1. 1 | P a g e
Student Name: Ruta Ramanauskaite
Student Number: 12212177
Programme: MSBM1 - MSc in Management (Business)
Project Title: Portfolio
Module code: MT5113
Lecturer: Des McLoughlin, Dr. John Connolly, Gerry Conyngham,
Dr Claire Gubbins, Dr. Theo Lynn , Colm Bennett
Declaration
I the undersigned declare that the project material, which I now submit, is my
own work. Any assistance received by way of borrowing from the work of
others has been cited and acknowledged within the work. I make this
declaration in the knowledge that a breach of the rules pertaining to project
submission may carry serious consequences.
I am aware that the project will not be accepted unless this form has been
handed in along with the project.
Signed:_________________________

2. 2 | P a g e

3. 3 | P a g e
Acknowledgements:
Des McLoughlin
Dr. Theo Lynn
Dr. Claire Gubbins
Gerry Conyngham
Dr. John Connolly
` Colm Bennett
Terry O’Brien
Roisin Lyons
Laura Goucher
Amanpreet Sahota
Andrea McCoughey
Ciara Hynes
All the event hosts and organisers
And my classmates and lecturers

4. 4 | P a g e
Table of Contents:
Overall Next Generation Management Synthesis……………………………………………………………….6
Leadership Competency Framework……………………………………………………………………………8
My Revised Personal Development Plan……………………………………………………………………....14
Management and Personality Development Synthesis………………………………………………………...16
Personal Opportunities of Development Table………………………………………………………………...19
WORKING IN GROUPS WORKSHOP REFLECTION……………………………………………………...20
PRESENTATION SKILLS WORKSHOP REFLECTION……………………………………………………24
MINDFULLNESS BASED STRESS REDUCTION REFLECTION…………………………………………28
CV WRITING AND INTERVIEW SKILLS WORKSHOP REFLECTION……………………………….....32
COMMUNICATIONS SKILLS WORKSHOP REFLECTION……………………………………………….36
CHINESE CLASSES FOR BEGINNERS REFLECTION…………………………………………………….40
DEREK BELL TALK AND CAREER PLANNING REFLECTION…………………………………………45
ACCENTURE AND IRISH TIMES LEADERS OF TOMORROW REFLECTION………………………...48
Teamwork assessment reflection………………………………………………………………………………53
Business and Society Synthesis………………………………………………………………………………..55
Personal Opportunities of Development Table………………………………………………………………...57
SUSTAINABILITY EVENT REFLECTION………………………………………………………………....58
LEAD EQUALITY & DIVERSITY REFLECTION………………………………………………………….63
HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON SPEECH REFLECTION………………………………………………....67
GEORGE HOOK SPEECH REFLECTION…………………………………………………………………..70
ETHICS EVENT REFLECTION……………………………………………………………………………..73
DIWALI, THE FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS REFLECTION…………………………………………………….76
DECLAN KILKLINE TALK REFLECTION………………………………………………………………...80
Research Synthesis…………………………………………………………………………………………….83
Personal Opportunities of Development Table………………………………………………………………..85
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT FOCUS GROUPS REFLECTION……………………..86
DAON IDENTITY X TRIAL REFLECTION………………………………………………………………..90
MUSIC VIDEO RESEARCH REFLECTION………………………………………………………………..93
BRIAN HARMAN RESEARCH REFLECTION…………………………………………………………….97
QUALITATIVE RESEARCH WEBINAR REFLECTION…………………………………………………100
QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH WEBINAR REFLECTION……………………………………………….104
SPSS REFLECTION…………………………………………………………………………………………107

5. 5 | P a g e
RESEARCH SURVEYS REFLECTION…………………………………………………………………….109
Digital Media and Communications Synthesis……………………………………………………………….116
Personal Opportunities of Development Table……………………………………………………………….118
BASICS OF SELLING ON EBAY REFLECTION………………………………………………………….119
DAON IDENTITY X TRIAL REFLECTION……………………………………………………………….122
MOBILE CLOUD CONFERENCE REFLECTION………………………………………………………....125
PAYPAL REFLECTION…………………………………………………………………………………….130
SECURE COMPUTING CONFERENCE REFLECTION………………………………………………….134
USING VIDEO AS A MARKETING TOOL REFLECTION………………………………………………137
BLOGGING WITH WORDPRESS REFLECTION………………………………………………………...140
BIBLIOGRAPHY……………………………………………………………………………………………147
APPENDIX 1 – Personality Assessment Questionnaires……………………………………………………169
APPENDIX 2 – POD Minder Summary…………………………………………………………………….194

6. 6 | P a g e
OverallNextGeneration ManagementSynthesis
Throughout this year I had a chance to attend a variety of modules. Next Generation
Management or NGM was one of them. The main advantage of this module is that it provides
students with an opportunity to develop a wide range of competencies and up skill in many
ways. These competencies range from Management and Personal Development competencies
such as presentation skills, communications skills etc. to Digital Media and Communication
competencies such as blogging, app development etc. After developing a Personal
Development Plan I was able to recognise competencies that I wish to develop and place
them under the four themes provided. I chose the Personal Opportunities of Development
(POD’s) accordingly to my Personal Development Plan, which gave me the necessary
structure and provided me with guidance of which POD’s to attend. The knowledge gained
throughout this module was valuable not only in my assignments and projects throughout the
year, but will also be essential in my practicum project this summer. To cement the
knowledge gained, I had to reflect on each POD, which was challenging at times, but also
rewarding as I got to research further the event or theme of a workshop that I attended.
Similarly, it was challenging to apply the critical thinking to this course. The main reason for
that, was the challenge of distancing myself from the undergraduate level thinking.
As well as the gathering and reflecting on the POD’s I also had an opportunity to step into the
shoes of a leader. As part of this module me and my teammate were assigned a DICE group.
A team of 5 first year business students, to lead through completion of two tasks. It was a
valuable experience, which made me see myself as a leader in the future. Despite the fact that
the module was overwhelming at times, I do believe that through challenging tasks and
POD’s I was able to develop a pool of competencies that helped me to better myself and that
will be important in my future.
The four themes for gathering POD’s included: The Management and Personal Development,
Business and Society, Digital Media and Communication and Research.
Management and Personal Development theme, was the easiest for me to participate in and
reflect upon. All the Personal Opportunities of Development I attended were much of use for
me as a person, as they allowed me to recover hidden as well as gain new skills that are
necessary in becoming a strong leader. As my idol Indra Nooyi (n. d) has explained: ‘The

7. 7 | P a g e
distance between number one and number two is always a constant. If you want to improve
the organization, you have to improve yourself and the organization gets pulled up with you.
That is a big lesson. I cannot just expect the organization to improve if I don't improve myself
and lift the organization, because that distance is a constant’. Indeed, consistent improvement
of one self leads to the bettering of the organisation one represents, otherwise both stand still.
I believe, that through this year I developed many competencies for myself that will be
essential in any organisation and I strongly agree with Indra, that continuous learning and
developing more competencies along the way, will make me a better individual and hopefully
a stronger leader.
Business and Society theme opportunities of development were very informative as well as
interactive. Throughout gathering of the POD’s I was able to create networks with variety of
interesting and successful leaders as well as representatives from global organisations. I was
also able to place myself in the centre of action in cultural events as well as ones targeting
global issues. Therefore, I gained a fuller view of organisations place in the global society
today as well as in the future.
Digital Media and Communication theme opportunities of development were challenging for
me. Before starting this course, my digital skills were limited. Therefore by placing myself in
situations where my knowledge was challenged, I was able to learn as well as gain a broader
understanding of innovative technologies and made aware of ones to come.
Research theme opportunities of development combined with the assignments throughout the
year provided me with an understanding of wide range of research methodologies and the
advantages of these, if done right. I was able to participate in several research opportunities
and also was able to conduct a focus group. Therefore, I was able to see first-hand the
advantages as well as challenges from both sides.
Next Generation Management module was valuable for me, as I was able to develop new
competencies and build up on existing ones. As well as that I found the module challenging
but also motivating, in a sense that it gave me a drive to learn and to excel at various aspects.
I have enjoyed the experience as well as gained a lot from it.

