STRIVE was initiated 2018 by Sana Shafi and Bertilla Chow, then-future City trainee solicitors. Building on their lived experiences as state school candidate, female, BAME, Muslim and socially mobile who broke into corporate careers, the Supernova programme was a student-led initiative that ran annually to develop the employability of hundreds of socially mobile aspiring City lawyers.
Awards & Recognition
Winner, “Highest Impact Widening Participation Organisation of the Year”, Student Social Mobility Awards 2022
Winner, “Recruiting Diverse Talent”, UK Diversity Legal Awards 2019
Shortlisted, “Social Mobility Initiative of the Year”, British Diversity Awards 2022
Commended, “Best Talent & Inclusion Initiative”, The Lawyer Awards 2022
OUR Impact in numbers
7,000+
hours of training delivered since 2018.
3,600+
hours of personalised mentoring, coaching and targeted support since 2018.
4.8/5
Average rating received from STRIVE Programme participants
135
socially mobile candidates empowered by STRIVE to become the UK’s top 1% earners through securing training contracts at top international commercial law firms. Their economic and social successes represent a generational shift within their households.
340+
training contract, vacation scheme, internship and work experience offers at leading firms globally.
100%
of STRIVE Programme candidates progressed further in the process than they had before joining the Programme.
We have also enabled something extraordinary that no spreadsheet can fully capture: many of our former associates are now qualified solicitors and associates at Magic Circle, US and leading international law firms, enacting systemtic change from within.
Press/As seen in
The team behind STRIVE
Sana Shafi
Founder
Sana is a Funds Associate at CMS, one of the world's largest law firms. Sana has had an exceptional career to date across leading silver circle law firm Travers Smith, global US powerhouse Kirkland & Ellis and now CMS.
Since starting STIRVE, Sana has developed and executed on various development programmes and initiatives including the STRIVE's multi-award winning flagship programme, Supernova. Having come from a state school background herself, Sana bridges the gap between a state school education and the City and is a reflection of all that's possible with Strive and beyond.
Bertilla Chow
Initiator & volunteer Lead Mentor
Bertilla is a qualified Solicitor and Barrister of England & Wales (non-practising), silver-circle and chancery-trained in the City. Her lived experiences as a socially mobile, BAME and female lawyer gives her unique empathy for, insight into and credibility before early diverse talent.
Words from our alumni
“Life-changing.”
“It made my wildest dreams a reality.”
“Trailblazing.”
“I genuinely could not have got my training
contract without STRIVE.”
“The best diversity initiative there is.”