We were delighted to welcome Rajiv Garodia, Senior Vice President of Visa Global Government Solutions, to William Ford today for a highly informative and inspiring careers visit.

Rajiv introduced pupils to a role that was new to many of them. While his job sits within a specialist global field, he quickly helped children understand it by linking it to their everyday knowledge of credit cards, debit cards and bank accounts. Pupils learnt more about how adults are paid, how they pay for goods and services, and why cash is now used less often in everyday life.

Rajiv also explained that there are major organisations working behind the scenes to make it possible for people to use their bank cards safely and easily, whether at home or abroad. Pupils were fascinated to hear that governments also rely on these kinds of systems, and that there are professionals whose job is to make this work on a global scale.

Alongside the technical side of his role, Rajiv shared something even more powerful: his own life journey.

He spoke about growing up in a small deprived community in India and starting out in a small family business. Through perseverance, determination and hard work, he progressed to become a senior leader in one of the world’s largest organisations. His story gave pupils an important reminder that where you start does not have to limit where you can go.

Rajiv encouraged pupils to understand that career goals can change over time, just as his own did, and that setbacks should not stop them from aiming high. His message was clear: with resilience, effort and belief in yourself, great things are possible.

Visits such as this are a vital part of our work to raise aspirations and broaden horizons for our pupils. We are very grateful to Rajiv Garodia for giving his time to speak so honestly and inspiringly about both his career and his life experiences.