8. 8 | P a g e
Leadership Competency Framework
ANALYSIS OF 10 COMPETENCES
Lecturer: Dr Claire Gubbins
Students: Ruta Ramanauskaite, 12212177
Martina Petkova, 12210789
Egle Miliute, 58605157
Amelie Cloarec, 12211021
Date: 17/10/201

9. 9 | P a g e
PERSONALITY
CHARISMA
Level 1: Max Weber once defined charisma as a ‘’ certain quality of an
individual personality by virtue of which he is set apart from ordinary men and
treated as endowed with supernatural, superhuman or at last specifically
exceptional powers or qualities. These are such as not to be accessible to the
ordinary person,but are regarded as of divine origin or as exemplary and on the
basis of them the individual concerned is treated as leader’’ (1). To Weber
charisma is a special quality a person is born with. It’s an individual trait that
one cannot learn, but only identify
Level 2: It is a quality that people perceive in certain people often in times of
crisis. Hence, during such period new leaders emerge who are not routine,
leaders with which collective bond is created and is very strong. A common
understanding exists that in uneasy times it is easier to pinpoint a great leader, a
leader with charisma.
Level 3: Many definitions of charisma exist, because different individuals
perceive it and its characteristics in different ways. Hence there have been
attempts to study charisma more scientifically, example Dean Simonton, Journal
of Personality and Social Psychology 1988. However, due to its fragile being,
perception of charisma has a tendency to dissipate if a leader is perceived to be
less good at dealing with the crisis. Charisma is a fragile and exceptional power,
a power that is superhuman (1) which can only be possessed by few.
ACCESSIBILITY
Level 1: As stated by Dirksen, Everett: I am a man of fixed and unbending
principles, the first of which is to be flexible at all times. A leader needs to be
accessible to his team members in order to be able to achieve the set goals and
deliver the best they can together as a team. A leader that frequently interacts
with his employees has a clearer picture of the strengths and weaknesses of the
personnel.
Level 2: A leader that locks in an office and is not accessible to his team reduces
the effectiveness of his group.“Accessibility allows access to valuable feedback
from those on the front line. That access can offer a number of benefits including
cost saving ideas, increased productivity” (Ekvahl 2011)
Level 3: Accessibility creates interactions between the leader and the team
which results in better problem resolutions and also gives the opportunity to
avoid any future conflicts. When a conflict occurs it is important that the leader
is aware of the problem as soon as possible in order to come up with a solution
that can resolve it fast. Conflicts between the employees can result in low
performance at the work place.
CREATIVITY
Level 1: According to V S Rama Rao, the “decisions maker also needs creativity,
that is, the ability to produce novel and useful ideas” (2008). This leads to seek
decision-making as an “opportunity” and not a “problem”. It allows the decision
maker to more fully understand and evaluate decision-making process.
Creativity is the most evident value that can help the decision maker to identify
the various solutions and alternatives that are not clearly obvious. Creativity is
improving decision-making and allowed decisions makers to be more active for
a positive change.
Level 2: According to Robert I. Sutton (2007) an idea is creative when it is new
to people who use or evaluate it, and (at least some of them) believe it could be
valuable to themselves or others. He believed that by using weird ideas, you
could at least do one of three things: increase the access of knowledge; see
previous ideas in a new way; or break from the past. People, who have embraced
weirdness and used it, will find original and innovative ideas

10. 10 | P a g e
Level 3: “Creativity abilities determine whether the individual has the power to
exhibit creative behaviour to a noteworthy degree. Guilford (1968) states that
whether or not the individual who has the requisite abilities will actually produce
results ofa creative nature will depend upon his motivational and temperamental
traits. In other words, sometimes creative skills and abilities are present in the
individual’s behavioural; but sometimes they are not.
EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE
Level 1: “Emotional intelligence is the ability to perceive emotions, to access
and generate emotions so as to assist thought, to understand emotions and
emotional knowledge, and to reflectively regulate emotions so as to promote
emotional and intellectual growth’’ (Mayer and Salovey, 1997 in Zeidner and
Roberts 2002:181). It is highly beneficial to know how to control ones emotions.
More importantly, one needs to understand how to generate and showthem and
of course, which emotion to show in which scenario.
Level 2: Emotional intelligence involves understanding not only self-inflicted
emotions but being able to read emotional character of other individuals. This
ability helps to evaluate ones colleagues and the emotional surrounding(s) that
emotionally intelligent individual is present at.
Level 3: Ability to control emotions and read emotions of different people
presents an opportunity to control the situation and its outcome. Hence, because
this type of intelligence is difficult to possess, one who obtains it naturally has
an upper hand in a dialogue, group work, negotiation settings and more.

11. 11 | P a g e
WORKING WITH PEOPLE
NEGOTIATION
Level 1: “Ours is an age of negotiation. The fixed positions and solid values of
the past seem to be giving way and new rules, roles and relations have to be
worked out… Negotiation becomes not a transition but a way of life’’ (Zartman
1976 in Guasco and Robinson 2007 p.1). Negotiation is a daily exercise that is
used by many, especially in today’s world of business. In order to successfully
achieve goals one aims for, a tool of negotiation must be used well and practiced
daily
Level 2: According to Michael Spangle and Myra Isenhart‘’can serve as a tool
for overcoming resistance without resorting to demands, coercion or forcing
which cost a great deal in terms of lost relationship’’ (2003 p1). In order to
sustain good relationship, skill of negotiation is crucial as it allows to over-come
disputes with a positive conversationalflow. As well, it gives you an opportunity
to lead the dialogue without resorting to coercion.
Level 3: “Good negotiators are flexible and adaptable. They shape the
negotiating process to the situation. Because of that there are no rigid rules
governing how you negotiate’’ (Guasco and Robinson 2007 p.7).Understanding
the negotiation techniques and its complexity is crucial in order to achieve great
success at negotiating.Hence,negotiation is not just a dialogue; it is an art which
can be learned with time.
COMMUNICATION
Level 1: According to De Vries (2006) the effectiveness of organization’s
employees determines how the organizational “machine” will perform. So to be
successful communicator a person should be genuine and honest about their
feelings, ideas and needs, should be emphatic or to understand and see the
situation from other persons point of view and also should possess non-
possessive love skill, which entails acceptance, support and respect of another.
Level 2: According to J. Fast (1986) we all send out messages to the world and
just in rare cases these messages are conscious. Non – verbal communication
means are crucial in communicating emotions and central in attempting to
understand what otherpeople are trying to communicate to us.Vocal cues,facial
expressions, posture and gestures these are just few indicators from which we
can understand how the other person is really feeling, despite what they are
saying.
Level 3: According to Seifert (1986) in a world of finite men, conflict is
inevitably associated with creativity. Without conflict there is no major personal
change or social progress.There are several examples from decision making to
technological improvements that we perceive right now as the outcomes of
positive conflict. When referring to positive conflict it is often explained as to
be a “dangerous opportunity”.Something that if managed well can lead to better
ideas, but if uncontrolled cause biases in companies. According to Richard
Walton of Harvard university business schoola moderate level of conflict would
include few consequences like motivating people to do better, increase the level
of innovativeness because ofdifferent opinions expressed by the opposition and
also may help the individual to realize their own position and clearly define what
their view point is.
MOTIVATION
Level 1: The ability to keep employees motivated is an important quality that
every leader should have. A good leader needs to show commitment and has to
influence his workers to accomplish their goals.A leader should set an example
to his employees. A lack of motivating skills can result in lower job satisfaction
and decreased productivity.

