Meet the Future Faces committee: Nadia Johnstone-Smith on leadership, inclusion, and empowerment
Nadia Johnstone-Smith is a Financial Planner at Partners, Wealth Management and Vice President of the Future Faces Chamber of Commerce.
As part of our “Meet the Committee” series, Nadia highlights her role as Vice President of Future Faces and her involvement in the Diversity and Inclusion Working Group.
She explains how she helps create a safe, supportive space where members feel valued, heard, and empowered while highlighting how Future Faces helped build her confidence and network.
On the Future Faces committee, which working group are you part of and why?
I am a Vice President and a part of Diversity and Inclusion working group. I wanted to be part of the diversity and inclusion working group because I want to help create safe, supportive spaces where everyone feels valued, heard, and empowered.
I want to help Future Faces benefit from exploring a wider range of perspectives, driving innovation and accessibility, and fairer outcomes for all our members.
What does your day-to-day role involve?
As a financial planner, my day-to-day role involves travelling across the country to see people in their own homes. I get to understand their finances and hopes for the future, while implementing a plan to improve their financial wellbeing and security.
I love meeting new clients, getting to know them and their families, and building a relationship over time with regular visits.
When not visiting clients, you will find me out building professional connections or busily typing up advice recommendations in my home office.
Why did you decide to join the committee?
Future Faces has had such a positive impact on me by building my confidence at events and allowing me to build a network of young professionals who became my friends.
I wanted to pay forward the benefits I have gained from Future Faces and make a positive difference for those starting out their careers in Birmingham.
What are you most looking forward to achieving on the committee?
I am looking forward to continuing working with the D&I working group and attending Pride in May and hopefully joining the working group on another episode of the Future Faces podcast!
I hope to be a role model to others living and working with a disability and represent at the committee level, showing anything is possible.
What do you see as the biggest opportunity for Future Faces right now?
To retrain and attract young professional to stay and develop their careers in Birmingham once they finish studying.
We have so many local success stories showing what the city of Birmingham and our fabulous community can offer to build bright futures for young people.
What is your favourite thing about Birmingham?
I love how diverse Birmingham is, and the camaraderie between local businesses and professionals. Birmingham is where my family are and will always have a special place in my heart!
How long have you been a Future Faces member for?
I originally joined during the first Covid lockdown and reengaged with face-to-face events for the last three years.