BYP Network - Black Professionals Network

21/07/2026

Some careers follow a straight line.

Others are built through resilience, reinvention and refusing to let your circumstances define your future.

Ricky Benjamin's journey began on a council estate in West London.

From studying Mathematics at university to touring internationally as a recording artist, leading teams in retail banking, and now partnering with senior leaders at Beazley, his career is proof that where you start doesn't have to determine where you finish.

Along the way, he's championed social mobility, designed award-winning initiatives to improve career outcomes for Black colleagues, mentored hundreds of professionals, and helped organisations build more inclusive cultures.

At Insurance Unfiltered: Real Stories & Bold Career Strategies, Ricky will share the lessons he's learned about unlocking potential, navigating career progression, and creating opportunities for yourself and for others.

Sometimes the most valuable career advice doesn't come from a textbook. It comes from someone who's lived it.

Join the conversation: https://f.mtr.cool/fxracjddkr

20/07/2026

What's one thing you'll leave behind?

A habit that no longer serves you?

A mindset that has held you back?

A fear that has stopped you from taking the next step?

Growth isn't only about what we gain.

Sometimes, it's about what we're willing to let go of.

The expectations we outgrow.
The doubts we overcome.
The limits we stop placing on ourselves.

A reset isn't about starting again.

It's about creating space for what's next.

This September, join us at BYP Leadership Conference & Careers Fest 2026 as we create space for meaningful conversations, new perspectives and intentional growth.

Rest. Review. Reset.

🎟️ Secure your ticket today: https://f.mtr.cool/qisdrfboxo

What is one thing you're leaving behind as you step into your next chapter?

17/07/2026

Looking back isn't about living in the past.

It's about recognising how far you've come.

The projects that stretched you.
The conversations that changed your thinking.
The opportunities you took and the ones you didn't.

Reflection isn't a sign that you've stopped growing.

It's often where growth begins.

As people, we're constantly focused on what's next, but how often do we stop to acknowledge everything we've already learned?

This year's theme, Rest. Review. Reset., is an invitation to do exactly that.

Join us on 17 September for the BYP Leadership Conference & Careers Fest 2026 as we create space for conversations that challenge perspectives, inspire action and help shape what comes next.

🎟️ Secure your ticket: https://f.mtr.cool/jgiaoblxgn

15/07/2026

What does it take to build influence across borders, cultures, and institutions?

Careers in public affairs, diplomacy, and global engagement require strategic thinking, strong relationships, cultural awareness, and the ability to navigate complex environments with purpose.

Join BYP Channel Islands for Public Affairs, Diplomacy & Global Influence: Reflections From My Career Journey, an insightful conversation exploring leadership, representation, strategic partnerships, and navigating international career pathways.

Drawing on over 17 years of experience across diplomacy, government relations, and international development, Amanda Ife, Senior Public Affairs & International Policy Professional and former British Diplomat, will bring practical insights from a career spanning Africa, Asia, and Europe.

Event details:
↳ Date: Thursday, 16 July 2026
↳ Time: 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM GMT+1
↳ Location: Virtual

What to expect:
↳ insights into careers within public affairs and diplomacy
↳ conversations around leadership, advocacy, and global influence
↳ practical lessons on navigating international career pathways
↳ perspectives on representation and multicultural engagement

This session is designed for professionals interested in leadership, diplomacy, global engagement, and creating meaningful impact across sectors and borders.

Register now to be part of the conversation:
https://f.mtr.cool/csnbepqtsr

Share with professionals in your network who would benefit from this conversation.

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15/07/2026

When was the last time you paused?

Not because you had to.

Not because you were exhausted.

Just because you wanted to reflect.

✨ Is the career I'm building still the one I want?
✨ Am I growing, or just staying busy?
✨ What's next for me?

Life moves quickly, and it's easy to focus on what's next without taking a moment to appreciate how far you've come or where you really want to go.

This year's theme is an invitation to do exactly that.

Rest. Review. Reset.

Join us on 17 September for BYP Leadership Conference & Careers Fest 2026, where professionals at every stage of their careers will come together to connect, learn and prepare for what's next.

🎟️ Get your ticket here: https://f.mtr.cool/rfsqarywod

14/07/2026

You've done everything right.

You deliver high quality work.
You hit your targets.
You stay late when needed.
You keep your head down and let your work speak for itself.

Then promotion season comes around.

Someone else gets the opportunity.

Not because you're incapable.
Not because you didn't perform.

But because career progression isn't driven by performance alone.

