Cayman Finance hosted its annual LEAD Celebration event at Hotel Indigo on Monday, 2 Sept., to recognise the achievements of 40 students who successfully completed this year’s student internship programme.
LEAD, which stands for Learn, Educate, Apply, and Develop, is a professional development programme, organised by Cayman Finance, for Caymanian students in their final years of high school.
Its aim is to introduce students to the various careers in the financial services industry and provide the tools and mentorship to prepare them for the world of work.
The students began the programme in May with a series of eight weekly workshops and one-to-one mentorship sessions with financial services professionals. Between July and August, the students completed four-week internships at Cayman Finance member firms.
Dual enrolment Clifton Hunter and UCCI student Ashley Ebanks said the Cayman Finance LEAD programme was a valuable learning experience for her.
“The interactive workshops and great mentorship prepared me effectively for my internship. I have made great connections with professionals and enhanced my soft skills. This experience has positively advanced my career journey,” she added.
St. Ignatius student Samiah Walrond, who also successfully completed the programme, said, “The Cayman Finance LEAD program is one of the best programmes I have ever participated in. Not only are you able to learn about the different career paths within the financial industry of the Cayman Islands, you are also able to network and make meaningful connections within the business world.”
She said: “I built a closer relationship with my mentor and I’m so grateful to the programme for introducing us, as I don’t feel restricted to talk to her only about school and academics but I can share personal details as well. The work experience portion was also such a positive experience for me as not only did I make friends with the employees of the business I worked at but also with the other interns that worked there.”
Dr. Dax Basdeo, chief officer in the Ministry of Financial Services, in his remarks, said LEAD is one of the programmes supported each year by the ministry because of the impact it has on students.
“Young Caymanians pursuing a career in financial services are incredibly important to our future success,” Basdeo said, reminding students that the industry depends not just on traditional finance and insurance roles but a wide range of disciplines and interests such as IT, business analysis, marketing and communications.
Adrian Jones, acting deputy chief officer from the Ministry of Education, told students: “Completing the Cayman Finance LEAD programme is a remarkable achievement, demonstrative of your dedication, hard work, and commitment to excellence. Your commitment to professional growth is truly inspiring.”
