Hear from our FT Talent Ambassadors
FT Talent hosts an FT Talent Ambassador Program, open to former FT Talent Challenge participants. FT Talent Ambassadors are a key voice of FT Talent, and are invited to collaborate for multiple internal projects, and promote campaigns throughout the year to represent FT Talent and the Financial Times to their communities.
Maksim Shymanovich
Hear from Maksim Shymanovich, a digital technology expert with extensive knowledge in e-commerce and digital finance, a former FT Talent Challenger, and FT Talent Ambassador since 2021.
We had the opportunity to interview Maksim about his journey at FT Talent and his experience with our community.
What is your experience with FT Talent?
I have been an active member of the FT Talent Community for over two years now. During this time, I have participated in several events and initiatives, including the FTxBocconi and FTxSDG Challenges. I have also served as a mentor and ambassador, helping to organize events and assisting new members during their journeys at FT Talent. Lastly, I had the privilege to work at FT Talent on a part-time basis, with the goal of developing a corporate incubator (FT Talent x European Innovation Council) to foster innovation within the company and expand its presence in the CEMEA region. The project was later presented to the Head of Business Development at FT alongside her team.
What were your key takeaways from the FT Talent Challenges?
The FTxBocconi and FTxSDG challenges were both incredible experiences. During the FTxBocconi event, my team and I developed a policy proposal aimed at positioning France as a digital technology leader in the ‘digital economy and society’ across all EU member states. We came first within our group and became finalists, which was quite challenging, considering the FTxBocconi event had 2100 initial talented applicants from all over the world - the probability of reaching the finals is 1.7%.
In the FTxSDG Challenge, we focused on supporting Nigeria's economic situation based on the 'Decent Jobs and Economic Growth Sustainable Development Goal' guidelines. Our team's solution was well-received, and we received positive feedback from the selection committee on the proposal's potential impact. The challenges taught me the importance of collaboration, innovation, and the potential impact that can be achieved through teamwork.
How would you describe the FT Talent Community?
The FT Talent Community is a global network of talented individuals who are passionate about innovation and growth. It's a community that provides opportunities to connect with like-minded professionals, learn from industry leaders, and collaborate on exciting projects. It's a place where members can expand their skills and knowledge, while making meaningful connections with people from all over the world. I feel grateful to be a part of this community and I'm excited to see what new initiatives and events FT Talent will organize in the future.
What is your favourite part about being an FT Talent Ambassador?
My favourite part is the opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals from all over the world. It's been amazing to work with such a diverse group of talented people, all focused on driving innovation and growth in their respective fields. I have learned so much from the other members, and I'm honoured to be a part of this community.
Chiachun (Kimber) Hsieh
Kimber is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Sustainability Entrepreneurship and Innovation at ESCP. She was a FTxBocconi 2022 Challenger, and received 2nd place for the winning team, and has been a FT Talent Ambassador since 2022.
What is your experience with FT Talent?
I learnt about FT Talent from the FTxBocconi Challenge in 2022 when I was applying for a master programme in Europe. I felt a strong sense of “community” not only because we have the chance to exchange ideas with like-minded individuals but because we met various industry leaders, experts, alumni who were all more than willing to share their experiences. After the challenge, I had the chance to be featured on the first episode of The Talent Show - a podcast created by FT Talent - and posed questions to Algebris CEO Davide Serra. In October 2022, I also had the privilege to participate in the FT Talent Alumni Night with which we were provided with a great chance to network with more than 100 talents across all challenges. Lastly, I became the FT Ambassador in 2022 and have been using multiple social media platforms such as Instagram and YouTube to share my journey with FT Talent.
What were your key takeaways from the FT Talent Challenges?
FTxBocconi Challenge 2022 was a memorable experience despite being held online. Our team proposed a sustainable, holistic strategy that prevents and responds to potential health threats through digital technologies, scientific discoveries and cross-sector collaborations for Nigeria. Since our teammates are from all around the world, I have observed the different thinking logic to solve the challenge. It was not easy at the beginning to share my opinions because we are not used to speaking up in my culture. Nonetheless, I slowly realise that there are no right or wrong answers and exchanging perspectives is how innovation might occur. On a personal level, it encourages me to push myself out of my comfort zone and appreciate my personal value. It was a valuable experience to cooperate with multicultural background individuals which also taught me to respect and listen to other ideas.
How would you describe the FT Talent Community?