For many Black professionals, that's one of the hardest lessons to learn. You can spend years mastering your role, only to realise no one ever taught you how to build visibility, find sponsors, navigate workplace politics, or position yourself for opportunities before they're advertised.

The good news? These skills can be learned.

That's exactly why we're hosting Insurance Unfiltered: Real Stories & Bold Career Strategies, in partnership with Beazley.

This isn't another webinar full of generic career advice.

It's an honest conversation with leaders who've hired talent, influenced promotion decisions, championed diverse talent, and experienced the realities of navigating corporate careers themselves.

Together, we'll explore:
✅The unwritten rules that influence career progression.
✅Why visibility matters alongside performance.
✅How sponsorship can accelerate your career.
✅Navigating workplace challenges with confidence.
✅Practical strategies you can put into practice immediately.

Because working hard should be the starting point of your career strategy not the whole strategy.

If you're ready to understand how careers really progress, we'd love to have you join us.

🎟️Register now:

What they don’t tell you about insurance: raw stories, bold career moves and the uncomfortable truths shaping who really wins.

13/07/2026

For months, every time we opened the Career Ready Accelerator, it was to build something.

Editing content. Uploading resources. Reviewing assignments. Refining the experience.

Today, someone else opened it for the very first time.

Someone looking for their first opportunity.

Someone ready for a career change.

Someone determined to take the next step.

That's why we built it.

Cohort 1 of the BYP Career Ready Accelerator is officially live. 🚀

Over the next six weeks, participants will:

✅ Build a standout CV and LinkedIn profile
✅ Master interviews and workplace communication
✅ Learn how to use AI to accelerate their careers
✅ Develop a long-term strategy for career growth
✅ Apply their learning through weekly assignments, live webinars and personalised mentoring

Every lesson, webinar and mentoring conversation has been designed with one goal in mind: helping people build the confidence, skills and strategy to move their careers forward.

Let's get started. 🚀

13/07/2026

Not every experience automatically becomes a lesson.

Sometimes, we finish the project, leave the meeting, navigate the challenge, and simply move on to what's next.

But the value of an experience isn't only in having it.

It's also in what you notice, what you understand, and what you choose to carry forward.

A brief moment of reflection can turn an experience into something you use differently next time.

Don't just move on. Take the lesson with you.

| Learn As You Go

10/07/2026

Building a programme is one thing.

Building the right community around it is another.

Over the past few weeks, we've been working behind the scenes to bring Cohort 1 of the BYP Career Ready Accelerator to life and we're ready.

The modules are live. The webinars and resources are in place. Mentor matching is underway.

Over the next six weeks, participants will strengthen their CVs and LinkedIn profiles, prepare for interviews, build workplace communication skills, explore AI in the workplace, learn how to thrive in a new role, and develop a long-term career strategy, all through practical assignments, expert webinars and personalised mentoring.

This week, we brought together our mentors, and one thing became immediately clear: our participants are in incredibly good hands.

The conversation wasn't about logistics. It was about building confidence instead of dependence, creating accountability, and supporting career changers, graduates and early-career professionals through meaningful coaching conversations.

With 15+ years of experience across wealth management, financial services, technology, telecommunications, entrepreneurship and corporate leadership, our mentors add another layer of practical insight to an experience designed to turn learning into action.

We can't wait to welcome Cohort 1 on Monday. 🚀

09/07/2026

"What line of work are you in?"

At 17 years old, Jon Perry asked a man in his community that simple question.

The answer?

"Insurance."

That conversation changed the course of his career.

Today, Jon is the Midwest Regional Manager, US Executive Risk at Beazley, leading underwriting teams, developing talent, and helping shape the future of the industry.

But his journey wasn't a straight line.

🎭 He loved performing; band, theatre, dance, anything that ended with applause.

📚 He studied business after being encouraged to pursue a practical career.

🎪 He even performed in a collegiate circus while studying Insurance and Risk Management.

Now, alongside leading underwriting teams, Jon serves on Beazley's Inclusion & Diversity Steering Committee and co-chairs Beazley RACE, championing a more inclusive future for the industry.

At Insurance Unfiltered: Real Stories & Bold Career Strategies, Jon will share the career lessons that rarely make it into job descriptions:

✅ The unwritten rules of progression
✅ Building influence beyond your role
✅ What leaders really notice
✅ How to navigate your career with intention

Sometimes, one conversation can change everything.

Join ours.

🎟️ Register today: https://f.mtr.cool/rlxcewshqn