Sydney Young Leaders Connect
“Sydney Young Leaders Connect” is a leadership conference designed as a celebration/thank you event for all Business School students involved in the school’s leadership programs across 2012. This includes students who completed the Careers and Employer Relations Office “Career Passport Program”, aimed at increasing and incentivising student participation in career development activities.
The event is modelled on top industry standard professional development conferences where students are considered delegates on equal par with industry guests. The leadership forum featured key notes from our top corporate partners and the Business School, as well as interactive workshops followed by a networking function.
Full program here
DEMONSTRATED BENEFIT TO STUDENTS
Advanced Articulation of Leadership Skills
This event is a great example of student recruitment events and career development activities pitched at a new level. It is a great working example of Mezirow’s Transformative Learning model (1991) , giving students an opportunity to self-assess and engage in personal change (focus on professional identity) through active involvement rather than being lectured to. It also exemplifies of true industry standards and expectations. Corporate guests appreciated and made comment of the event being “different” to usual campus recruitment activities and appreciated the event being pitched at a higher level of expectation for all involved.
The innovation of this event lies in the working assumption by the CEO that the student audience have a basic working knowledge of professional industry standards, a leap of faith for us. Unusually, learning was multi-layered with all student attendees gaining value of from the event. The more experienced students got to mix as an industry peer and the less experienced students learnt professional behaviour from the ground up. The use of alumni who are early enough in their careers to connect with young students but late enough to provide genuine career advice has proved an innovative use of Business School connections who are not financial donors or academic contributors.
The event is modelled on top industry standard professional development conferences where students are considered delegates on equal par with industry guests. The leadership forum featured key notes from our top corporate partners and the Business School, as well as interactive workshops followed by a networking function.
Full program here
DEMONSTRATED BENEFIT TO STUDENTS
Advanced Articulation of Leadership Skills
- Interactive workshops focusing on topics such as authentic leadership, community leadership through microfinance, and tapping into your passions allowed delegates to explore leadership more deeply in preparation for applications
- Student Professionalization To Industry Standard
- Students were expected to present and behave as professionals mixing with peer industry colleagues. Their primary contacts were Business School corporate partners, giving students an opportunity to make memorable impressions
- The event took place in a corporate setting, focussing more on professional development than immediate graduate recruitment (e.g. careers fair). Students had to practice engaging in industry relevant conversation. They also learnt to connect professionally with fellow students, building their very first network of contacts. Informal mentoring took place with older students passing down advice on their experiences in various activities to those coming through.
- Deloitte presented their recent industry release report on Digital Disruption. Students soaked up information based on current industry data implementation, asking high level questions and requesting copies of the report.
- Recognition from Senior Business School Leaders (Deputy Dean) - It’s rare for students to have immediate contact with senior faculty executive leaders. With the Deputy Dean (Academic) opening the event, the students learnt that their efforts are noted and appreciated by senior leaders. His presence also indicated the priority of the event
- Exclusive Event for Graduate Recruitment Target Market
- The student audience was made up of Business School top performers, which is unusual for them to experience with campus recruitment events. They experienced a more intimate opportunity to network with students, getting to know them better and promoting their corporate brand, rather than attending standard campus recruitment events.
- Prospective Employers for 2013 Get a Feel for Student Careers Events
- Potential employers got to see the type of student events run by the CEO and meet some Business School students.
- Perfect Fit for New Dean’s Strategic Agenda
- “Developing students’ personal skills including leadership” is quoted as one of the Business School’s new Dean’s 3 core strategic commitments at the beginning of his tenure in 2013.
- Build On Top Graduate Outcomes
- Student/industry connections made as well as improved student professional polish result in top graduate offers.
- Build on Business School Alumni Community
- A great event to action Business School alumni offers to give back (non-monetary, non-academic) to students, being able to provide networking practice and career mentoring. The Business School is strategically developing the alumni community much earlier. Students began developing networks with young alumni in preparation for their own exit.
This event is a great example of student recruitment events and career development activities pitched at a new level. It is a great working example of Mezirow’s Transformative Learning model (1991) , giving students an opportunity to self-assess and engage in personal change (focus on professional identity) through active involvement rather than being lectured to. It also exemplifies of true industry standards and expectations. Corporate guests appreciated and made comment of the event being “different” to usual campus recruitment activities and appreciated the event being pitched at a higher level of expectation for all involved.
The innovation of this event lies in the working assumption by the CEO that the student audience have a basic working knowledge of professional industry standards, a leap of faith for us. Unusually, learning was multi-layered with all student attendees gaining value of from the event. The more experienced students got to mix as an industry peer and the less experienced students learnt professional behaviour from the ground up. The use of alumni who are early enough in their careers to connect with young students but late enough to provide genuine career advice has proved an innovative use of Business School connections who are not financial donors or academic contributors.