University of Westminster students visit LinkedIn HQ for AI and career insights in London

Three students from the University of Westminster attended a LinkedIn AI Watch Party and office tour at the company's London headquarters.

Photo credit: University of Westminster

Three Work-Based Learning Champions from the University of Westminster were hosted at LinkedIn’s London headquarters in Farringdon for a guided tour and to attend an AI Insider Watch Party focused on how artificial intelligence is reshaping the future of employment.

The event marked the first visit by Westminster students to the company’s UK base.

AI tools and profile optimization featured in session

Students Imaan Navaz, Subear Hersi, and Mateo Alejandro Perlas Batol took part in the session, which explored the role of AI in matching candidates to job opportunities and how students can optimize their profiles by highlighting relevant skills.

Sports Management student Mateo Batol says: “The LinkedIn offices were like none I’ve seen before, truly luxurious and inspiring. It made me want to work there one day. It was a pleasure learning from Victoria and John about their paths to LinkedIn, especially John’s story as a Navy veteran.”

He adds: “Some key takeaways I’ll carry forward are fully using my free LinkedIn Learning subscription as a Westminster student, properly optimizing my profile to showcase what I bring to the table and John’s powerful reminder that careers aren’t straight lines, they’re full of ups and downs.”

Students reflect on digital skills and career preparation

Subear Hersi, a final-year Marketing Management student and President of the university’s Networking Society, says: “Visiting LinkedIn HQ was a standout moment in my university journey. I had the chance to represent the University of Westminster’s Work-Based Learning team while also gaining practical insights as a student myself.

“Getting a tour of the new LinkedIn Experience Centre and hearing directly from people like Victoria, Funmi, Paul and John made the whole experience feel incredibly real and impactful. I left feeling inspired, more informed and with a renewed sense of how platforms like LinkedIn are shaping the future of work.”

MBA student Imaan Navaz says: “Visiting the LinkedIn office in Farringdon was more than just a tour. I had the chance to see a glimpse into the heart of a company shaping the future of work. As the first group of students to visit the office, we had the unique privilege of exploring what it means to work at LinkedIn. We learned how to optimize our profiles to reflect our potential.”

Partnership supports student employability

The visit was coordinated by Leonard Nedelcu, Senior Academic Engagement Officer at Westminster, and supported by LinkedIn staff including Victoria Rodgers, John Wilkins, Funmi Sonaiya, Paul Djima, and Kash Ahmed, Customer Success Manager at LinkedIn.

Nedelcu says: “This visit wasn’t just a tour; it was a turning point. It reminded us that AI is transforming how we approach careers and that learning how to stand out in a changing job market is more important than ever. We’re proud of our Champions for representing the University and seizing every opportunity to grow and lead by example.”

RTIH AI in Retail Awards

Our sister title, RTIH, organiser of the industry leading RTIH Innovation Awards, proudly brings you the first edition of the RTIH AI in Retail Awards, which is now open for entries. 

As we witness a digital transformation revolution across all channels, AI tools are reshaping the omnichannel game, from personalising customer experiences to optimising inventory, uncovering insights into consumer behaviour, and enhancing the human element of retailers' businesses.

With 2025 set to be the year when AI and especially gen AI shake off the ‘heavily hyped’ tag and become embedded in retail business processes, our newly launched awards celebrate global technology innovation in a fast moving omnichannel world and the resulting benefits for retailers, shoppers and employees.

Our 2025 winners will be those companies who not only recognise the potential of AI, but also make it usable in everyday work - resulting in more efficiency and innovation in all areas.

Winners will be announced at an evening event at The Barbican in Central London on Wednesday, 3rd September.