At The Girls’ Network, we know that mentoring has the power to unlock potential, break down invisible barriers, and inspire young women to claim their space in the professional world. As the phrase goes, "you can't be what you can't see" and having access to relatable role models is often the first step toward big ambitions.

We are thrilled to feature a recent speech by one of our incredible Ambassadors, Dhruvisha. She recently attended an event at BlackRock to share how her mentoring journey shaped her confidence, her education, and her career goals. Below, you can read her inspiring words in full as well as some feedback from the BlackRock team.

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"One of the things that helped most was seeing women in leadership"

"I’m Dhruvisha, and I’m currently an Ambassador at The Girls’ Network. Before that, I was a mentee, so I’ve experienced the programme from both sides.

When I was in sixth form, I often didn't know what room to walk into. There were so many different paths and opportunities, and I wasn't always sure where I belonged. Looking back, one of the things that helped most was seeing women in leadership.

What I found inspiring was seeing women in senior positions and noticing how they lead conversations and how they support each other. It adds resilience because it makes you feel there is a foundation of support to lean on when doing something scary for the first time, like giving a speech at BlackRock today!

It makes you feel like, 'Oh, that could be me one day.' It drives ambition and pushes young women to put themselves forward.

I've learnt that confidence can also come after you've had the conversation or applied for the opportunity. You do not always have to feel completely ready before stepping into the room.

This confidence, resilience, and support is what mentorship can provide for young women.

As someone with a speech impairment as well, it was difficult to understand that my voice deserved to be heard. It made me think about the invisible barriers that young women face. I'm sure many of you in the audience have experienced that in different ways too.

That's why mentorship can provide confidence, resilience, and support in ways you may not even expect.

I also believe the impact of mentorship is not limited to a first job. It continues throughout a woman's career, helping her navigate situations at work, go for promotions, and advocate for herself.

I first joined The Girls’ Network while studying for my A-levels. At the time, I had lots of interests but didn’t really understand how different careers worked or how people got into them. A lot of career advice can feel vague, especially when you don’t already know people in those industries.

I was matched with my mentor, Emily, who worked at the Home Office. What I appreciated most was how practical her support was. She helped me with my personal statement, introduced me to people in areas I was interested in, and gave me advice on managing my time and priorities.

Those conversations made university and career decisions feel much less overwhelming.

Sometimes mentors don't need to provide the perfect career advice for a certain field. Instead, they help you realise that you are allowed to take up space in it.

Seeing women in leadership does not just help young women imagine entering the room. It helps them imagine staying in the room, growing in the room, and eventually leading the room.

Because when young women can see women leading, hear about their experiences, and know there is support available, it becomes easier to walk into the room, even before feeling completely ready.

I’ve studied PPE (Philosophy, Politics and Economics) at King’s College London while working part-time alongside my degree. Before university, I attended Wembley High Technology College and finished in 2022.

Over the last few years, I’ve become especially interested in policy, finance, data, and AI. I’m interested in how decisions are made behind the scenes, whether that’s a government department developing policy, a financial institution managing risk, or a company thinking about how to use AI responsibly.

Through The Girls’ Network, I’ve also attended events that helped me explore these interests further, including the Female Founders event for International Women’s Day 2026, an Insurance Careers Day, and a Mott MacDonald Insight Day. These experiences gave me exposure to industries I previously knew very little about.

I’m currently exploring opportunities in policy and related fields, and I had an interview this morning, so hopefully there’s more to come. The Girls’ Network has been instrumental in shaping those interests, and I’m proud to now support the organisation as an ambassador.

Thank you."

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A huge thank you to Dhruvisha for sharing her journey so powerfully and articulately. Her reminder that confidence often comes after we take a leap, and that mentoring helps young women "stay, grow, and lead in the room," is so powerful. We are also deeply grateful to Ellie Tinto and the team at BlackRock for inviting us along to talk about our mission, and providing a platform for our ambassadors to share their voices. 

Ellie Tinto, Chair of the WIN Philanthropy Committee in London, said:

WINs’ partnership with The Girls’ Network is rooted in a shared commitment to inspire and empower the next generation of young women. Hosting the Autumn Mentoring programme Kickoff in our offices, and hearing about its impact directly from previous participants, reinforced the importance of creating spaces where young people can see new possibilities for their future. We are proud to support a partnership that creates meaningful connections and helps expand young people’s aspirations.