Posts

Master Class Leaders

/in /by

Meet the Master Class leaders, or experts, as we like to call them!

Credentials aside, who are your master class leaders? Why are they suited to guide you on this learning pathway? Read on to find out…

Anne Marie Downey

Anne Marie parlayed an extremely successful corporate career into working with organizations to sort complex issues and tackle communications challenges. She does this by harnessing her 30 years of experience in leading, facilitating, counseling, coaching and educating communicators and organization leaders in a wide range of sectors. Anne Marie has taught at the post secondary level and also designed and facilitated hundreds of workshops.

Colleen Foster, ABC

Colleen’s passion for change management and change leadership, and 20 years of experience in communications position her well to be a Master Class leader. Through her corporate career and now her consulting work, she has developed and delivered successful change management strategies for several major transformation initiatives that included significant organization and business change.

Glenna Cross, ABC, MC

Glenna leverages practical experience gained in nearly 20 years of agency, public sector and private sector leadership, and now 20 years as a consultant to build content for her sessions. And, she brings a basket of examples, stories and lessons learned (not all the easy way!) to every speaking opportunity. Glenna has been a frequent speaker at IABC events and conferences and the Municipal Communicators Conference. She revels in the spirit of sharing best practices and collective learning in these environments.

Dr. Rebecca Sutherns

Rebecca is an insightful and high energy collaborative strategist and world class Certified Professional Facilitator with 20+ years of experience supporting community leaders to make wiser decisions faster. She specializes in facilitating collaborative planning with community leaders and Rebecca recently published her first book, “Nimble: Off Script but Still On Track – a coaching guide for responsive facilitation.”

Let these experts impress you even more in person, consider signing up for one (or all) of the Master Class series!

woman-speaker-cover-photo

Why Professional Development Should be Important to You

/in /by

Professional development should be part of your PIP, growth plan, development plan or personal plan.  As communicators we need to be able to speak factually and confidently about matters pertaining not only to the practice of communications but to matters impacting the organization or business we work within. How will you gain knowledge about trends and best practices in communications?

Today’s new normal is full of change. Professional development can assist you with creating your own change, keeping up with a change you can’t avoid, knowing about what change might be coming your way and more.

Here are five reasons professional development should be important to you:

  1. Lifelong learning – Career Development

The pursuit of knowledge suits the curious nature of human beings. It enhances social inclusion, self sustainability, employability and competitiveness. If you want to reach the top, you’ll never stop learning along the way.

  1. Get outside your box

We all spend so much time in our workplace, with our colleagues, in our industry that some times we just need to step outside it all and hear from a totally different perspective – plus a day out of the office is a great way to feel refreshed and invigorated

  1. Cross industry pollination

Just like ‘we’ve always done it that way’ can lead to trouble, so can ‘everyone in our industry does it like that’ – a great idea in one industry can be a great idea in another, or repurposed to fit another…

  1. Networking, like brainstorming, can lead to idea sparks

Those questions that get asked at the end of a presentation or that great lunch time conversation – that’s where the real gold can some times be found. Everyone hears and digests information differently, so it’s likely their question or thoughts on the very same information you just heard, are not the same!

  1. Keep up or get left behind

Ensure your capabilities and scope of knowledge is where it should be. Be on the crest of the curve, not behind it. Continue to make meaningful contributions, be an effective team member or leader.

In short, professional development prepares you and opens you up to new possibilities, new knowledge and new skill areas.

Check out all of Swansea Communications professional development events.