12. 12 | P a g e
Level 2: Good leader needs to know his employees to understand what motivates
each individual in order to get the best out ofthem. A good motivator listens and
responds to the needs of the workers which will make them appreciated and also
shows that their work is important.
Level 3: Leaders need to be enthusiastic and also be able to clearly express their
high expectations, which make them good motivators. “Nothing great was ever
achieved without enthusiasm” (Emerson, Ralph Waldo).
ORATORY
Level 1: J. F. Kennedy said let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or
ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any
friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and the success of liberty.
To realize how much great orators influenced our history would be a difficult
task. It is true that the battles throughout the history were merely fought and won
by orators and less so with guns. The belief of majority includes understanding
that the most knowledgeable and just people have the responsibility of becoming
effective orators D. Glover (2011)
Level 2: In order to succeed in oratory the leader’s main objective would be “to
play upon their hearts and minds as a master upon the keys of a piano” Mathwes
(2000). It is a difficult task to change someone’s mind once they have it set,but
it requires a great skill when talking about approaching a number of people in
attempt to change their minds.
Level 3: A person is ought to possess a poolofdifferent skills in order to succeed
in putting a point across and making the audience believe it. These would
include: emotional intelligence, charisma, morality, just. Famous people
throughout the history were able to charm nations with their oratory skills and
these are few names to mention: Sir Winston Churchill, Neil Armstrong, Marc
Anthony, Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela, Adolf Hitler and many others.
These leaders saw oratory as a strong tool and used it to portray the ideals and
ideas they believed in.
LEADERSHIP
Level 1: According to Secretan (2004) leadership is a serving relationship with
others that inspires their growth and makes the world a better place. In other
words, leaders who know how to persuade, inspire, coax and motivate are
successful because those who follow truly want to.
Level 2: Leadership is a skill that will allow building harmonious, collaborative
teams and leading them. Moreover, “leadership takes place in a context of
mutual trust based on shared vision,ideals,and values” (Fairholm, G. W., 1994).
Commonly shared values, beliefs are the foundation of trust between persons
and groups.In otherwords, it means that both leaders and followers need to trust
the purpose, activities and intent of others.
Level 3: According to Yukl 1989 the leader should set an example of appropriate
role behaviour by performing duties in a responsible and dedicated manner and
avoiding improper behaviour. As a leader, people will follow you and the best
way of giving people a clear and specific lead is to a role model. Be a role model
could build commitment to values, goals, etc.
DEVELOPING THE BUSINESS
KNOWLEDGE
Level 1: According to Torrington (2005) knowledge in itself is not enough as it
has to be accessed,applied appropriately and used to enhance the organization’s
ability to achieve its objectives.
The importance ofknowledge is growing to showhowit can provide competitive
advantage in organizations. The growth of competition in any industry requires

13. 13 | P a g e
Leadership is the study of art, not science. Many great ideologies surround this undefinable
concept. Hence, in order to pin point it clearer, one great leader was chosen upon the group to
knowledge on matters such as innovation, research and development of new
products etc. Consultancy agencies, IT companies and financial institutions
provide a great example of knowledge-based organizations.
Level 2: Backler (2000) states that knowledge to be…pragmatic, partial,
tentative and always open to revision – it is no more, and no less,than a collective
interpretation. According to this statement knowledge is attained by sharing the
knowledge with others and doing so passing it on or challenging it like:
brainstorming, coaching, mentoring or conversing with others.
Level 3: Anothersource the Chambers Twentieth Century Dictionary describes
knowledge as assured belief; that which is known; information; instruction;
learning. Knowledge is an entity which can be defined and described. It is
particularly current at this century where people’s lives are centred about how to
create, communicate and apply knowledge.

14. 14 | P a g e
guide this study. Indra Nooyi is the chairman and CEO of PepsiCo. She is truly a woman of
vision, someone who is able to spot the need for change and to achieve great results. According
to Indra Leadership is hard to define and good leadership even harder. But if you can get people
to follow you to the ends of the earth, you are a great leader. Needless to say Indra is a
charismatic and creative leader, someone who thinks in different terms and that was one of the
main objectives that PepsiCo had. V J Philip, former principal of the Madras Christian College,
where Nooyi studied chemistry and physics 30 years ago, remembers Indra as “always a go-
getter who had the capacity to rally around people and get them excited”. Since young age
Indra displayed communication and motivation competencies as it is evident from this. In the
interview with Simon Hobbs on BBC programme the leaders Indra speaks highly of people
working with her and emphasizes the importance of knowledge and how it is shared in PepsiCo.
My Revised Personal DevelopmentPlan
Short
Term
Development:
Competency to
be developed:
Rationale Proposed development
actions:
Professional
demeanour
De Vries (2004) describes fewsimplesteps
in becoming aneffective, even charismatic
leader.He emphasizes theimportanceof
setting an example, challenging status
quo, manipulating symbols and being able
to single peopleoutto praise.I believe
that ifone succeeds at presenting
themselves and is ableto dothejobwell it
will lead tohigher career prospects.
According to Young’s typology testI ama
slight extravertat 11%, intuitiveat62%,
intuitivefeeling at 25% andjudging at
56%. This shows that thereis stillroomfor
improvementin attempting to increase
my extraversion skills.I believethat by
developing this competency I willadhere
to a levelofprofessional appearance and
Attendanceofvarious business
conferences, development of
presentation skills,acquiring
know how on CV skills,
interview skills,communication
skills workshop,DeclanKilkline
talk. On top ofthese I also have
attended GeorgeHook talk,
which helped merealisethe
importanceofutilization ofthe
tools in ourpossession,such as
talking, exerting insomething
and managing to always
presentoneselfwell.

15. 15 | P a g e
Long
Term
Development:
managing skills appropriateto the
environment.
Digital
communication
skills
As Cross Daman(1995) inRichard Wright’s
Outsider has put it: I wish I had some way
to make a bridgefrom manto man…Man
is all we’vegot. Effective communication is
the very lifeenergy ofleadership.In this
modern society wheretechnology is taking
the hold oftheperson itis crucialto learn
to express ourselves clearly and
effectively.
The MAPP test has stated thatmy
preferences and motivations arederived
from understanding thedeeper meaning
ofideas and words and that I usethem
effectively in written and oral
communication.I consider myselfto bea
reasonably adequatecommunicator butI
have a lotofdifficulty in trying to adaptto
the new expressions ofcommunication. In
the attemptto bettermy digital
communication skills I havedecided to
carry out a variety ofPOD opportunities to
learn more about channels of
communication that willbe ofuse in any
organization.
Mumford (1995) highlighted
the fact that informal
development canandshould
include experiential and
accidentallearning whichtakes
place inan unplanned wayin
the courseofevery day work.
So as long as weattemptto
better ourselves ondaily basis
while working (incollege) in
something thatwe consider to
be our week pointthatis when
we learn.In orderto becomea
strong communicator in digital
world I intend toinvolvemyself
in the opportunities to learn
new things in digital media.
On top ofattending various
digital communications events,
such as:PayPal, E-Bay,Secure
Computing forum, Mobile Cloud
conference I also I have
attended a blogging workshop
and have createdmy ownblog,
which I am updating itregularly.
Problem
solving skills
I believe, thatI ama creativeand
innovativepersonality, butI do tendto
lack skill such as analyticalthinking.
Therefore my aimfor this year is to evolve
my skill ofanalyticalthinking.By doing so,
I believeI can achieve another levelof
personal growthas wellas bea valuable
assetin any organisation.
I have participated inworking in
a group workshop, team
assessmentworkshop,
communications skills
workshop inorder todevelop
this competency.
The time frame needed for this,
I believe, is approximately 6
months.
Cross cultural
competency
A recent study in“Science Daily”has
showed thatbilinguals see the worldin a
different way. Having lived through English
for the pastfew years my prospectiveon
communication has altered.This new way
ofseeing has defined my interest in
learning newlanguages. According to ITAP
(2005) Internationalcross cultural
competencycan bedefined as the
personal capabilities,underlying
characteristics andbehaviors thatdrive
superior performanceat work across
national boundaries.The aimofany
manageroperating inthis globalsociety
should beto learn andadapt this
competency.
Since I was a child differentlanguages
were very enjoyabletome.I comefroma
family where almosteveryoneis great
with languages. Butmerely knowing
another languagedoes not mean that I am
also familiar with theculture.It is my
intention toconsolidatemy ability tolearn
languages with theacquiring ofthe
knowledgeofthe etiquetteand policy of
the country. According totheLearning
Style Inventory I ama VisualLearner I
learn from seeing and putting intouse
The obvious andmost
advantageous way in
developing this competency
would be to involveoneselfin a
job where cross-cultural roles
would be dominant.It wouldbe
one ofmy main aims to work in
a global company and learn
from peoplethat way.
So in order to makethebestof
the situation my intention is to
attend events, participatein
activities anduse the POD
opportunities to engagein
cross-cultural relationships and
develop the competency.
It will require 12months or
longer.
I have already attended a
SustaiNextconferencewhich
allowedme to meetvarious
successful peoplefrom global
organizations. I also attended a
Chineselanguage and culture
class for 5 consecutiveweeks
and participatedas a volunteer
in Diwali, IndianFestivalof
Lights.

