Launched in 2018, RaiseYou is an award winning, outcomes-focused Diversity & Inclusion programme supporting KPMG UK’s Financial Services Consulting practice. It is a 12-month programme that provides career development support to a selected group of colleagues with diverse characteristics, with the aim of creating to create an inclusive and diverse environment with inspiring leaders and an empowered pipeline of high potential diverse talent.
RaiseYou focuses on a series of practical interventions, delivered in conjunction with UNIDA, a specialist diversity and inclusion consulting firm. This includes bespoke 1:1 and group mentoring, a calendar of developmental-focused events and an extensive programme of work to address specific career blockers identified by women and minority ethnic colleagues.
Noeleen Cowley, founder of the RaiseYou programme and Partner in KPMG Financial Services says, “When I launched the programme there was a lack of awareness around the barriers some women were facing in the sector. We wanted to help them overcome these, so they had an equal opportunity to progress and succeed in senior leadership roles.”
Since its launch, RaiseYou has supported over 180 colleagues to achieve their career ambitions, with 100% of shortlisted candidates in the 2022 Senior Cohort going on to achieve a promotion that year. When asked at the start of the programme, only 28% of participants had a formal career sponsor in place, but this had increased to 93% by the end.
RaiseYou has been recognised by the Financial Services industry, winning the Women in Banking and Finance award for Best Diversity and Inclusion Innovation in November 2022. KPMG has also recognised it as being a key driver in helping the firm increase female representation and create a more inclusive culture, with Bina Mehta, KPMG UK chair commenting that RaiseYou has been “instrumental in shifting the dial on gender equality at KPMG.”
Now in its fourth year, the programme continues to shape the career journeys of talented female colleagues and has since been expanded to support colleagues from ethnic minority backgrounds. The ambition is to build on this success and expand the programme across both the UK firm and global KPMG network, as well as increasing both alumni and client engagement to build a community driving diversity and inclusion across the firm and wider financial services industry.
Mita Dave, Programme Lead and Partner in KPMG Financial Services, adds “The programme has supported so many women at all levels - seeing these women grow in confidence and take charge of their personal and career goals has been enlightening and rewarding. Leadership is stepping up, taking accountability, and gaining tangible results – why? - because of RaiseYou’s contribution.”