Meet Adam.

He’s an associate on the Mergers and Acquisitions team within Barclays’ investment bank – but it’s been quite the journey to get here. From struggling with a speech disorder in his childhood, to accepting his sexuality in his youth, achieving an MBA at a distinguished college, and becoming an influential financial figure in navigating a challenging market due to inflation, rising interest rates, and the war in Ukraine. Now thriving in a dynamic banking career, Adam’s story testifies to the fact that overcoming the greatest adversities brings the greatest rewards.

The networking event that sparked his career.

Having recently gained his MBA, Adam jumped at the chance to attend one of Barclays’ networking events. It was here that he learnt about our diversity programmes and was keen to apply. Fearing that he’d missed his window of opportunity with the closing deadline, his prospective colleagues recognized his potential and went the extra mile to enrol him. This act of kindness showed Adam that we prioritised human connections over automated recruitment processes, and solidified his decision to choose us.

“I could be myself at Barclays, so I decided to join.”

When Adam joined us, he discovered an inclusive culture in which he could live authentically and work ambitiously. As an openly gay man, he found belonging in our LGBTQ+ support network, but he also formed bonds with people whose life experiences differed vastly from his own. From differences in gender and sexuality, to backgrounds and ethnicities, skillsets and mindsets, Adam’s diverse teammates were key to unlocking more of his potential; expanding his perspective; broadening his knowledge-base, and making work more meaningful.

Going beyond his comfort zone.

Inspired by intelligent, innovative colleagues, Adam challenged himself to stretch beyond his comfort zone. For him, this meant seizing opportunities to develop his communication skills. Having struggled with a speech disorder as a child and been through nine years of speech therapy, this was nerve-wracking. But with the support of his colleagues, he gradually gained confidence in his ability to articulate himself to a high standard.

“There are opportunities to take on leadership positions in my group that I wouldn't necessarily get in other banks.”

Nowadays, Adam shines in boardrooms, commanding the attention of CEOs, CFOs and high-level stakeholders through his exceptional communication skills. Through this growth-oriented mindset, Adam now knows that he can achieve anything he sets his mind to. You can too at Barclays.