16. 16 | P a g e
things that surround me. As Garavan
(1999) has put it ‘the concept of
management development has broadened
to emphasize developmentofthewhole
person rather than the acquisitionof
competencies for a particularrole’.So in
order to be an effectiveleader in this
highly competitiveglobal business
environment, a person shouldattempt to
understand and appreciatedifferent
cultures and that is my aim.
Emotional
intelligence
A great interpretation ofimportance of
emotionalintelligence was given by
Goleman, Boyatzis, & McKee,2002 they
believethat great leaders moveus.They
ignite our passion and inspirethebestin
us. When wetry toexplain whythey are
so effective, wespeakofstrategy,vision
or powerful ideas, but the reality is much
more primal. Great leadership works
through the emotions. I believethat by
possessing strong emotionalintelligence
competencynot only it willimprovemeas
a person but also will allow for metogrow
as a manager.The emotional intelligence
test which wewere asked to undertake
my score was 86 andthebriefdescription
statedthat myscoreoftheassessment is
reasonably good, but there is some room
for improvement. OverallI appear to be
fairly skilled at understanding and dealing
with emotions.Judging on this assessment
I believethat bytraining myselfinto
stability ofmy emotions would lead toa
success in achieving a betterscore.
Jansen(2001) proposes thatthe
benefits ofmanagement
development learning or
development initiatives provide
benefits which develop the
individualmanager whilst
simultaneouslysupporting
organizational andstrategic
objectives. I want to believe
that by developing greater
understanding ofemotional
intelligenceI will beable to
work betterin groups and allow
support and offerempathy to
my colleagues. I wantto believe
that I can in fact bea manager
who does achieve great
productivitylevels but alsois a
sympatheticboss to their
employees.
I believethat something like
that willtake lifetimeto
develop fully,but by
participating invarious POD
opportunities I believe that
some knowledgecanbegained
in 6 months approximately.
I have attended the
Mindfulness BaseStress
Reduction seminars which run
for six weeks as well as that I
participated in communications
workshop.
Management andPersonalityDevelopmentSynthesis
The Management and Personality Development section of the Next Generation Management
module is focused on improving one self. This is done by helping students highlight the
competencies they already possess and ones they wish to develop. As well as that, the module
re-introduces students to the concept of leadership, by covering every aspect of leadership
and by allowing students to become a leader of a team and familiarise first-hand with the
challenges involved. This is done by participation in DICE project, where students are asked

17. 17 | P a g e
to manage two projects carried out by first-year business students of the university. At the
beginning of the year students are encouraged to identify their strengths and weaknesses by
using personality assessments. Upon completion of those, I was able to form a firm structure
for the Personal Development Plan. Therefore, the events, workshops and other Personal
Opportunities of Development I participated in, were direct outcome of my Personal
Development Plan. The impact of the Management and Personality Development influence
was felt in many areas, such as: competency building, as mentioned above, also team
working throughout the year as well as self-awareness for improving ourselves in preparation
to enter the business world.
At the start of year I constructed my Personal Development Plan after completing a
Leadership Competency Framework with my team mates. This framework, also guided me in
the selection of the competencies for myself. Alterations were made to the original Personal
Development Plan and so, I have chosen five competencies in total that I believe would assist
in creation of strong leader. Business demeanour, digital communication skills, problem
solving skills, emotional intelligence and cross-cultural competency are my five.
Business demeanour was my choice, because I believe that in business world appropriate
verbal and non-verbal communication as well as presentable professional appearance are first
indicators for employer of who is going to be representing the company. Therefore it is
essential to possess this competency when entering and working in any organisation.
Digital communication skills are an essential tool, in this ever-changing technology
landscape, where the way people communicate and devices of communications have altered
majestically. Therefore, the knowledge of the disruptive technologies and understanding of
how to utilise them is essential for any aspiring business person. I believe that I have reached
the goal set for myself in evolving my knowledge of digital communication skills and so I
can state that I gained a broader understanding of today’s digital landscape, however there is
still much room to grow and continuous learning of the topic is my aim for the near future.
I chose problem solving skills competency to understand better the steps involved in
recognition and solution of problems in my own personal development as well as in the
business setting. I discovered throughout this year, that I possess tendency to jump into work,
without establishing clearly of what I am indeed asked to do. Therefore, I decided to pay
more attention to reading about the problem and just then search for an appropriate solution.
‘Research shows that people who spend more time at the beginning working out exactly what

18. 18 | P a g e
a task involves have a better chance of success. This is referred to as 'elaborating the
problem'’ (Palgrave.com, 2013). Indeed, through the use of Personal Development
Opportunities and assignments throughout the year I was able to focus on learning how to
‘elaborate the problem’.
Emotional intelligence was one of the competencies to develop for me because I believe, that
in order to lead people, one must understand not only own emotions but also have the ability
to read emotional character of other individuals. Ability to do this assists in evaluation of
ones colleagues, therefore creating feeling of empathy. Goleman (1998) states that: ‘while the
qualities traditionally associated with leadership—such as intelligence, toughness,
determination, and vision—are required for success, they are insufficient. Truly effective
leaders are also distinguished by a high degree of emotional intelligence, which includes self-
awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skill’. I agree and believe that a
true leader should be centred towards getting a job done while being employee focused.
I chose the cross-cultural competency in order to familiarise myself with different cultures
and furthermore the existent business etiquette in that culture. I strongly believe, that the
greatest growth happens once a person is aware. I want to be aware of different cultures, to
understand them better and to familiarise with the verbal and non-verbal communication
cues, so to communicate in a respectful and appropriate manner.
Through reflecting on the Personal Opportunities of Development that I attended, I was able
to see the progress I have made over the year. I have also learned that there are little that a
person cannot learn. I had a structure set out for myself, and it guided me towards collection
of the POD’s and the research on various topics, then, gave valuable insights. In progress of
all this, I learned. I was able to identify clearly the weaknesses of mine and therefore work on
them. Presentation skills, for example, was a huge weakness of mine, and so through several
presentations in various modules, asking questions in a focus group conducted by our team
and through asking questions in classes I was able to improve on my ability to present.
Therefore, I understand now that it is quite challenging to work on oneself, it takes time and
effort, however it is a worthwhile task, because the end outcome is a little better me.

19. 19 | P a g e
Personal Opportunities of Development Table
The Personal Opportunities of development that I have chosen to reflect on for Management
and Personality development theme are summarised below:
POD Title Worth Related PDP
Working in groups
workshop
1 Problem solving skills
Presentation skills
workshop
1 Professional demeanour
Mindfulness Based
Stress Reduction series
2
Emotional intelligence,
problem solving skills

20. 20 | P a g e
CV writing skills
workshop, joint POD
with Interview skills
workshop
1 Professional demeanour
Communications skills
workshop
1
Professional demeanour,
problem solving skills
Chinese classes for
beginners
2
Professional demeanour, cross-
cultural competency
Derek Bell talk, joint
POD with Career
planning
1
Professional demeanour,
problem solving skills
Accenture and Irish
Times Leaders of
Tomorrow competition
2
Professional demeanour,
problem solving skills
Title of the event: Working in Groups Workshop
Date: 14/11/12
Organizer: Dr. Liz McLoughlin
Location: Nursing Building HG 22
What is a group?
According to Brown (2000) ‘a group exists when two or more people define themselves as
members of it and when its’ existence is recognized by at least one other’. This statement to
me appears to be very accurate as it does not refer to a group any more than it actually is. A
bunch of us have attended a group workshop which was a very valuable experience for me.
The reasons for that are quite few. Firstly we looked at how the groups form and the stages

21. 21 | P a g e
people go through during formation of it, we looked at the leadership competencies that
might shine through in a particular team member, the recognition and adaptation of different
roles in the group, also the things that might go wrong in the group. This was all a useful and
important information to receive, but for me personally the main development happened
when I spoke with Liz about the actual differences in people. As she is a professor in
psychology and my undergraduate degree relates to that highly, I found talking to her and
discussing differences of introvert and extravert people for example joining groups and the
ways to motivate them to express opinions and ideas in the bettering of the outcome of the
group work. We also spoke on how people’s behaviours can be altered significantly once the
circumstances have changed, for example the Zimbardo prison experiment or the Steve
Richters follow up of the original study the BBC prison study.
Recently, I have wrote a short essay while carrying out an exam in the Teaching English as A
Foreign Language online course. They have asked me to consider: how would I react to a
student who is overly enthusiastic and is not allowing any of his/her classmates to talk? In
answering the question I considered the ways to motivate that person while not
overshadowing the rest of the class and allowing everyone express themselves equally. I
considered being the viewer of this and considering how I would improve that group work. It
is a tough task, and it requires the person to be equipped with competencies which I am in the
process of developing, thus it has helped me to put the information in practice.
Working in groups can be enjoyable but also an overwhelming experience. It depends on the
size of the group, the people involved in the group and the position that you take upon in it.
According to Sarkisian and Bok Center (1997) ‘the problems that may occur in the group
might appear because of the lack of clear goals and this may lead to floundering, dominating,
digressions, getting stuck, rush to work, ignoring and ridiculing others’. Thus I believe that it
is important to understand every aspect of a group, weather you look at it from outsiders or
insiders point of view, to discover the differences and to encourage them. Bringing people
together to work for a common goal is a common challenge in school or college, but the most
difficult task is to not allow emotions to take over, to consider the situation you are in
rationally and to take upon this process and consider it as a curve of learning.
Throughout this master’s degree we were given several opportunities of working in groups, to
carry out projects and assignments. There were plenty of functional teams formed and also
quite few dysfunctional ones as well. The main challenge I found, that repeated itself
throughout several group work periods was the attempt by some members to shake off the

