Ryan Clarke became an Amos Bursary student in 2012 and immersed himself in a series of professional and social events that he says have contributed to his academic and professional achievements thus far. He did everything from networking at the House of Lords, undergoing leadership coaching at Deloitte and conversing with Venture Capitalists at Google. However, the experience which stood out the most to him was the Bursary’s International Experience, where he spent a month in New York.  “I worked at one of the most prestigious law firms in the world and had the opportunity to meet and interact with other students who were equally as ambitious. I realised whilst on this trip, that without the mentoring provided by the Bursary mentors, I would never have had the confidence to read law at Warwick University and begin my first job in a graduate position at Thomson Reuters.”

Today Ryan is celebrated as the first Amos scholar to qualify as a solicitor and is currently an Associate at McDermott, Will and Emery where he focuses his practice on cross-border domestic debt financing transactions advising corporate borrowers and issuers, private equity houses and other institutional investors.

When it comes to inspirational figures Ryan says Betty Campbell, the first black woman to become a headteacher in Wales empowers him to believe “you can do anything you put your mind to!” His advice to future generations would be to put in as much as you would like to get out of the chances that come your way. Programmes like The AMOS Bursary can provide you with amazing opportunities, it is up to you to make the most of them.”