FT Talent Community is like “a big family”, a family that would provide resources to support you building your dream. During the “family reunion”, you have opportunities to exchange your current achievements with your “ family members”. You feel safe to share your opinions and ask your “relatives” for suggestions in all sorts of career development. Or you might develop several disruptive, innovative ideas with your “siblings” to shape a better future. I feel proud and honoured to be in this family where I am able to contribute value to family name and reputation.
What is your favourite part about being an FT Talent Ambassador?
I would say the part where I get to promote and share about initiatives, events, or opportunities supported by FT Talent. Around 5 years ago when I started my bachelor degree which was a rather bold decision for most Taiwanese at that time, I have been influencing a lot of students to pursue their dreams fearlessly. Comments like: this was a life changing decision and thanks to your courageous move has also motivated me to share more high quality chances to people who wanted to challenge their limits as well as jumping out of their comfort zone and see more of the world.
Therefore, being FT Talent ambassador allows me to have the credibility and share amazing self-challenges to pursue further in life and it also builds a community where individuals are not in rivalry against each other but in alliance to shape a better future altogether.
Enrique Fernandez Zeka
Enrique is a young creative, currently pursuing a career in the Advertising Industry, specialising in the Fashion & Luxury Sectors.
Based in London, Enrique participated in the FT x Bocconi 2022 Challenge, whose team was awarded with a special mention for ‘thinking outside the box’. He has been an FT Talent Ambassador ever since.
What is your experience with FT Talent?
I remember I initially applied to the Bocconi Challenge because my Programme Leader at University encouraged all of us to do so. I applied without knowing very well what was expected from me - everything seemed so new that I thought I wouldn’t stand a chance.
Fast-forward a couple of months after applying and I got the surprising news that I got in!
I remember being thrilled as this symbolised a novel opportunity for me, something different and exciting, yet, I knew I had to put my ‘business’ helmet on and activate my left - analytical side of the brain for the longevity of the challenge.
Once the challenge started I was amazed by the different profiles that contributed to it, especially with people who were involved in the industry I was studying; Francesca Belletini - CEO of Saint Laurent & Silvio Campara - CEO of Golden Goose. This made me think about how present the luxury world is in our daily lives and how such powerful personalities were involved in nurturing young talent.
After the Talent finished, I had the great privilege of becoming an Intern for the team: understanding all of the strategy involved behind each FT Talent edition, contacting potential clients, helping in building a community and developing the image we wanted to portray.
This helped me in developing my career and jumping into Luxury Advertising at the FT - I saw the opportunity and had the luck to get it!
I had the pleasure of contributing to a couple of episodes from the ‘The talent Show’ by the hand of Paola Chillo on season 1 and most recently Jo Ellison - HTSI Editor, hosted by the wonderful Virginia Stagni.
Our mutual contribution never ceases to stop and I’m always excited for the future!
What were your key takeaways from the FT Talent Challenges?
I’d summarise my takeaways in 3 words:
Ambition, creativity & companionship.
The team has to have a powerful drive in order to succeed and we all had to be on the same page - that’s why the ambition factor was detrimental for us.
In spite of being a strategic challenge, we should never forget the creative side to it - It can arrive when delivering the pitches, brainstorming something disruptive (according to your challenge area, ours was entertainment), enhancing the visuals, the critical thought behind the idea… I believe it was precisely creativity that got us the special mention for ‘thinking outside the box’.
Finally companionship - a clear example is that you don’t have to be a winner in order to be remembered, as long as your team is supportive of everyone’s ideas, you can manage to create something completely unique, and that's what we managed to do. Shoutout to Team 3B!
How would you describe the FT Talent Community?
I believe the FT Talent community is diverse. There’s nothing more enriching in this world than diversity, especially when it comes to the people.
The profiles you find are so different and so special that it’s interesting to see how other people’s ideas involve your thinking & viceversa.
Passion is what unites us in this particular hackathon experience and it’s that same feeling that binds us one with the other.
Meeting up in person on the FT Talent nights is a very special opportunity to see everyone breaching the digital screen and finally meeting in person, getting to know one another in a human way, leaving strategy behind, introducing the social desire of meeting new people.
What is your favourite part about being an FT Talent Ambassador?
I love the work that the FT Talent team does, I’m a true believer that education is the ultimate tool we have to succeed.
All of the time invested, the hours spent creating a strategy and building up a fantastic programme that is free for the under 30’s - there’s nothing more special than this!
That’s why I’m so honoured to stay in the loop with them as an ambassador, because they empower us so much that it’s a delight being in contact with them, appreciating what they do and acting as a mediator to hopefully inspire more people to join this unique community.
Go FT Talent!