22. 22 | P a g e
responsibilities. To elaborate on that a clear example can be provided. In one instance I
worked with four others, to complete a certain assignment. After separating the work load we
decided to meet second time, and have certain questions answered by then. At the second
meeting majority of the team did not have the questions completed and so we decided to do
the questions that were not answered as well as the rest of the questions individually and meet
again a week later to discuss and add together the whole assignment. A week later the
meeting took place, we all added our parts into the google doc created so everyone could read
through. Then suddenly three of the team members announced that they have individual
commitments (Pod’s, other work needed to be done) for this hour, so will not be staying to
help to fix up the assignment. So, me and one of the teammates stayed and did the editing and
altering of the final piece. The frustrating aspect was that some of the pieces given to us were
not relating to the questions asked, so it led to me and my teammate staying in the canteen
and fixing it for 5 hours that day. Throughout the lifespan of our team we all got along very
well, the team was made up of lovely people. The issue seemed to be quite clear though, they
were people who would much rather work on individual assignments, and were not very
strong at working in groups. There are instances were social facilitation kicks in, were people
feel motivated in the presence of others, in other instances it not the case.
I believe that throughout my Undergraduate studies as well as this study year my group
working skills have improved substantially. I am happy and confident to say that I have
learned to handle difficult situations through communication and compromise. In the example
given above, me and my teammate discussed very carefully what should be done about this
abandonment of work by the rest of our team, but after considering the circumstances in that
particular case we decided to chat with our team after the project is submitted and not to take
it to the lecturer. After finishing a presentation for this assignment, we sat down and chatted.
Everyone expressed their views of how the assignment went, and me and my teammate
received a sincere thank you for adding and editing the piece. The set of circumstances (work
load at that particular time) was something that did not allowed them to focus more on this
assignment.
I have learned very much on the importance of communication and empathy in a team.
Despite the fact that we have carried out numerous group projects before this workshop, I can
say with confidence that I started paying attention to my behaviour and it of others after I
attended the class.

23. 23 | P a g e
Proof of participation:
Attendance was taken on the day.

24. 24 | P a g e
Title of the event: Presentation skills workshop
Date: 15/11/12
Organizer: Yvonne McCloughlin
Location: QG27, DCUBS
In the presentation workshop we were explained the basics of delivering a presentation: the
importance of speaking clearly and putting across a point in a coherent and understandable
way. Also we were explained the importance of non-verbal cues. Bill Gates (2004) has noted
cleverly that any tool that enhances communication has profound effects in terms of how
people can learn from each other, and how they can achieve the kind of freedoms that they’re
interested in. Great speakers hold a power to captivate and inspire people. It is a powerful
tool, but the challenge lies in the development of that pool of competencies which allows one

25. 25 | P a g e
to be successful at this. In my opinion successful presenters and orators possess charisma,
confidence, determination, great communication skills and strong motivational competency.
So theoretically it requires a lot of time and effort to achieve these competencies if they do
not come naturally to you.
In his Address (attached at the end) Barack Obama speaks on economics. Obama was elected
during the greatest economic crash since the Great Depression. As he was well known as a
social policy thinker, it was questionable whether he has what it takes to face down the crisis
in the way Franklin D. Roosevelt did in his inaugural address. He was successful addressing
the issues and re-injecting confidence back into an economy plunging into recession,
repossession and retrenchment. “Fresh facts, even old facts presented in a surprising new
way, can have an explosive impact.” Glover (2011) in four years Obama has risen from being
and obscure Illinois state legislator to a viable contender for the most powerful office in the
world for one major reason: he could speak like few others.
Working with people was never an issue for me, I enjoy suggesting ideas, brainstorming with
a group of people and so the only issue for me is the presentations. I have never been a good
public speaker. In fact every time we were asked to present while studying undergraduate
course in college I would try and think of ways of how to get out of it and secretly just
wanting to run away. I never would, but the anxiety, the fear that this caused was something I
would like to work on and improve my ability to present. Despite the fact that I would have
solid ideas to express some sort of “roadblock” would stop me and thus I would rely on my
colleagues who are presenting with me to take over.
Cicero argued that the most knowledgeable and just people have an obligation not just to be
smart and true, but also to become effective orators. He also emphasized that anyone could
learn the techniques of oratory necessary to do a competent job, and those with a natural gift
and willingness to practice hard could also do well; but truly great orators are extremely rare.
“We demand acuteness of a logician, the profundity of a philosopher, the diction virtually of
a poet, the memory of a lawyer, the voice of a performer in a tragic drama, the gestures, you
might say, of an actor at the very top of his profession” Cicero. The Greeks and the Romans
began noticing that, circumstances being similar, some speaking methods tended to achieve
more success than others. They concluded that given person’s mind seemed to respond to
verbal stimuli in predictable way, there must be an art to success in public speaking. So the
two styles of speeches determined back in Ancient Greece included:

26. 26 | P a g e
 Atticism – an austere style that shunned rhetorical excess. Today it would be referred
to as speaking plainly or speaking your mind without any fancy words.
 Asiatic – the best approach is the one suited for the occasion and the audience. Orator
had the option to use any rhetorical weapon at hand – poetic and guttural, logical or
emotional, clean or dirty, whatever worked.
Speeches all tended to have the same basic components. Their speakers had the same limited
number of tasks. Each audience and occasion demanded and appropriate style of drafting and
delivery. A major contribution by Aristotle to oratory was the arguing that the best orators are
those who understand the needs of their audiences the three points expressing that include:
 Logic (logos) – the logical coherency of the speakers’ case backed by evidence.
 Emotion (pathos) – the successful appeal to the audiences’ emotions.
 Character (ethos) – the creation of trust in what the speaker says.
The book, Institutio Oratoria (Training in oratory) was an encyclopaedic reference, which
drew on the works of Cicero and the Greek masters, to set out the most conceivable aspect of
how to educate and train the perfect orator. These techniques are still widely used by todays’
best speakers such as Barack Obama and Sarah Palin.
The understanding of importance of great oratory stems from the antiquity. It is one of the
greatest achievements that a person could accomplish as it allows for the orator to put across
a message in a way so that the Forum (audience) is captivated by it. I have a greater
understanding now of what it entails to become a good orator. It requires skill and
preciseness. Regardless that I do not possess these qualities yet, it does not demotivate me in
fact the contrary is true. I wish to become a strong orator one day as I believe that any job in
the global business environment of todays’ require strong individuals capable to clearly
indicate their ideals and thus motivate the people to follow them in a reach of those.
I believe that I am a poor presenter because I lack quite few of these competencies, so I must
admit that the presentations workshop even though it has been of value in a surface level, in
explaining the main points required for a successful presentation, has not allowed me to
develop the competencies, so I decided to research the skill and with the help of useful tips to
gain further knowledge on how to deliver a better speech.

