What I did next: alumna Denise Mitchell
President of the London (UK) Chapter of The Links, a charity delivering programmes to serve vulnerable women and youth.
1. Tell us about your role as President of the London chapter of The Links and what inspired you to become involved?
The London (UK) Chapter of The Links was founded in 2018 after serving the local community in partnership with other charitable groups for several years. As President, I ensure that our initiatives are fit-for-purpose and fully funded. My role requires me to be highly idealistic about our aims, yet highly pragmatic about our approach. I was inspired to become involved because I’m a solution-oriented person by nature, and I saw hardship that I felt compelled to address.
2. How are you making an impact that matters to women and youth from disadvantaged communities?
Our volunteers contribute to over 1,000 hours of service annually, supporting hundreds of people from marginalised and under-represented groups. Since 2019, we’ve held an annual clothing drive benefiting Dress for Success Greater London; in 2022 we launched a fully-sponsored Study Abroad programme, and in 2023 we created a £5,000 bursary. In 2024, we’ve hosted an inaugural Fireside Chat with The Amos Bursary under the umbrella of our longstanding mentoring initiative. In addition to our established partnerships and programmes, we deliver ad-hoc services, including distribution of ‘care packages’ to unhoused individuals with Brixton Soup Kitchen and presenting a STEAM workshop at the US Embassy.
3. What advice would you give to alumni who wish to take on charity work alongside their careers?
There’s strength in numbers. The sheer volume of charitable causes can feel overwhelming, but it’s important to tap into your network to discover opportunities that align with your interest and availability. Whatever your passion is, there is at least one organisation or individual that shares that passion. Once you find them, you can find the time to work together, even if it’s just one hour a month. You don’t have to do it alone, but you absolutely should do it.
4. How have you stayed connected to Deloitte and with former colleagues?
Dinner parties! I love introducing Londoners to “soul food”, which is African-American cuisine that originated in the Southern region of the United States. It’s been wonderful to connect with former colleagues over plates of collard greens, shrimp and grits, and sweet potato pie at my flat. It reminds me of the close-knit community culture that I experienced during my time at Deloitte.
5. Is there a particular nugget or learning from Deloitte you’d like to share which has impacted on your career?
As Consultants, we’re in the business of solving problems from a multidisciplinary angle. Deloitte taught me to leverage insights and best practices from diverse industries, including Deloitte Digital’s analysis of customer experience and the Financial Services focus on regulation. Agile methodology in particular has been quite helpful in progressing ideas via the Proof of Concept (PoC) process, enabling my charity to bring initiatives into fruition faster.
Read more Deloitte alumni profiles:
Jamie Gill, Fashion and Luxury CEO, on increasing diversity in the industry
Nneka Orji, Senior Director in Asset and Weath Management, on the power of career sponsorship
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