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News Careers in the Community event empowers online and on-campus students

11 November 2024, 4 minute read

Written by Adam MacPherson

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LIBF is now Walbrook Institute London

This article was published before our name change in April 2025, but the information remains accurate.

Building careers and community on campus

We’re all about real-world learning. Our recent 'Careers in the Community' event, hosted by our amazing Careers Services team at our London campus, brought students together for a day filled with career-boosting activities and connections.


Students – both online and in person – joined us in London for a day filled with career insights, coaching, networking, and some solid advice on standing out in today’s job market.


From learning how to craft a unique personal brand to connecting with industry professionals and capturing LinkedIn-worthy headshots, the event was designed to empower students to take the next confident step in their careers.

Highlights from Careers in the Community

Mastering your personal branding

Smart Money podcast founders, Ali Suleman and Mannan Shabbir, gave a powerful talk on how building a unique personal brand can help you stand out.

Connecting online and campus students

Students studying from home and on campus had the opportunity to join this event, creating connections that brought the student community closer together.

Professional headshots for LinkedIn

A professional photographer was there to capture LinkedIn-ready headshots, helping students put their best face forward as they build their online profiles.

How to stand out: insights from Dumb Money

One of the event’s highlights was a presentation by Ali Suleman and Mannan Shabbir, founders of the Smart Money podcast and current students.


Their talk focused on how they’ve built a personal brand that’s both relevant and memorable, giving students a behind-the-scenes look into the drive, lessons, and resilience that keep their podcast going.


Ali and Mannan shared valuable tips on how to shape a personal brand that leaves a lasting impression – advice that any student can put to use as they start building their own professional paths. They left students with actionable steps for building a career journey that’s entirely their own.

Why they started Smart Money

Ali and Mannan opened up about what inspired them to start the podcast and how sharing their journey has helped them grow, both personally and professionally.

Personal branding done right

The duo explained the importance of creating a brand that reflects who you are and where you want to go, helping students understand the power of authenticity.

Their top tips for students

Ali and Mannan shared three big lessons they’ve learned from their guests: embrace change, stand out while staying focused, and find role models to help guide your path.

About the Smart Money podcast

We designed Careers in the Community to give each of our students a chance to connect, learn, and be inspired. Seeing Ali and Mannan from Dumb Money share their story was a fantastic moment – it’s not every day you see your peers succeeding in such relatable and achievable ways. It’s a privilege to offer these opportunities to our students, both online and in person, to connect with their peers, develop their professional identity, and gain skills that will serve them well beyond their studies.

Lizzie Gall

Head of Careers, Walbrook (formerly LIBF)

Expert coaching and guidance from industry pros

Another standout part of the event was the one-on-one career coaching sessions led by our Career Coach, Lucy Oliver.


Lucy worked with students to help them set personal career goals, offering practical guidance on how to take the next steps confidently. Her support created a warm, encouraging environment where students felt safe to explore their career ambitions and sketch out a clear path ahead.

Showcasing your best self with professional headshots

Every detail counts when making a strong first impression, which is why we had a professional photographer on-site to take LinkedIn headshots for students.


From online attendees who travelled to campus for the day to local students, everyone who wanted to take part left with a high-quality photo that’s ready for their profile.

Your career, your community, your future

The Careers in the Community event is just one way we’re helping students bring their career goals to life. From building your brand to gaining career guidance and putting your best foot forward online, this event provided hands-on experiences that make a real difference.


Events like this are more than just advice – they’re about empowering you with tools that help you succeed and connections that last. Whether you’re joining us online or on campus, you’ll find a supportive, inspiring community here that’s focused on helping you grow, connect, and achieve your goals with confidence.

Discover all career services
How we support your career journey

Beyond events like Careers in the Community, we are dedicated to offering ongoing support for your career ambitions. Our career services are flexible, designed to fit around your goals and lifestyle, and ensure you graduate career-ready. Here’s what we offer:

  • One-to-one and group career coaching

  • Weekly career essentials webinars

  • Career stage-specific workshops

  • Bespoke mock interviews and psychometric testing

  • Handshake: our carefully selected digital job search platform

  • Enhancv: your free CV builder platform.

FAQs about the event and our careers team

Benefits of studying with Walbrook (formerly LIBF)

Explore our range of degrees and qualifications. Study online and take the first step towards achieving your big dreams.

Study with full flexibility

Balance work, life and learning like a pro. Start a degree any month from April 2025, take exams when you choose, and study from anywhere.

Fast-track your career

Power your passion, with a degree grounded in digital innovation, and graduate ahead of the competition in tomorrow's job market.

Thrive with dedicated support

Master online learning with expert guidance and personalised support, including personalised 1-2-1 coaching and group career sessions.

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