27. 27 | P a g e
“I know that for many Americans watching right now, the state of our economy is a concern
that rises above all others. And rightly so. If you haven’t been personally affected by this
recession, you probably know someone who has – a friend; a neighbour; a member of your
family. You don’t need to hear another list of statistics to know that our economy is in crisis,
because you live it every day. It’s the worry you wake up with and the source of sleepless
nights. It’s the job you thought you’d retire from but know have lost; the business you built
your dreams upon that’s now hanging by a thread; the college acceptance letter your child
had to put back in the envelope. The impact of this recession is real, and it is everywhere.
But while our economy may be weakened and our confidence shaken; though we are living
through difficult and uncertain times, tonight I want every American to know this: we will
rebuild, we will recover, and the United States of America will emerge stronger than before.
The weight of this crisis will not determine the destiny of this nation. The answers to our
problems don’t lie beyond our reach. They exist in our laboratories and universities; in our
fields and our factories; in the imagination of our entrepreneurs and the pride of the hardest-
working people on Earth. Those qualities that have made America the greatest force of
progress and prosperity in human history we still possess in ample measure. What is required
now is for this country to pull together, confront boldly the challenges we face, and take
responsibility for our future once more.”
Barack Obama, State of the Union Address, 22 February 2009.
The proof of attendance:
Attendance was taken on the day.
http://rutaramanauskaite2.wordpress.com/2012/11/18/perfecting-your-presentation-skills-1-
pod/

28. 28 | P a g e
Title of the event: Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction classes (6 weeks)
Date: 31/10/2012
The Organizer: Helena M. A.
Location: DCU, the HUB
A big crowd of people occupied the HUB on last Wednesday afternoon for the Mindfulness
Based Stress Reduction session. There were 5 of the sessions in total, so 5 weeks. We started
by attempting various breathing exercises, focusing on the present moment and being aware

29. 29 | P a g e
of our surroundings. This was called the ‘Breathing Space Exercise’. After this we were
asked to focus on eating a raisin. Slowly and consciously, which helped us to learn how less
amount of food can satisfy a person once they are fully aware of the fact that they are eating.
It seems simple and basic, but in this POD gathering journey knowledge on how to relax and
let go all the bad emotions for at least a moment can help you to put things into the right
order. The following classes we carried out the full body scan which allowed me to feel
slightly more aware of my body and to understand myself a little bit better. We all had to do a
20 minute breathing exercise which made me aware of every breath I took. It was very
powerful as from the crown of my head to the tips of the toes my body filled up with oxygen
and felt as if I was all by myself, without troubles, ideas or disturbances. We also carried out
the mountain breathing exercise. This was a calming experience that made me feel somehow
in peace with everything around me. In one of the classes we were given a task to walk
mindfully, take each step while being focused and aware of doing it. This made me consider
the rush and the pace of the life I am living. I was not aware of the slow ways in which tasks
may be carried out. Maybe because my approach to variety of tasks is to do them efficiently,
ergo at a fast pace. I found myself critiquing one aspect of these classes though. One hour a
week is not enough time to delete, temporarily everything that is on your mind. In that point
in time, we all were pressed with various projects and assignments to complete, so it was
difficult at times to blank the mind and ‘concentrate’ on being relaxed.
This idea of Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction originated in 1979 and was created by Jon
Kabat-Zinn. This program is in over 250 hospitals around the US and many more around the
world. For supporting people with stress, anxiety, depression, chronic pain, alleviating stress
related to medical conditions etc. According to Baum (2010) ‘mindfulness is a Buddhist
practice adapted to mental health purposes. The essence of mindfulness practice is focusing
on one thing in the moment–each breath you take, each step as you walk, the sights or sounds
around you.’ These sessions made me consider, also, the level of stress we (students) are
undertaking at one time or another during the year of the Master’s program. Stress can be a
powerful motivator and also an enemy to a person. If presented in moderation stress can
become a strong motivator, in instances such as: when we were asked to participate in a
competition Google Online Marketing Challenge. Our team was aware that the rest of the
class is participating as well, and so there was a minor level of stress, as it motivated us to
work harder and achieve better results than our ‘competitors’. This level of stress made the
completion of the challenge a bit more exciting and motivated us to put in a lot more time in

30. 30 | P a g e
the task in order to do better. If, however, stress presented is too much for a person to handle,
it can cause demotivation, dissatisfaction, absenteeism, turnover (biases that may occur in
work place) and even illness. As my Undergraduate degree relates heavily to psychology, I
find human behaviours to be fascinating topic. That led me to consider stress in the
workplace and in college atmosphere, as I too undergo different levels of stress on the regular
basis.
Some jobs are more stressful than others. The greater the extent to which the job requires
decision making, exchange of information repeatedly with others, unpleasant physical
conditions and performance of unstructured tasks the more stressful the job might appear to
the person doing it. For instance, the less involved person is in decision making the more
helpless and alienated he/she feels. Being in a situation where one is socially isolated or
ignored can be another elevator of stress. According to Briner (2001) ‘stress has become a
trivial concept without a clear set of physical symptoms’. This is just partially true, as there
are many symptoms identified today, in those undergoing elevated levels of stress, such as:
noticeable decline in physical appearance, fatigue and tiredness, respiratory infections, health
complaints (headaches, backaches, stomach and skin problems, signs of depression, change
in eating habits). I can strongly say that there were times where I believed to be under a lot of
stress, as I still keep part-time employment throughout my studies. Sometimes it feels to be
too much. So I came up with minor but effective strategies of how to deal with the stress. I
work in ‘AVOCA hand weavers’ café, where I am a waitress, the job is a tough one, as there
are plenty things to do throughout the day. After couple of years of working there I realised
that the time has come for me to find something else. I knew from the beginning that this job
is not going to be a challenging one, but I carried through purely to be able to pay for college.
After I made up my mind, to change jobs and after a thorough search of one, that was
unsuccessful because no other place could offer the convenient working hours, I gave up. So
I decided to stay there until I am finished with my Master’s degree. From that time on, the
job became even more difficult. That was I believe due to the fact that I was set to leave, and
to go back and go on as usual became a challenge. The strategy that helped me to go on was
to start reading at work. Every break I would spend reading something interesting for me,
such as: politics, psychology related articles, books about philosophy, history and economics.
I would then consider these theories, and run them through in my mind, until I’m home and
am able to read more. That gives me the motivation to get through the day, as I am excited to
find out more about the book. It is ‘escapism’ of a sort and I realize that, but tough times

31. 31 | P a g e
require drastic measures, and so mine is not and extreme one, but a successful strategy that
allows me to follow through with the job and still stay motivated.
This is mainly the reason why I decided to sign up and attend the Mindfulness Based Stress
Reduction classes. College presents many challenges and it is a good thing. Although there
are times when I find myself trying to wrap my mind around the numerous things there are to
do, and it makes it difficult not to drop everything. This is just an extreme thought, triggered
by escalated levels of stress that overwhelm us all once in a while. The trick is to come up
with something of your own, and to manage these levels of stress. These sessions did not
influenced me directly. I cannot say that I am eating, walking or breathing mindfully after I
completed them. What it did thought me though, was that I do need to take time off for
myself once in a while. To take a half an hour out of the day and to take a walk, or go for a
jog. Activities like that make a big difference, for the mind, for the body and for the soul.
This is my strategy of coping with college now, and I can strongly say that it was inspired by
these classes.
Proof of attendance:
http://rutaramanauskaite2.wordpress.com/2012/10/

32. 32 | P a g e
Title of the event: Making impact with your CV and cover letter
Interview skills workshop with Accenture

33. 33 | P a g e
Date: 23-25/10/12
Organizer: Yvonne McLoughlin
Brian S.
Location: QG15, Q220 DCUBS
Yvonne McLoughlin careers adviser and student academic support officer with DCU delivered
a very handy workshop on what employers are looking for in your CV and cover letter. It gave
a clear understanding on what are the usual dos and don’ts. As Noel Maher from “Fidelity”
(2013) has put it employers are not looking for over-crowded CV’s with information that is
irrelevant. He also stressed the issue of generated CV’s that employers receive daily, and which
goes to the “no” pile 100% of the time.
I found that interesting, because for as long as I have been applying for jobs I have never
altered a CV individually for each company. I have always sent the same generated CV and
expected good results. According to AbsoluteCV.co.uk (2012) ‘there are several banal phrases
usually found on CVs that employers can usually find in 90% on the ones they receive’. These
are something that I have been using for years, and only realized now that these are. For
example:
1. My experience gives me advantage over other candidates
2. I am the right candidate for this position
3. I am passionate, capable etc.
These are just few phrases that I used in my CV believing strongly that this will give me an
advantage over others. This session made me think that the CV should reflect the best of me
and show a potential employer specific competencies that I possess and that are suited for that
job description. Another advantage of this workshop was that we learned how a CV should be
structured. Also, important things to remember:
The main point in writing a CV is to remember that when applying for a different position the
CV has to be altered, as mentioned above, to show off the capabilities you can bring to that
particular job and how you would bring value to the organization itself.

