Elevate – For Candidates
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About the Programme
For Member Firms
Application Information
Who This Is For
Elevate is designed for senior ethnically diverse professionals from Member Firms, who are ready to transition to ExCo roles.
- You are 1-2 levels away from ExCo
- You are from an ethnically diverse background
- You have the capability, but you lack the visibility, access, or advocacy needed to progress
- You are employed by a Inclusion in Finance member firm (or your firm is willing to join)
- You are available for the full 10-month programme commitment
This programme is for you if:
- You are ready to step into ExCo roles but unsure how to navigate this progression
- You have strong performance but lack a champion within your firm
- You want strategic guidance from leaders who have been where you are
- You are committed to ExCo progression within your current firm
What You Will Gain
We do not determine promotion outcomes, but we strengthen the factors that influence them: visibility, advocacy, and executive positioning.
Strategic advocacy within your firm.
Your ExCo sponsor actively champions your progression, opens doors to high-impact opportunities, and ensures you are visible in succession planning discussions.
Career mentoring from leaders who have been where you are.
Self-select your leadership mentor from Roots Inspire’s panel of ethnic corporate leaders. They understand the unwritten rules, the specific barriers you face, and the strategies that work.
Meaningful connections and
in-person experiences.
Build relationships with fellow participants and senior leaders through curated touchpoints throughout the year.
Peer cohort.
The network you build with fellow participants across member firms is a long-term asset – these are your future ExCo peers.
Tailored workshops and peer learning.
Participate in workshops and unfiltered conversations with leadership mentors and peers, uncovering strategies to overcome barriers and gain new perspectives for career advancement. Topics include building sponsor relationships, creating your brand, and navigating stakeholders.
Executive coaching for ExCo readiness.
Access one-to-one sessions with an executive coach following your career mentoring phase. These targeted sessions provide a holistic approach to your ExCo readiness.
Board readiness.
By the end of this programme, you will have the strategic positioning, executive presence, and internal advocacy to be a credible ExCo candidate within your firm.
We do not determine promotion outcomes, but we strengthen the factors that influence them: visibility, advocacy, and executive positioning.
The Time Commitment
This is a 10-month programme (June 2026 – April 2027) with executive coaching continuation to July 2027. You must be available for the full commitment.
What this includes:
- 3 group workshops (Building Sponsor Relationships, Creating Your Brand, Navigating Stakeholders Intentionally – 90 mins. each, virtual)
- 3 “Unfiltered Convo” peer sessions (The Role of Sponsors, Personal Branding Styles, Navigating Corporate Politics – 90 mins. each, virtual)
- 3 Collaboratory sessions (peer learning and strategy – 120 mins. each, in-person)
- 4 one-to-one career mentoring sessions (individually scheduled, 60 mins. each, virtual)
- 4 quarterly sponsor meetings (individually scheduled with your ExCo sponsor from your firm, 60 mins. each, in-person)
- 4 executive coaching session (March – July 2027, individually scheduled, hybrid delivery)
- In-person events (Kick-off (June 2026), Dinner (November 2026), Closing Event (April 2027)
The total time investment is approximately 40 hours over 10 months, excluding travel, and preparation time.
This is not a passive programme. It requires active engagement, openness to challenge, and commitment to the peer cohort.
What We Expect From You
Active participation.
Attend all sessions and engage fully. This programme only works if you show up ready to learn, challenge yourself, and contribute to the peer cohort.
Engagement between sessions.
The work doesn’t stop when the session ends. You will be expected to apply what you learn, follow up with your leadership mentor and sponsor, and take action on your development.
Openness to challenge.
The workshops will surface uncomfortable truths. The sponsorship relationship will require you to be visible and vulnerable. Your mentor, coach, and peers will push you. Make sure you are open to these challenges when applying for the programme.
Commitment to the cohort.
Your peers are a resource, and the network you build here is long-term. We expect you to support, challenge, and uplift your fellow participants.
Apply Now
Applications are run internally, and the Member Firm will nominate their selected candidate to us. The deadline to nominate is 17 April 2026. Please contact your HR department to hear more about the internal application process, or get in touch with Emma Smit-Hamilton to hear who you can reach out to internally. To have an idea of what the process looks like, please review the Application Information page.
If you are interested, we also strongly encourage you to join the online Information Session on 17 March 2026: register here.
Note that the cohort is capped at 15 places. If you are selected by your firm this does not guarantee a place, as the final selection will be done by the Elevate Programme team.