Team Lifelites

A team of Goldman Sachs analysts has won second place and the prestigious Fan Favourite Award in the firm’s global Analyst Impact Fund. They chose to champion Lifelites and our work providing assistive technology for children with life-limiting conditions.

The team is composed of Fared Hassani, Georgina Knapman, Malika Zohidova, Jane Neave and Ayo Odunaiya. They first came across Lifelites while researching charities to support for the competition. Initially drawn in by the charity’s social media, they quickly became inspired by Lifelites’ mission to use technology to help children play, learn, communicate and explore the world in ways that would otherwise be impossible.

In this Q&A, the team share how they chose Lifelites, what they learned about assistive technology in children’s palliative care, and why this experience has left a lasting impact on them all.

Meet the Team

Can you tell us a little about the team?

Malika – Our team is made up of analysts from across Goldman Sachs, representing both Asset & Wealth Management and Global Investment Research. Day-to-day, we work in very different areas (sales, engineering, investment specialisms and research) so collaborating on this project was a unique chance to work closely together.

We were especially grateful for the opportunity to partner with Lifelites through the Analyst Impact Fund. It brought us together in a way that wouldn’t normally happen in our individual roles.

How They Got Here

How did you come to work as analysts at GS?

Malika – Our journeys are diverse, which reflects the firm’s commitment to attracting talent from different backgrounds. Some of us joined as graduates through campus hiring; others joined laterally from different organisations, bringing fresh experience with them.

Forming the Team

How did you decide to enter the Analyst Impact Fund competition together?

Jane – Many of us had watched the previous year’s competition and were inspired by its scale and impact. A number of us already knew each other from joining the firm at the same time, and it was Fared who brought the group together. Once we realised how motivated we all were to support a charity and make the most of the opportunity, we formed our team. The rest is history!

Choosing Lifelites

How did you find out about Lifelites, and why did you choose the charity?

Jane – We each agreed to research charities individually and then regroup. I found Lifelites through Instagram. I was initially drawn to the photos but quickly impressed by the compassion and innovation shown across their posts.

The more we learned, the more inspired we became. Lifelites’ mission to use technology to empower children with life-limiting conditions felt incredibly meaningful.

After meeting Rob and Simon over Zoom and understanding the real-life impact of their work, we unanimously chose Lifelites. The collaboration throughout the competition was hands-on, rewarding, and something we’re genuinely grateful for.

Discovering Assistive Technology

Did you know much about assistive technology before researching Lifelites?

Fared – Not in this context. I’d mostly seen technology used in medical or scientific breakthroughs. Learning about assistive technology, particularly tools like eye-gaze, opened my eyes to how transformative it can be.

Hearing from people like Habibah made it clear how powerful this technology is in enabling learning, communication and independence.

A Visit to Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice

What was it like seeing the technology first-hand?

Fared – Visiting Noah’s Ark gave us a profound understanding of life for children with life-limiting conditions. The hospice is designed to be a “home from home”, filled with opportunities for relaxation, comfort and adventure.

Seeing Lifelites technology integrated into that environment highlighted how many details go into delivering high-quality support – and why sustained funding is so essential. It also underlined the dedication of everyone involved in caring for some of society’s most vulnerable children.

Meeting Habibah and Salma

What was it like hearing about the impact of the technology from the families you support?

Georgie – It was a real privilege. Habibah is incredible. Her resilience, creativity and determination are deeply inspiring.

Hearing that Lifelites technology helped Habibah not only explore her passions, like baking, but also succeed in passing her GCSEs really brought home the life-changing nature of this equipment.

She’s a fantastic advocate for Lifelites’ mission, and we were honoured to share her story through the competition.

The Global Final

What was it like presenting to such a distinguished panel of judges?

Georgie – Exciting and definitely nerve-wracking! Presenting to 60 judges, including David Solomon and Rishi Sunak, was surreal. More than anything, we were proud to represent Lifelites on a global stage and share the charity’s impact with such a large audience.

Winning Second Place and Fan Favourite

How did it feel to place second and win the Fan Favourite Award?

Ayo – It was incredibly rewarding, especially given the calibre of the competition.

Winning Fan Favourite meant a lot. It showed that our message resonated beyond the judging panel and connected with colleagues across the firm.

The experience has given us real momentum and strengthened our determination to keep advocating for meaningful change.

Watch Their Presentation

🎥 You can watch the team’s Analyst Impact Fund final presentation below:

Inspired by the team’s story? Support Lifelites in giving children with life-limiting conditions the chance to play, communicate and explore through life-changing technology.