34. 34 | P a g e
Few other points to remember when writing the CV: it is not necessary to put in Curriculum
Vitae at the top of your CV, try not to use your usual e-mail address and develop a new one
which sounds more appropriate, in the education column it is important to explain relevant
modules carried out in school, university etc., in the work experience column relevant work
experience should be pointed out and on the bottom of it, it is acceptable to put in other work
experience. If mentioning volunteering work it is important to describe the outcomes of it e.g.
skills gained etc., it is acceptable to put in the URL’s of your LinkedIn or E-portfolio profiles,
it is important to have your Voice Mail activated, so the employers could contact you. There is
no need to put in the date of birth, the gender or a photo in a CV, interests and achievements
column in an important one so it is essential to utilize it. If one of the interests is travelling, it
is important to give clear outcomes of it and explain what has been gained from the experience.
Few useful tips on writing the cover letter were suggested and these include: keep it short, up
to one page, if writing to the named person the end should be” yours sincerely”, if Dear
Sir/Madam the end should be” yours faithfully”, three clear paragraphs.
I attended the interview skills workshop as well for two particular reasons. Firstly, because of
the fact that I am familiar with undertaking an interview but did not know the proper and
effective strategies of doing it, secondly the fact that Accenture member was the one delivering
it was an influencing factor to me. I am considering a business consulting career for the future,
so it was very useful to hear specific requirements that they have for the candidates as I might
be one of them in the near future.
Brian emphasized many things required for an effective and successful interview. A lot of them
were common sense and some of it I already knew, but there were aspects that I was not so
much familiar with and one of them really caught my attention. Brian stressed the importance
of avoiding negative language during the interview. He explained that it is important to try and
avoid such words as but…, only…, just… because they are considered negative language. It
was something new to me as these words are very common in my vocabulary and used
simultaneously in any conversation. This idea made me think what should I replace these with
also about how important it is to prepare for every interview and understand not only what you
are ought to talk about but also how to talk about it. I have never considered these to be
somewhat negative, so it arose many questions. One of my biggest passions is learning different
languages and English is something that I started learning when I was five, so I automatically
assumed that by now, having done my undergraduate degree here in Ireland and engaging

35. 35 | P a g e
myself in various different experiences that would be carried out in English would mean that I
would be familiar with the language well enough to know the types of language appropriate
for different situations, but from this I came to understanding that there are still plenty things
to learn.
According Calvin Sun (2012) People react to us, and shape their perceptions of us, based on
the way we say things to them. Which means that if appropriately spoken and given clear and
positive perception of things people, would understand and intake the information very openly
and with no particular attitude towards us. Lukaszewsky’s (2001) The dictionary of non-
communication states that negative language is a non-communication entity and that it works
like the “roadblock” in communication.
I can honestly state that this was a worthwhile hour as I was able to meet someone from a
company that I admire as well as to question something that as previously thought was a very
common knowledge. This workshop as well as the CV writing session made sense as they
allowed me to tie the leads to what I thought I already knew well enough. It helped to
understand that there are always things to discover and improve upon.
The proof of my attendance:
http://rutaramanauskaite2.wordpress.com/

36. 36 | P a g e

37. 37 | P a g e
Event: Communications skills workshop
Host: Amanpreet Sahota
Date: 15/03/2013
Venue: Q218
‘I wish I had some way to make a bridge from man to man… Man is all we got’
Cross Daman (1986)
Communication is one of the basic possessions that a human being is entitled to. It is as a bridge
of a sort that enables us to give and receive information. A bunch of us attended a
communications workshop with two teaching assistants. It was a very hands on workshop that
awakened us to understand the mistakes we are making when communicating on daily basis.
The workshop ran for approximately 4 hours, during which we were occupied with a variety
of activities to encourage communication in various different situations. We learned that what
we say only holds 7% of importance for the listener, however how you say it holds the greatest
importance 97%. Amanpreet also explained to us that over 70% of mistakes made in the
workplace are associated with poor communication. She emphasized the 3V’s of
communication: Verbal, Visual and Vocal.

38. 38 | P a g e
Image taken from: Ivanteh-runningman.blogspot.ie (2013)
The first task of the workshop was to try and get the other person (who is not very keen) to
elaborate and to give you information about themselves. I asked the TA ‘what she had for
breakfast?’ She answered me very briefly – ‘porridge’. So I asked her about the brand of
porridge she buys, how is she enjoying different flavours of this particular brand, and which
supermarkets are ones that she usually goes to. At the end of this exercise, we were having a
nicely flowing conversation. So I believe this was a success. The second exercise was to
describe for a person sitting behind me what is the figure on the sheet of paper distributed.
Except we were not allowed to talk, only to say yes or no to the questions the person behind
me was asking. This exercise went ok, as me and my teammate were able to communicate well
enough to draw the figure that was on the sheet with a limited amount of communication. The
third exercise was, I thought, the most valuable as we were asked to read a scenario and to act
in front of the class with one of the TA’s help. I was given the role of Jane, a team leader in a
financial organisation. I had to deal with Sarah’s being late problem. This exercise was
recorded, which made us much more nervous, but also social facilitation occurred where people
wanted to perform well, including me. The exercise went well, even though I was very nervous.
Aristotle outlined the basic model of communication back in 336BC. Whereas he viewed
rhetoric as an expression of art, we tend to see it today more as an experience. So

39. 39 | P a g e
communication is an experience between speaker and listener. This experience includes three
major components. These are: the message – the speaker shares a specific message with the
listener. The messages do not need to be limited to words that are spoken, rather they are
conveyed by facial expressions, gestures, physical appearance and tone of voice. Majority of
the message is communicated at the non-verbal level. The speaker- is the second component.
The speaker adds another dimension of complexity to the message. He/she is in control, and
determines how the message will be released. The audience- is the last component. When the
very same message is delivered by the very same speaker it will still not be perceived the same
way by everybody. Different listeners, different audiences will react differently. The factors
determining of how the message will be perceived include: background of the audience and
attitudes and beliefs.
As Howe (n.d.) has put it: ‘a barrier to communication is something that keeps meanings from
meeting. Meaning barriers exist between all people, making communication much more
difficult than most people seem to realize.’ These barriers are high risk responses. These
roadblocks are commonly used by persons in stressful situations.
This workshop helped me in two ways. Firstly, I have realised that I possess a lot more
roadblocks than I would like to. The use of negative words, such as but…, just… etc. is
common in my vocabulary, and so I have decided to pay a lot more attention to the way I speak,
and improve things when I discover a poorly selected words. This is a challenging task, but I
do wish to try and improve my communication through more active listening, empathy,
reduction of negative words and through expressing my ideas much clearly. Secondly, this
class helped me see what I was doing wrong, with the assignments and projects throughout the
year. In the first semester we did a group work assessment workshop, and we received feedback
a while later. In the feedback there was a piece of structured criticism explaining that my
weakness is that I do not read well enough into the question to understand what I am actually
asked to do. After doing the workshop, I now see that these two activities relate in a way that
they allowed me to see clearly that this is in fact a major roadblock. I have always rushed
through reading the questions for assignments, it’s like I could not wait to get them over and
done with, so the process itself would be very rushed. I do realize now, though, that it is the
same way in my verbal communication. I do not listen well, that has been pointed out by my
friends, my family on occasions, but I would always defend myself saying, that I am just deep
in the thought. I am happy to say now, that I can see the problem and am very much willing to
work on it to become a strong communicator. This skill is something of great demand in

40. 40 | P a g e
virtually every workplace globally. I believe that through actively setting myself to
communicate more clearly I can open myself pathways to bigger networking possibilities and
ultimately, maybe, a better career.
Proof of attendance:
Attendance sheet was distributed on the day to sign.

