Alison Shearer

My background wasn’t in finance or investment, so I was worried that I didn’t know enough to succeed in the assessment process. But at the interview, they made it clear this wasn’t an issue, and when I joined, the incredible training got me up to speed very quickly.

Having now completed the graduate programme, I have settled into my role as an AI/ML Developer within the Research and Development (R&D) Team. This role allows me to merge my undergraduate linguistics knowledge with my passion for cutting-edge technology, driving innovation within the company. I have had the opportunity to contribute to several experimental applications from the ground up, focusing on enhancing our capabilities with large language models, paving the way for smarter, more intuitive solutions that benefit both the business and our clients.

Together with four other graduate trainees, I volunteered to organise the firm’s Employee Networks Day, an event to promote and increase understanding of Diversity & Inclusion within the business. We had complete freedom to design the event, from arranging panel Q&As to inviting external speakers and sourcing branded merchandise. It was truly rewarding to see it all come together and a brilliant experience outside of my day-to-day responsibilities.

At Baillie Gifford, I feel that managers genuinely care about me and my well-being. They put lots of time and resources into your personal development and continued growth, and there’s a wide range of technical and personal training available, including online courses where I can study relevant topics at a time that suits me. It’s exciting to know this is an environment where I will keep learning and be challenged throughout my career, not just during the graduate programme.

I've connected with diverse colleagues through events hosted by our employee-led staff networks. At our LGBT+ Employee Network’s Pride Month kickoff, I was able to hear inspiring speeches from employees across the business. Our more recently formed Women in Tech community provides a safe platform for colleagues to share and discuss experiences and ideas, celebrate successes and encourage collaboration.

I am also actively involved in our Business Tech Community, an innovative group which bridges the gap between Information Systems and other departments. I recently hosted a presentation on Accessibility in App Design, and have learned so much from others by listening to their tech success stories.  

Please note that any references to current teams in bios are as of the time of writing and may not reflect the current situation due to the rotational nature of the programmes.