Our COO, Geraldine Evans, is also Chair of the IoD Jersey Student Sub-Committee. She reflects on the 2026 Future Leaders Scheme, the work that goes into making it happen and why she is feels schemes like this to support our local talent is so important.
For more than 45 years, the IoD Jersey Future Leaders Scheme has given Year 12 students the chance to step inside an organisation and shadow a director or senior leader. As Chair of the IoD Jersey student sub committee, I have the privilege of helping to carry that scheme forward, and of seeing first hand what a short time alongside a leader can do for a young person’s confidence and ambition.
When I was at school and university, I certainly never imagined I’d go on to co-found and help lead a technology company. My career has taken many twists and turns, shaped by opportunities, experiences, and, most importantly, the people I met along the way who challenged, encouraged and supported me.
I believe that leadership is not simply about what we achieve ourselves. It is also about the opportunities we create for others and the confidence we give them to take their next step. That belief is what attracted me to being a shadow director myself for years, to take the role of Chair of the IOD student committee and it is what keeps me committed to supporting it.
More than work experience
For many students, the scheme is their first real opportunity to see leadership up close. To sit alongside a senior leader, ask questions and watch how decisions are made in practice is a wonderful and rare opportunity. It helps them explore different industries, understand the range of careers available here in Jersey and begin to recognise the skills and strengths they already have.
Just as importantly, it gives them permission to be curious and to imagine themselves as the leaders of the future. The scheme is recognised across the UK and can support students’ UCAS applications, but its value often lasts well beyond that.
Jersey has something quite special. We have a very connected business community with leaders who genuinely want to give back and invest in the next generation. Each year we see directors volunteer their time because they remember what it was like to be starting out and they want to open doors for young people. That willingness across our community is what makes schemes like Future Leaders possible. Many of our directors continue to mentor the students who shadow them, and some students have gone on to return to their host organisations for further work experience and even permanent roles.
Behind every placement
Each placement is the result of a great deal of work by a small team of committed volunteers. For the 2026 scheme, members of the Student sub committee visited all six of the Island’s secondary schools, Highlands, Beaulieu, Jersey College for Girls, Victoria College, Hautlieu and De La Salle, to speak directly with Year 12 students about what leadership really looks like. The response was exceptional, with 140 students applying to take part.
The application process is designed to be a learning experience in its own right. Students explain why they want to take part, what they can bring and which sector interests them. Shortlisted students are then interviewed, kindly hosted by KPMG, before being matched with a director in their chosen field. For many, this is their first formal application and interview, and preparing for it builds confidence they will carry into their next steps.
As Chair, my role is to bring all of this together- working with schools, recruiting and supporting our Shadow Directors, guiding the committee and making sure every student who takes part has a positive and worthwhile experience.
Why it matters to me
Supporting initiatives like Future Leaders also reflects the values we hold at Prosperity 24/7. As a co-founder, I believe organisations have a responsibility not only to develop their own people but to invest in the wider community and future workforce. Jersey’s success depends on the talent we nurture today, and programmes like this help build confidence, ambition and opportunity for the next generation.
Leadership is about more than running a successful organisation; it is about creating opportunities for others to succeed. I have always felt it is important to lead by example, whether that is offering work experience placements, mentoring future leaders or supporting industry initiatives that develop skills and aspirations. If we want young people to believe in their potential, we need to be willing to invest our time, experience and encouragement to help them get there. Supporting young people has been a consistent theme throughout my career. Before becoming Chair, I mentored students through the Future Leaders Scheme myself and helped create workplace opportunities for students studying technology/digital related qualifications.
I know how important it is for young people to meet people who are willing to share their experiences honestly, including the unexpected turns, difficult decisions and lessons that have shaped their careers. Not every journey is straightforward, and students should see that there is no single definition of success and no one prescribed route into leadership. Speaking directly with a director can open a young person’s eyes to roles and sectors they may never have considered, and reassure them that leaders are real people, that careers evolve and that confidence is built through experience.
Above all, I am proud of every student who takes part. It takes courage to walk into an unfamiliar workplace, meet senior people and ask questions about an industry you may know little about. Seeing students grow in confidence and think differently about their future is one of the most rewarding parts of my role. I am particularly passionate about ensuring that young women can see themselves represented in technology and leadership. Attracting more female talent into technology remains a challenge, which is why visible role models, supportive mentors and meaningful experiences matter so much. With the right opportunities and encouragement, young people can achieve ambitions they may once have thought were beyond their reach.
We can’t talk about skills shortages, future talent and Jersey’s economic future without being prepared to invest our own time in developing young people. Future Leaders is one way of doing exactly that. Our young people will shape Jersey’s future. Being able to play even a small part in helping them recognise their potential is both a responsibility and an enormous privilege.
