As Marina explained, the placement is about far more than watching someone answer emails for two days: "HFL supports the IoD shadowing programme because it's gives students a genuine insight into the world of business and leadership. We hoped Grace and Ethan would see the breadth of opportunities within our industry, from client facing to operational roles, and would learn that a successful career is about much more than technical knowledge.  It's about relationships, communication, problem-solving and teamwork."

Juggling more than meetings

For Grace, the biggest surprise was just how much Abbie has on her plate at any one time. "I can’t believe how many different tasks she has to balance throughout the day, alongside calls and meetings," she said. Ethan noticed something similar shadowing Marina, "despite a full schedule of meetings, she still made time for anyone who needed her help."

It turns out the experience was revealing for the directors too. "It definitely made us step back and look at our days differently," Abbie reflected. "When you're busy, you move from one meeting or decision to the next without really thinking about it, but having someone shadowing us highlighted just how varied the role is and how much collaboration takes place across different teams and disciplines."

An open-door culture

Both students were struck by how approachable HFL's leadership is. Grace hadn't expected to see "how open [Abbie] is to other members of staff coming to ask questions or talk things through" - noting that everyone at HFL seems to treat each other as equals. Ethan echoed this, describing the office as lively, with Marina staying closely involved in what everyone is working on and supporting them where needed.

This is no accident. "It's very much a deliberate approach," said Marina. "Some of the best ideas, questions and solutions come from unexpected places, and we believe people do their best work when they feel comfortable speaking up. Whatever someone's role or level of experience, they should feel that their views are valued and that they can ask questions without hesitation. This approach really drives our culture and supports career progression."

Changing how they see the industry

Both students said the experience shifted their perspective on a career in finance. Grace found it gave her "a greater insight" into the reality of working as a director in the industry. Ethan left with a completely different perspective on the industry. Before the placement, he viewed finance as a single career path. Spending time at HFL showed him there are countless teams, specialisms and opportunities within one business, each requiring different skills and offering different experiences. "It's made the industry much more appealing," he said.

Abbie and Marina's advice to students weighing up a career in finance backs this up: "Remain curious and be open to opportunities you may not have considered before. When we were at school, we certainly weren't aware of the breadth of careers available within finance. Whilst technical knowledge is important, qualities such as building relationships, communicating effectively, and being willing to keep learning are what really help you progress. The best careers often come from following opportunities that spark your interest rather than sticking rigidly to a plan."

Advice that will stay with them

Asked for the best advice they picked up, Grace pointed to Abbie's message about accountability: "Own the decisions you make as a director and don't hide behind others." Ethan took away something about equality in leadership from Marina. He noticed that in meetings, "it wasn't only Marina talking; everyone was sharing their ideas and listening to each other."

And the learning went both ways. "Grace and Ethan asked thoughtful questions and showed a genuine interest in understanding how the business works, which was refreshing," Abbie said. "It reminded us that things we see as part of our everyday routine can be completely new and interesting to someone else and it reinforced the importance of taking time to explain not just what we do, but why we do it. It was a rewarding experience for us, both personally and professionally."

The experience highlighted the value of opening the workplace to the next generation, giving students a genuine understanding of leadership while reminding HFL's own leaders of the importance of curiosity, communication and investing in future talent.

If you're interested in a role at HFL, please visit our careers page.