, all of which focus on tackling exceptionally hard problems,  they are united by a common purpose: transforming human health. Ever since I joined the business I have come to see how this purpose invisibly weaves us all together: we are not only Benevolent in name, but benevolent in nature.

So, let’s return to the proverb. When you want to go far, you have to inspire others,  especially those who may not have been given their fair share of opportunities, to join you on your journey. 

This is why we have partnered with Circl, a professional development organisation who pair real-world industry leaders in our team with talented, underrepresented students from diverse backgrounds. Their mission is to build a world where anyone, regardless of their background, can learn to lead. Together with our team, Circl does this by coaching these aspirational young adults to help develop the professional skills needed to release their full potential. 

As someone who has come from a non-English speaking household, with one half of my family moving to Australia with only a dream of a better opportunity, I have always felt passionate about providing the same opportunity for the youth of today. I enjoy meeting new people the most because people are unique, all amazing and all different. Learning about cultures, meeting experts in their respected fields and understanding the value of diversity is what drives me, which is why I have a great appreciation for the impact talent acquisition can have on a person or business. I always feel incredibly rewarded by the ability to connect people to their dream career or company, especially at Benevolent where our mission is so important and impactful. 

At Benevolent, we are not only passionate about bringing in the right people, but also nurturing them throughout the talent life cycle. That is why the Circl programme is also aimed at helping the Benevolent team develop their coaching skills. Coaching is an invaluable component of leadership training, as it helps empower others with the confidence to achieve their goals, and can help create more inclusive, motivated and successful teams. 

We are often told that “when you reach the top, remember to send the elevator back down for others”. Through Circl’s two-way leadership development programme, our team will coach students in leadership skills, who will in turn feedback and coach our team on how to become better leaders. Goals and aspirations will be created on both sides. I hope to see both the students and our Benevolent people go further than they would have been able to alone because when the lift is sent back down, it will always come back up to greater heights than before.