Whilst our business partners choose to take part in our programme for a number of different reasons - whether it be learning and development, employee wellbeing, or social impact - they all leave with one common feeling: a deep sense of reward and having done something good for the next generation. Anna Calcagno, Senior Manager People & Talent at Zaha Hadid Architects, chats with us about why becoming a volunteer coach is something she will cherish forever.
Tell us about your partnership with Future Frontiers.
Taking part in this programme has allowed Zaha Hadid Architects to join Future Frontiers in their mission to break the inequality cycle in the UK. This is particularly important for us because Zaha Hadid herself, our founder, always believed in the potential of young talent and was a mentor to so many people.
“Watching our coaching relationships blossom into something really valuable was such a wonderful feeling for us.”
Working with Future Frontiers was fantastic from a corporate social responsibility perspective of course, because it really made us all feel like we were doing something great and having a positive impact in our communities - but also from a team bonding perspective it was such a great initiative. We all shared the initial fear of dealing with teenagers who some of us were not used to, then watching our coaching relationships blossom into something really valuable was such a wonderful feeling for us.
What impact does Future Frontiers create for young people and coaches?
Future Frontiers works really hard in making sure that they can translate your collaboration with them into results. You’ll have access to impact reports with stats like career readiness and you’ll really be able to see the difference in the perception of these students readiness for a career from the beginning of the programme and how it has changed.
“Ife said she would have done it forever… and I felt exactly the same.”
How did you find your time as a volunteer coach?
The best moment for me was when my student gave me a thank you card at the end of the programme. The card said that she would have done it forever and I felt exactly the same, so I think that was a very rewarding moment in the programme and one that I will cherish forever!
Are you part of a forward-thinking business who is ready to take part in a skills-based volunteering initiative which has a proven impact on the young people involved? Get in touch with us!
“Future Frontiers works really hard in making sure that they can translate your collaboration with them into results.”
Anna Calcagno, Senior Manager, People & Talent, Zaha Hadid Architects
