A full-circle moment at KPMG: Kelise’s story
Walking into the London KPMG office late last year, Kelise was no longer a student taking part in a careers programme, but an apprentice coming to share her experience and career tips with the next cohort – who are facing the same post-school decisions she once did.
In 2024, Kelise took part in The Talent Foundry’s Opening Doors to Opportunities programme. At the time, she still thought her future lay at university, and she was expecting to follow the well-trodden route from school to a Russell Group establishment, with little consideration of alternative pathways.
Attending TTF’s Opening Doors to Opportunities event at KPMG changed everything.
A meaningful workplace experience
At the time, Kelise hadn’t even heard of KPMG, but she knew she wanted to work in finance. The programme gave her a first-hand insight into what a career at a professional services firm could look like.
During the workshop, Kelise and her peers worked to solve problems based on real client briefs, including a task focused on improving ambulance response times. They developed and presented solutions, building confidence in problem-solving, collaboration and public speaking.
What stood out most for Kelise, however, were the people.
Volunteers from across the organisation – from senior staff to apprentices and graduates – shared honest insights into their own career journeys, spoke openly about KPMG’s culture and values and made working life feel accessible rather than intimidating. Small details, like being told you get your birthday off, made the experience feel real.
A transformational mindset shift
Being pushed outside of her comfort zone in such a supportive environment had a lasting impact on Kelise. For the first time, she could picture herself in the world of professional services.
I think it’s cool to see someone that came from the same place that you came from… I don’t have to be so daunted by it.
Back at school, her confidence grew. She began speaking in assemblies and putting herself forward in ways she never had before. The programme didn’t just introduce new career options – it changed how she saw her own potential.
Inspired by the programme experience, Kelise began proactively building her network, using platforms like LinkedIn to seek advice and interview tips. Although she still applied to and received offers from universities, the apprenticeship pathway now stood out to her. The opportunity to learn and gain workplace experience while earning money felt practical and empowering.
Opening Doors introduced Kelise to a whole new world and transformed how she viewed her future. It showed her that professional success was attainable, and that there were multiple pathways into the world of work. In the end, the apprenticeship at KPMG became her first choice.
Life at KPMG
Now an apprentice at the firm, Kelise is thriving:
I definitely think it was the best thing for me to do. I was always academic, but here you get a taste of everything and you get to talk to people, you get to learn about concepts you don’t really hear about in everyday life.
She values the professional challenges and the personal growth the role offers. “It is what you make of it,” she said, explaining how she continues to take initiative and push herself out of her comfort zone, while establishing a healthy work-life balance.
Becoming a role model for others
In a true full-circle moment, Kelise has since returned to volunteer at a TTF Opening Doors workshop, supporting students who are now facing the same uncertainty she once felt. She is determined to show them that choosing an apprenticeship isn’t something to be afraid of, and to stop imposter syndrome in its tracks.
I’m still the same girl, but an improved version – and they can do it as well.
For Kelise, the programme opened doors to countless opportunities and gave her both a clear sense of direction and the self-confidence to pursue her ambitions.
For the next five years I know where I’m going to be. I know what I’m going to do. It’s definitely given me a purpose.