Aria is a multilingual Economics undergraduate at the University of Southampton, fluent in English and Japanese. Having lived and studied in Japan, Switzerland, and the UK, she has developed a nuanced understanding of how language can bridge cultures and foster meaningful connections. Her passion lies in the intersection of global communication and finance, where she aspires to build a career that transcends borders and supports diverse, international clients.

Britney is an Economics undergraduate currently on placement gaining valuable insights into logistic real estate. She is passionate about driving social mobility within the built environment, ensuring the sector reflects the diversity of the communities it serves. Beyond real estate, she runs a hair-braiding business alongside her studies and is in the process of launching events to support children in care with identity-affirming resources.

Elena is pursuing a career change from fine arts to engineering. Her career change began in 2020 when she faced health challenges which led to disability. She looked for a career where she could still be creative, one that was possible to do from a desk. Engineering seemed like a possibility, and she hasn't looked back!

Eshaan is a Physics student at Imperial College London, who is passionate about using science to tackle complex global challenges. Thrilled to have been selected, after missing out on being a finalist in 2023, he hopes his journey inspires others to persevere and use science to drive positive change. Interesting facts on Eshaan: he is fluent in multiple languages, has been playing guitar for nearly a decade, and was a Taekwon-do National Champion at the age of 16!

Gabriela is a mathematics undergraduate at the University of Manchester with a strong interest in programming. She took some time away from her studies after a difficult personal experience but came back with a stronger mindset and a drive to rebuild her confidence. Since then, she’s thrown herself into making the most of every opportunity, from being on a Student Leadership Board and speaking on a panel to 300+ employers, to co-founding a society to strengthen the Albanian community in Manchester. She also tutors disadvantaged students weekly through The Access Project, hoping to inspire confidence in others.

Isabelle is a second-year Actuarial Science student at Queen Mary University of London with a strong passion for mathematics that has grown since childhood. She is eager to gain hands-on experience in the professional world and take full advantage of opportunities that allow her to develop skills and grow as an aspiring actuary. Isabelle is driven, curious, and always looking to learn more about the field and its real-world applications. Outside of academics, she enjoys reading classic literature and watching anime!

James is following a less conventional style degree with no lectures and no exams, focused instead on self-led learning. It encourages students to go out into the professional world and learn by setting up and running different styles of ventures. These can be anything from a 6-a-side football league to a recruitment firm. The course has helped James build his professional network and gain experience and insights that he would not obtain from a normal degree.

Driven and resilient, Lani is a second-year Real Estate Finance student at the University of Reading who ambitiously seeks opportunities for growth, evidenced by his participation in the intensive SEO London Real Estate Academy, and his work with the Reading Real Estate Foundation (RREF). As a Student Life Content Creator, Lani also demonstrates initiative in digital media. Fuelled by a growing interest in historical preservation and planning, which he will explore during his year abroad in the US, Lani is motivated to leverage 3-years of social media experience to champion social mobility within the real estate sector.

Liam is a passionate University of Glasgow Computing Science student. Captivated by technology from a young age, he has been obsessed with the field ever since and has a particularly strong interest in algorithmics, AI, and data science. Liam developed confidence, determination, and team-spirit through his decade as a competitive swimmer, qualities which enable him to embrace new challenges and experiences; working as a retail software engineer, a business analyst in a renewable energy start-up, and as Welfare Officer for the Tech Society. Recently he has been exploring machine learning for cone detection as a member of the university's autonomous racing team.

Malaika is an Engineering student at the University of Cambridge with a passion for aerospace and sustainable innovation. From designing rockets with Cambridge University Spaceflight to building particle detectors with CERN, she thrives on hands-on challenges. She is currently developing a biodegradable microplastic filtration system that aims to make a positive, real-world environmental impact. Beyond academics, she trains with the University Air Squadron, runs her own online business, and balances these pursuits as a karate black belt and Grade 8 flautist. Malaika is eager to push boundaries in aerospace while empowering more young women to pursue a career in STEM.

Muhammad is an Engineering student who is passionate about tech innovation and real-world impact. From building a Micromouse robot to exploring data analytics and fraud detection, he is always looking for challenges that push his skills further. Muhammad applied for this award despite doubting his confidence and abilities at first but took the chance to grow and step outside my comfort zone. He has found it a rewarding experience that’s given him a valuable insight into the tech industry and shown him the importance of embracing opportunities—even when they feel out of reach.

Natasha is a Mechanical Engineering student at Strathclyde University with a passion for innovation and inspiring the next generation of engineers. Awarded Scottish Engineering’s Young Engineer of the Year in 2023, she combines academic success with hands on industry experience. Natasha is Chair of the IMechE Glasgow Panel and President of the Engineering Students’ Association at Strathclyde. She’s also Chair of the Youth Advisory Board at SmartStems, working to make STEM education accessible to all.

A law student at Cambridge and founder of Get Black Into Law, Nigel is committed to breaking barriers in the legal profession. Inspired by being one of only four Black men on his course, he launched the initiative to help Black students access legal careers—securing major sponsorships and mentoring over 20 students to top universities. He has interned at three of the world’s top law firms and worked on death penalty cases in Alabama, providing pro bono support to marginalised clients. His work reflects an unwavering belief in justice, equity, and the power of representation.

Tiago is a passionate and creative future Engineer. Born in Portugal, he has called the UK home for the last 10 years. Tiago loves tackling design challenges and finding unique solutions, creating different engineered mechanics in games, fuelling his creativity and innovative mindset. He is currently, 3D printing a fast RC car for his EPQ project, merging his interests in technology and hands-on problem solving.

Zoe is a Politics and Economics student at the University of Leicester. She has a strong passion for learning new things and aspires to build a career in finance, specifically in client relations. As a neurodivergent individual, she applied for this award to celebrate the strengths that come with thinking differently and to inspire others to embrace their uniqueness. Zoe is driven, resilient and always eager to grow. Outside of academics, she enjoys playing the double bass and hockey, cooking and challenging herself both personally and professionally.