Two minutes with…Yayah Kamara

Tell us a little about yourself.

My name is Yayah Kamara, my family is from Sierra Leone, and I attend Westminster City School. I am taking A-levels in economics, mathematics and business studies, and I would like to study accounting and finance at university.

In my free time, I like to keep myself active by either playing basketball and other sports or going to the gym. I am also studying for a Level 2 gym qualification.

Why did you choose to do your work experience here at MRM?

I chose to do my work experience at MRM because after completing the six-week education programme, it opened my eyes to the broad range of careers within the financial services industry – whether that’s from the likes of financial planning to insurance broking.

Additionally, I saw the positive environment MRM fosters through the way it was hosted. I also thought it would really help me narrow down my future career path.

What did you take away from your time here at MRM?

Over the two weeks I worked at MRM, I was able to gain and strengthen essential skills and knowledge about finance that I think will be transferable across any career path.

I was able to learn a lot through the research I did during the internship, too. For example, during one exercise I looked into AI bias and uncovered causes of discrimination.

I discovered that in the US, some healthcare AI systems have been reported to underestimate the needs of Black patients due to differences in payment data used to train their models.

This highlighted the importance of risk assessment as it showed me that AI, whilst a powerful tool, can still make harmful mistakes if not monitored and managed correctly.

What accomplishments are you most proud of and why?

One of the accomplishments I am most proud of is being shortlisted for Westminster City School’s Polar Capital Aspirational Scheme, as it shows how my enthusiasm and dedication for the financial services industry has been recognised by other people.

I am also proud of winning my 800 meters event during sports day. Before the race, I did have some confidence I could win, but I still had my doubts. However, when I started running, I focused on maintaining a fast but manageable pace and winning taught me the importance of staying composed and giving your best under pressure.

Do you think it’s important for young people to learn about the importance of money and if so, why?

Definitely. Building financial literacy early is crucial as it is key to making informed decisions about spending, saving and investment.

I’ve seen firsthand how poor financial literacy can lead to stressful situations that could have been avoided by not missing opportunities to save or invest.

Learning these skills early gives young people the ability to manage their money effectively as they grow into adulthood, which I think is highly beneficial.

What do you think financial services PR is?

At first, I was under the impression that financial services PR was just promotion for companies.

However, now taking part in MRM’s six week education programme and spending two weeks in the office, I have realised it’s about more than that.

Providing clear communication, gaining trust with clients, and maintaining a company’s reputation – especially during challenging periods – were what I saw financial services PR to be about by the end of the internship. 

What are your future life/career goals?

After completing the University of Bath’s Pathway to Bath Programme and visiting the university, my goal is to study a degree there for accounting and finance.

I want to continue gaining valuable experiences and prepare for a career in financial services, and no matter what path I take, I would like to make a positive impact in the industry and show that anyone can succeed no matter their background.