5 Weeks Down, 1 Year To Go!
Our Summer Internship Overview - TBEN Ambassadors
By Adanna Anele
TBEN’s pilot ambassador programme is in full swing! We’ve just wrapped up the five-week internship which was the first stage of the programme, and now we’re gearing up for the year ahead working with TBEN in our universities. Our mission? To empower university students to lead the change in diversity and inclusion within economics
Let’s get you up to speed with what we’ve been up to so far!
Insight Days
To Start… Exploring Think Tanks at the Resolution Foundation
The insight day with the Resolution Foundation, marked our first encounters with a think tank. We were lucky enough to sit in on a research meeting with their team, and what immediately stood out was the collaborative atmosphere. The team was remarkably open to feedback, fostering a space where ideas flowed freely. We got a behind-the-scenes look at how their reports evolve from initial research to final execution. One of the highlights was attending a seminar by Oxford University Lecturer Irem Guceri, who explored the controversial topic of “Taxing the rich (more)”.
Getting Hands-On at Deloitte
Our next stop was the renowned Deloitte, where we were warmly welcomed by the Economic Advisory team. The highlight of this day was diving into a case study on evaluating the economic impact of the Olympic Games. This hands-on session pushed us to think on our feet, as we developed presentations to explain how we quantified the impact. It was a perfect introduction to what it means to work at a Big 4 firm, making the complex world of consulting a bit less mysterious.
(Last but not least!) Meeting our mentors at the Bank of England
The Bank of England has partnered with TBEN to provide mentorship to all ambassadors. Our day at the Bank was an incredible opportunity to meet our mentors and gain a deeper understanding of their day-to-day roles. We also got to explore the vital functions of key teams, including Monetary Analysis, the International Directorate, and Financial Stability Strategy and Risk (FSSR). It was an eye-opening experience that left us with a better grasp of how these teams contribute to the stability of the economy.
Workshops
Rethinking and Decolonising Economics
We engaged in interactive workshops led by the amazing people at “decolonising economics" and ‘Rethinking Economics’. These sessions empowered us to think of ways in which we can “decolonise, decarbonise & diversify” economics. We were encouraged to challenge traditional economic theories and expand the idea of what studying economics could look like to include interdisciplinary ideologies and diversify the context in which we learn economics both in and out of the educational system.
Project Management
From day one, we were set up for success with a toolkit of strategies designed to help us get the most out of our internship experience. During our first week, we engaged in a workshop focused on goal-setting and project planning. We explored various techniques like time-blocking, where we learned to structure our day for maximum productivity, the Eisenhower matrix for prioritising tasks based on urgency and importance, and Gantt charts for visual project timelines. Setting and visualising SMART goals became second nature to us. Of course, everyone works differently, so we tailored these tools to fit our individual styles. This ensured that we could each approach our tasks in the most effective way possible.
Effective Communication and Decision Making
In a captivating workshop led by Dil Sidhu, Head of Business School at Birkbeck, University of London, we learned about the “The Science of Influence & Persuasion.” This session was a game-changer! It equipped us with practical steps to communicate effectively with diverse audiences and build a strong network. We learned how to apply key principles like reciprocity, scarcity, authority, liking, and commitment—core concepts that can make or break our ability to influence others. For those interested in digging deeper, there’s an insightful paper from the Harvard Business Review that expands on these principles. This workshop enhanced our communication skills and gave us the confidence to apply these strategies in real-world scenarios
Presentations
‘Be the Chancellor’ policy debate
The excitement didn’t end there. We played a game of ‘Be the Chancellor’ where we were tasked with tackling some of today’s most pressing economic challenges. Paired up as Vice Chancellors and Prime Ministers, we engaged in spirited debates on issues like wealth inequality, climate change, and housing. This exercise opened our eyes to the complexities of policy-making. We quickly learned that setting a budget or implementing a policy is no easy feat. To make the experience even more immersive, we used the Institute for Fiscal Studies’ ‘Be the Chancellor’ tool to adjust the budget in real-time. Our efforts were judged by the incredible economists at the Resolution Foundation, who gave us valuable feedback and insight into the intricacies of economic decision-making.
Prominent Black Economists
Can you name up to seven Black economists? If your answer is yes, that’s absolutely amazing. If not, neither could we at the beginning of this internship. Each ambassador had the chance to research and deliver a presentation on a Black economist of their choice. This was an opportunity to draw inspiration from trailblazers like Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, George Ayittey, and Lisa Cook, who have made significant contributions to the field of economics. This activity highlighted the often overlooked but influential work of Black economists, sparking new ideas and perspectives among us.
Now that you're up to speed, be sure to follow our ambassadors on their exciting journey throughout the year, and stay tuned to see what they get up to next!
