With Intelligence’s Pathfinder Programme Kicks Off With a Launch Event at QMUL
Wednesday 15th April marked a major milestone for With Intelligence and Wiseup Networks, with the official launch of this year’s Pathfinder Programme mentoring sessions.
This year’s programme will see 12 students from Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) take part in 6 mentoring sessions over several months. These 1-2-1 mentoring sessions will be wrapped around a curated in-office visit designed to give the students a taster day in the life at one of the UK’s fastest growing investment data-intelligence companies.
The programme represents a meaningful opportunity to bridge the gap between academic learning and real-world experience, giving students valuable exposure to an industry they may not have previously considered. By combining structured mentoring with hands-on insight, the initiative is designed to create lasting impact beyond the duration of the programme itself.
With Intelligence’s Pathfinder Programme
With Intelligence, a part of S&P Global, specialises in end-to-end insights in investment markets. The Pathfinder Programme combines mentoring and work experience to give students the opportunity to experience the world of work, whilst developing new skills, improving employability and boosting overall confidence.
Through close collaboration with Wiseup Networks, the programme has been carefully designed to ensure that both students and mentors gain maximum value, with a strong emphasis on practical learning, reflection, and personal development.
The second consecutive Pathfinder Programme, this year’s initiative focuses on an older demographic – those at university. In line with With Intelligence’s desire to give back to the local community, the talented pool of students comes from backgrounds where they may have had less exposure to the workplace, were on former free school meals or bursary recipients.
By targeting this group, the programme aims to level the playing field, ensuring that access to professional networks, guidance, and career insights is not limited by background or circumstance. It also reinforces With Intelligence’s broader commitment to social mobility and inclusive talent development.
The launch event
Held at QMUL’s campus, the launch event provided an environment for the mentoring pairs to meet and break the ice for the first of six mentoring sessions. Designed to drum up excitement for what’s ahead, this session is all about building strong foundations and setting objectives for the remaining sessions.
It also offered students a chance to step outside of their usual academic environment and begin engaging in a more professional setting, helping to build confidence from the outset.
The session kicked off with a welcome talk and overview of the programme from Wiseup’s Tom Lewis and Laura Moreno. The students were given a detailed brief on what to expect from their mentoring sessions, before listening to a With Intelligence talk.
This provided valuable context around the organisation, its work, and the types of roles available within the business, helping students to better understand how their own skills and interests might align.
Next, the groups broke out for their introductory sessions – a scene that created a palpable feeling of energy as the pairs chatted away.
These early conversations are a crucial part of the programme, allowing mentors and mentees to establish rapport, share experiences, and begin identifying key areas of focus for the months ahead.
Next steps
The mentoring pairs will reconvene for their second mentoring sessions online over the coming weeks. These sessions will cover a range of useful topics, from preparing for the office visit, to supporting with specific goals such as improving CVs and preparing for job applications.
As the programme progresses, students will also have the opportunity to reflect on their development, track their progress, and build a clearer sense of direction for their future careers.
Wiseup is thrilled to partner with With Intelligence again on this fantastic initiative that not only supports the students in their early careers, but also transforms the professional development of the mentors involved. Combining this with the fact that With Intelligence’s involvement contributes to their social impact, it is a powerful reminder of just how valuable initiatives like the Pathfinder Programme can be for all involved.
Programmes like this highlight the importance of meaningful employer engagement and demonstrate how businesses can play an active role in shaping the next generation of talent.
We look forward to sharing more updates very soon!
