British Medical Journal (BMJ)

BMJ’s people are passionate about sharing knowledge but many weren’t sure how to navigate their own growth.

BMJ’s employee engagement survey revealed only 56% favourable responses to the statement “I have access to resources to progress my career.” The organisation recognised the need to strengthen career development support and equip managers with the confidence and skills to hold effective career conversations.

Antoinette partnered with BMJ to build a sustainable, in-house capability for career development by implementing the Certified Career Conversations Facilitator Programme. Nine passionate employees were trained and certified as internal Career Mentors, equipped with the tools, frameworks, and confidence to deliver the Confident Career Conversations Workshop across the organisation. Using a brain-friendly, solutions-focused approach, the programme fostered peer-to-peer learning and cultural relevance, ensuring career conversations at BMJ were not only practical and engaging but truly part of the organisation’s DNA.

The impact was immediate. Managers found the peer-led delivery engaging and relatable, and feedback scores exceeded expectations. The new Career Mentors became catalysts for cultural change, inspiring colleagues to reflect on their own growth and development.

• 40 managers trained in the first roll-out, with excellent engagement and confidence scores.
• Achieved an average Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 90% (compared with the industry average of 71%).
• Feedback highlighted the unique value of training delivered by colleagues: “Much better delivered by peers than an external provider.”
• High demand led to the creation of a waiting list, with BMJ planning to scale the programme to train up to 160 managers per year.