Welcome to our short interview! Can you please tell us a bit about yourself and your current role?
Hi, it is a real pleasure to be participating in this. I’m Jacqui Dobson, I've been at the FT for 15 years but have been in the media industry for around 30 years. I'm currently working in the D&I team which sits under the wider HR team. My remit is to come up with a portfolio of programmes to help encourage young people not only to engage with the FT, but to also consider the FT as a place of work. Our programmes include, workshops, work experience, FT News School and outreach. We work with marginalised young people in alignment with our D&I strategy around recruitment goals, i.e. ethnicity, disability, social mobility, etc.
What was your first role at the FT? What motivated you to join?
My first role at the FT was within the commercial team, the Executive Appointments team, where I was lured to work by the then MD (Steve Playford). Steve promised me a life of ease and luxury! All lies.... Joking aside, returning to the media industry was like coming home.
What moves have you made within the FT, whether that’s across your team, to other departments, or geographically?
I started in Executive Appointments as Head of Client Services, moved to Global Head of Client Services and Data Publishing, then moved over to D&I Partner, within the HR team. So I switched from commercial to HR. All these roles were based in London.
Why did you decide to go for a promotion or change?
My first switch to Head of Client Services was a bigger role, more challenging, it was a global role and introduced a new team, Data Publishing. A tempting role to apply for! I was lucky enough to get the role and stayed in that position for around four years. As part of that role, as a bit of a side hustle, I started to work more and more with young people from charities such as Mencap, this then became my passion. When a new D&I team was being set up, a role as D&I Early Careers partner came up... doing all the things I loved but full time! So, combining the company I loved with the role I loved.... Win-Win!.
How has the FT helped you develop or progress in your role or in your career?
I've always been encouraged by various line managers to follow my passion, and I have always encouraged my team to do likewise. Sideways moves, secondments and tasters are readily available at the FT and I would recommend everyone to take advantage of them. But for me the support and encouragement of my line manager was upmost.
What FT project are you most excited to work on now?
Financial Times News School. Now in its fifth year! At the moment we are running the News School summer internships, hybrid work experiences, in-house workshops and lots of outreach.... I'm excited for all of the above. Plus we have a couple of really exciting programmes on the horizon! More details to follow soon!
Can you share one of the most memorable projects that you have been involved in within D&I and how it impacted the FT?
The FT News School of course… but also the Kickstart programme. This involved 14 departments all around the FT. We recruited a total of 43 young interns who joined us for six months. The scheme was so successful that we ended up employing over 50 percent of these wonderful young people, many of whom are still here today. Really helping to diversify our talent pipeline.
What do you consider to be your biggest achievement in your career within D&I?
I think what makes me most proud and humble at the same time is walking through the building and bumping into amazing, inspirational young people who have joined the FT through our D&I early career programmes. I’m also really proud that the Early Careers Programmes won the “Pioneer of the Year” Award at the RIDI awards for the work we are doing with young people with disabilities around employability skills.
Waking up each day and knowing I will be meeting young people, who have a passion and a story to tell is the biggest privilege of all. And if we can go some way in helping them to not only achieve their dreams but at the same time offering the FT the opportunity to employ the best of the best from this wonderful group of diverse young talented individuals then this is a wonderful balance and privilege.
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