Rising Stars 2026: From Redundancy to Rising Star with Francesca Starkey

In this episode of NRG Insights: Rising Stars 2026, Marcus sits down with Francesca Starkey, Business Development Manager at Project & Co.Francesca’s route into the industry wasn’t straightforward. After facing two redundancies in 2024, she found herself reassessing what came next and applying for new opportunities without a fixed plan.That next step led her into specialist finance and into a BDM role she’d never done before.What followed has been rapid progress, strong industry recognition, and proof that experience isn’t always the only thing that matters.This conversation looks at how Francesca backed herself, adapted quickly, and turned her personality into a genuine advantage in a relationship-led industry.It’s also an honest look at confidence, resilience, and what early career progression can really look like when you’re willing to learn on the move.In this episode:How Francesca dealt with redundancy and found a new directionMoving into a BDM role with no previous BDM experienceWhy personality and authenticity can be a real advantageThe importance of building trust and relationships earlyHow confidence is often misunderstood in businessThe role mentors and supportive networks play in progressionAdvice for young professionals entering financial servicesIf you’re early in your career, changing direction, or trying to build momentum in a competitive industry, this episode is packed with perspective.If you like this episode, don’t forget to share and tag NRG in your post and let us know  what you liked so we can record more fantastic content for you.