From the charity sector to corporate impact – Emma Connor shares her journey, insights on inclusion, and the power of partnership with Aleto.
Tell us about your career journey and current role as Social Impact Manager at SThree.
My career has always been driven by a passion for creating meaningful change. I spent over 13 years in the charity sector, working with household names like Macmillan, Cancer Research UK, and Make-A-Wish UK. During that time, I held a variety of roles, from events to philanthropy, and eventually led a brilliant team of fundraisers. These experiences sparked a deeper interest in ESG and the potential for partnerships between charities and purpose-led organisations.
In 2024, I took a leap into the corporate world, and when the opportunity at SThree came up, I knew it was a great fit for my skillset. While I had (and still have!) plenty to learn, I was excited by the challenge. At SThree, I’m proud to be part of our ESG team, leading on volunteering and inclusivity. My role involves working closely with internal teams and external partners to deliver programmes that empower underrepresented communities, support inclusive hiring, and foster a culture of purpose-led engagement across our global offices.
What do you see as the biggest current challenge in the field of purpose and inclusion?
One of the biggest challenges is moving from intention to sustained action. Many organisations are committed to purpose and inclusion, but embedding these values into everyday decision-making, culture, and strategy takes time, resources, and accountability. Inclusion efforts also need to be thoughtful and intersectional, recognising the complexity of people’s identities, and responsive to evolving social contexts. It’s not enough to rely on static or one-size-fits-all approaches; we need to continuously listen, learn, and adapt.
Tell us the reasons why SThree decided to work with Aleto.
Aleto’s mission to empower young leaders from underrepresented backgrounds aligns perfectly with SThree’s commitment to inclusivity. We’ve had the pleasure of partnering with Aleto for several years now and were especially drawn to their holistic approach, supporting not just career development, but also confidence, leadership, and networks. Collaborating with Aleto allows us to contribute meaningfully to a future where the value of diverse talent is recognised.
Our partnership has been longstanding, including SThree helping with interview processes, running workshops for our delegates, and now hosting our next alumni event – are there any success stories or highlights of the partnership you would be willing to share?
There have been so many highlights! One that stands out internally is how enthusiastic our people are about volunteering with Aleto, those opportunities are always snapped up quickly. A personal highlight was delivering an in-person workshop in London earlier this year. Meeting the delegates, supporting them with interview skills, and seeing their confidence grow was incredibly rewarding. My colleagues and I left feeling energised, and we were thrilled that the session was rated as “impactful” by all participants. Hosting the upcoming alumni event is another exciting milestone, it’s a chance to celebrate our journey so far and deepen our connection with the Aleto community.
How do you envision SThree’s ongoing collaboration with Aleto in the future and what impact would you like to see from our joint efforts?
We see this partnership continuing to grow in depth and reach. From continuing to support the leadership programmes to possibly expanding to mentoring & reverse mentoring opportunities in the future, we want to ensure Aleto alumni feel supported long after their initial engagement with SThree. Ultimately, we hope our collaboration contributes to a more inclusive workforce where diverse talent thrives and leads so we can outpace tomorrow, together.