Students meet industry leaders in accounting, banking and finance at Beyond the Classroom roundtable event.

Nottingham University Business School recently hosted Beyond the Classroom, a careers-focused roundtable event organised by the Finance, Accounting, and Banking Department. The session brought together selected students and leading professionals from accounting, banking, finance, and entrepreneurship to explore career pathways, current industry challenges, and the skills needed to succeed in a fast‑moving global workforce.

The event was led by Dr Hang Le (Head of the Finance, Accounting, and Banking Department) and Dr Rong Huang (Assistant Professor in Finance and Departmental External Engagement Director), who welcomed a panel of industry experts representing a diverse range organisations and specialisms.

Professor David Park, Dean of Nottingham University Business School, opened the event and highlighted the value of these opportunities:

Congratulations to the amazing students here in the room. You’ve all worked incredibly hard to achieve the academic results that mean you are here today, and your commitment is greatly appreciated. Keep going, stay curious, and make the most of this opportunity. My sincere thanks also to our external guests, alumni and business partners for giving their time so generously to support our students and help them understand a little more about the world of work and how they could be a part of it.

Industry experts

Selected students had the opportunity to hear from and speak directly with professionals representing organisations across the financial and business industry during the roundtable. Some of these experts were alumni or already contribute to the Business School, helping ensure our students gain valuable industry insights and opportunities to collaborate with practitioners who enrich their university experience.

Organisations attending included:

Cadro

Jordan Buck - Co-founder and President. University of Nottingham alumnus and Professor of Practice at the Business School.

Nomura Europe Holdings plc

David Godfrey - Non-Executive Chair, Board Advisor

Irwell Insurance Company

Mohammed Ismail - Risk Analyst

Obu Invest

Sarah King - CEO and Co-Founder and signatory of the Charter of inclusive entrepreneurship, External Advisory Board member and Global Advisory Board member

Capital One

Jack Lincoln - Financial Analysis Manager

Krissy Waite - Head of UK Accounting and Reporting and a University of Nottingham alumnus

British Business Bank

Natalie Gasson-McKinley - Senior Manager, Policy and Strategy

Ernst & Young

Matthew Wilcox - Partner

A business partner, Mohammed Ismail from Irwell Insurance Company, commented on his experience:

I really enjoyed the event. The students were engaged, asked thoughtful questions, and made the conversations interesting and productive. It was also great to see students from different programmes bringing a range of perspectives. The roundtable format created a relaxed environment that encouraged open, meaningful discussion.

A valuable learning opportunity

Student-focused events such as Beyond the Classroom form a key part of the Business School’s commitment to connecting academic learning with real-world practice. By bringing students together with professionals at the forefront of their industries, these events help to build career confidence, broaden perspectives, create opportunities and support informed decision-making.

Participating student Marco DiFilippo reflected on his experience:

I gained an insight into the importance of becoming proficient in technical skills that may not be directly related to the job, such as coding in Python. However, it was also stressed that good communication, confidence, and the development of soft skills are important and can take you a long way.

I enjoyed speaking to the professionals as peers and hearing about their perspectives and stories. I’ll be putting much of their advice into practice and have already implemented it into my CV and job search strategies.

Shape your future with our courses and industry networks

Find out what it’s like to study with us and become part of our vibrant, diverse community: Study at Nottingham University Business School

You can also hear from our alumni and find out where their careers have taken them: Alumni case studies