Connecting personal history to professional purpose - Susheel shares her story
- 5 days ago
- 4 min read
As part of 30 years 30 stories from The Brokerage, Susheel shares her personal history and gives a heartfelt insight into why she works at The Brokerage. Susheel's story highlights the deep connection she feels towards to young people we work with and her own goals and aspirations of responsibilty to continue to honour her family's legacy.
Profile: Susheel Padda Head of Corporate Partnerships & Income Generation - at The Brokerage
What is your own experience of social mobility?
My experience of social mobility starts with my parents. In the 1970s, my dad left a Computer Science degree at Wolverhampton Polytechnic, planning to join my grandparents’ market-stall business. My grandfather challenged him: what had they given up everything they knew for, if not to give their children a better life? My dad returned to his studies, trained as a teacher and went on to have a 42-year career as a secondary Mathematics teacher. My mum also built a career in education, including in the Widening Participation team at the Open University.
Their choices gave me opportunity and shaped my own path into education and social mobility. I worked in schools and colleges across the Black Country and London, often with young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. At university, I became an Aim Higher Ambassador, supporting students with no family history of university to apply. I later supported sixth-formers with securing work experience to help their CVs stand out against their more privileged counterparts - all roles that ultimately introduced me to The Brokerage and started my tenure here.
So, while my own experience has been one of upward mobility, it has also given me a clear understanding of the role that education, opportunity and the right support can play in changing the trajectory of a family. It is a journey I’ve seen first-hand across generations – and one I now feel privileged to help make possible for others.
Why do I work in social mobility?
"I work in social mobility because it connects my personal history with my professional purpose."
My grandparents and young parents came to 1960s England from post-partition Punjab and built successful lives despite the prejudice and barriers they encountered. Their determination, resilience and work ethic have shaped who I am.
My Indian upbringing has never felt separate from my professional life; it has given me a strong sense of responsibility to challenge inequality, while encouraging me to aim high and make the most of the opportunities I have been given.
That perspective is a big part of why I love working at The Brokerage. I have seen how a connection, an introduction, a conversation or an opportunity can change what a young person believes is possible. Social mobility, to me, is about making sure talent and potential aren't limited by who you know, where you grew up or whether you already understand how professional environments work.
What’s the best thing about working for The Brokerage?
For me, the best thing about working at The Brokerage is our young people.
I joined in 2018 as a Programme Manager, running our flagship Summer Internship Programme. I worked directly with our candidates – helping them build their skills, navigate the application process and ultimately secure paid internships. It was incredibly rewarding to see their confidence grow and to watch opportunities become real.
When I moved into the Partnerships team, my day-to-day contact with young people naturally reduced, and it’s something I’ve really missed. I try to get to as many events as I can because spending time with our candidates is a powerful reminder of why I do this work – and who it is ultimately for.
They are ambitious, determined and incredibly driven. What strikes me most is their clear desire to build a different future for themselves and, often, their families. They recognise the opportunities they are being given and work incredibly hard to make the most of them.
They are, without question, one of the biggest sources of inspiration in my work – and a constant reminder of why my responsibility for securing partnerships and funding to create further opportunities for them matters so much.
What do you wish everyone knew about social mobility?
What I wish everyone understood is that social mobility isn't about changing young people so they can fit into existing systems. It's about creating environments where people from different backgrounds can bring their experiences and talents, while having a fair opportunity to succeed.
And that doesn't happen in isolation. The progress we see is made possible by the companies, funders and volunteers who choose to open their doors, share their expertise, provide opportunities and invest in young people. They play a vital role in turning potential into real experience and opportunity.
For me, social mobility works best when it's a partnership. It's about equipping young people with the confidence, skills and networks to navigate the professional world, while working with employers to make that world more accessible and representative. When those two things come together, we create opportunities that can genuinely change the trajectory of a young person's life.
That's what makes The Brokerage's model so powerful: we're not asking one side to do all the work. We're bringing young people and the professional world together – and creating the conditions for both to benefit.
I also understand that navigating professional spaces isn't always straightforward. I have experienced moments of imposter syndrome during my interactions with the corporate environment and questioned whether I belonged in rooms where I felt different from the people around me. Those experiences have made me more determined to create those opportunities for others – particularly young people who may not yet have the confidence, networks or knowledge to see themselves in those spaces.
Find out more about our work
The partnerships that are formed at The Brokerage are far reaching past contracts and investments - together they impact futures, careers, goals and aspirations in the young people we work with.
If you're looking to support our work - please email: partnerships@thebrokerage.org.uk today!
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