41. 41 | P a g e
Title of the event: Chinese classes for beginners
Date: 15/11/2012
The host: Weiming Liu
Location: SALIS
In the Chinese class for beginners that was run for 5 weeks we were thought the very basics
of the Mandarin Chinese. The structure of the course was constructed as many beginners
language courses including teachings of pronunciation and the structure of the sentences. As
well as that we learned different topics for each of the classes. We familiarised with the
different tones of voice that are necessary when pronouncing each word. It was something
new and challenging as it is not the usual way in which Western cultures speak. We also
familiarised with topics such as food, drink, family names and pet names.
Chinese language was originally spoken by the Han Chinese and is spoken by about one-fifth
of the total population of Earth. It is one of the two Sino-Tibetan languages and features
much internal diversity. There are around seven dialects of Chinese, including Mandarin,
Cantonese, Hakka, Wu, Min, Xiang and Gan. Since China opened its’ doors to the world,
there has been a positive growth in the economy. It’s an emerging destination for economic
migration. With the substantial growth of the technology driven world it is crucial to move
along with the set out pace. With the stable growth presented by majority of Eastern
economies Chinese is one of the languages which created turmoil around the spoken world.
English and Spanish are the languages that spoken most commonly around the world, but
Chinese language will change the current situation in few years, as it has been forecasted that
it will become the commonly spoken language as well as one mostly used on the internet.
During last summer I had a chance to visit university of Cambridge were I was studying
Ancient Empires. While over there we (the group with whom I did the course) were brought
to the Fitzwilliam museum were the curator of the museum introduced us to the exhibition of
artefacts from Han Dynasty. This was a fascinating experience, learning about Jade armour
and its meaning in Han dynasty, the importance of the surroundings of the Middle Kingdom
(the meaning in Chinese for China), meaning of the emperor for the people was very

42. 42 | P a g e
educating. The information gained from that exhibition sparked an interest in the Chinese
culture ancient as well as present, and also the language. This was my driving force that
encouraged me to enrol in this course. I wish to join this fast paced world and to do so, I must
be equipped with tools that would help me achieve a strong career prospects. These classes
certainly done their job to spark an interest in my in Chinese language, but not only that. I
found myself researching about the overall Chinese culture, the requirements of doing
business in China and the etiquette of business conduct. Through the research I have
discovered that, according to Zimmermann (2013) ‘The teachings of Confucius — which
stress obedience and deference to elders and responsibility to community — are a dominant
part of the Chinese culture.’ As China is a collectivist country with the largest population in
the world. Government was faced with a problem of providing quality of life, so
consequently introduced and promoted the one child family. To expand more on the cultural
values, they include the importance of family, cultivation of morality, hierarchical structure
of social life and the emphasis on hard work and achievement. Values that govern business
practices in China include setting up appointments at least one to two months in advance and
preferably in writing, punctuality in China is a virtue, late arrival would be considered an
insult, Confucian work ethic, polite bow upon meeting someone. As a Communist country
China’s religion is ‘not an organized, unified program of beliefs and practices. It has no
headquarters, no leadership, no denominations and no founder. Rather, "Chinese religion"
can be a common term utilized to describe the complex interaction of different religious and
philosophical traditions that have been especially influential in China’ (hanban.com, n.d.).
The food, the arts and even the clothing has a rich history and ritual behind it. According to
hanban.com (n.d.) ‘Chinese clothes will be the clothes, ancient and modern day, which the
Chinese folks wore. Chinese clothes have varied by area and time, and are recorded by the
artefacts and arts of Chinese culture’. These and many more factors make up this fascinating
and mysterious culture.
When learning the basics of the symbols, I got interested in the Chinese alphabet. But after
doing some reading discovered that there is no alphabet in Chinese language. Chinese
symbols appear to be debatable topic still, as no one can really say how many there actually
are. Back in the 18th century, European scholars approximated them to be about 80,000. This
is still subject to debate because the character count varies by dictionary and its
comprehensiveness. According to Mauspfeil.net (n.d.):

43. 43 | P a g e
 Kangxi Dictionary lists about 40,000
 Modern Zhonghua Zihai lists in excess of 80,000 (the most comprehensive Japanese
kanji dictionary Daikanwa Jiten lists 50,000 entries)
It is usually said that around 3,000 characters are needed for basic level of literacy in Chinese
(to read a Chinese newspaper). A well educated person will know more, around 4,000 to
5,000 characters or more. It is not actually necessary to know a character for every known
word of Chinese due to the fact that the majority of modern Chinese words are actually
compounded of two, generally common characters. According to About.com (2013)
‘Chinese is not alphabetic so the writing is not related to its phonetics. We don't translate the
Western alphabet since the letters have no meaning, and we do use the letters in writings,
especially in scientific writings. For an English word, the Chinese translation often consists
of two or more Chinese characters. You should use them together and read them from left to
right.’ This was explained to us in the class as well, as we were learning to write the symbols
(upon the completion we knew over 20, including numbers). There are two ways to read the
symbols. You are able to read them from left to right as mentioned above or arranged
vertically. We were reading the symbols from the class notes and they were written from left
to write. What comes to the tones of the language there are usually four (collectively called
pinyin) and each of those tones are used for specific symbols, so once a person pronounces
something listener can hear up to four different tones in that one word. Also two different
forms of Chinese characters include the traditional and the simplified. ‘The simplified is the
standard writing form employed in the mainland of China and the traditional form is mainly
used in Taiwan and Hong Kong.’ (About.com, n.d.) ‘The first official list of simplified form
characters appeared in 1956. Many additions and modifications to the original list were
adopted since. The list included 6500 simplified characters. Nowadays the simplified form
characters are used in China and in Singapore. The traditional form characters are still use in
Taiwan, in Hong Kong and in most of the overseas Chinese communities.’ (Parent, 2003)
In general I very much enjoy languages. In fact learning different languages is a main hobby
for me. I have attempted to learn Italian and am in the progress of self-teaching French and
Spanish. The Chinese class developed somewhat of a curiosity in me as I wish to pursue this
further and maybe pick up a yearlong course after I am finished with the Master’s degree.
The teaching method of Weiming Liu was very slow pace which allowed me to absorb the
necessary information. The topics were easy but handling different words and keeping the

44. 44 | P a g e
pronunciation right presented a challenge. This is why I developed a need to know more
about the history behind the symbols and the minimum requirement of those in order to
understand and speak the basic Chinese. As mentioned above, the general requirement for
someone who just wishes to have a basic conversational Chinese and would like to be able to
read a newspaper would require the knowledge of approximately 3000 characters. For a
higher level Chinese the number goes up. This is something that I am willing to work on and
develop with time. I have learned a lot in these five weeks: the four tones, the pronunciation
of the words we learned, words from several different topics and as well as that developed a
curiosity for the Chinese culture. I am keen to learn more and to be able to apply this
knowledge in communicating with people. In order to catch up with the fast pace with which
this global society is moving I believe I should utilize my ability of learning languages and
adapt to fit the requirements of potential employers as well as to push myself further.
Proof of participation:
http://rutaramanauskaite2.wordpress.com/2012/11/18/chinese-classes-for-beginners-5-weeks-
2-pods/

45. 45 | P a g e

46. 46 | P a g e
Event: Brand protection and career development/ Career planning
Host: Derek Bell/ Yvonne McLaughlin
Date: 02/04/13, 19/02/2013
Location: QG15, QG21
As part of the Management and Personality Development theme I participated in two events
that were valuable in few different ways. First event was the Careers office arranged
presentation on career planning with Yvonne McLaughlin. Yvonne explained to us the
importance of recognizing the mission statement of the company to familiarize with the way
the company functions. She emphasized the values, interests, personality and skills and
attributes that would create opportunities in a company which would value and motivate the
particular traits possessed by the employee. She also spoke of the importance of bringing
something into the company, therefore the key skills that would be advantageous in a certain
role. Skills are transferable as they can be transferred to different situations, so it is important
to present potential employer with various situations in which the certain skills shine through.
By understanding that a person possesses that skill potential one can see that the skill might be
adapted to a certain situation in the organization. Another important point emphasized by
Yvonne was that before even applying for positions it is crucial to understand the area one
wishes to work in so that the main focus would be on researching the company and preparing
well to apply for it. Yvonne spoke of the life space roles which we all possess. We were asked
to consider what these roles tell us about ourselves.
The changing employer landscape is another thing to consider, the changing of jobs more
frequently is becoming much more common through lifetime of individuals. We were advised
to meet with representatives of a company that we admire and to approach them with questions
of what they expect from potential employees and what are their essential requirements. As
well as that, when job hunting it is important to establish the main areas of interest, attend
presentations by the employer, network and read web based case studies.
The second event was hosted by Derek Bell. The main topics covered by him included:
redundancy – the definition of it as well as the reasons for it. Change – the adoption of change
in an organisation and in the person himself/herself. Outplacement – ways of facilitating

47. 47 | P a g e
terminated employee’s job search. Career- the important things to consider. I believe that these
two events create a thorough personal opportunity of development, as several important aspects
are covered, in organizational level as well as in the personal.
‘The term redundancy is used where an employee’s position ceases to exist and the employee
is not replaced. The reasoning for the redundancy situation could be the financial position of
the firm, lack of work, reorganization within the firm or it may be closing down completely’
(Pyne, 2013). Redundancy levels in Ireland has accelerated in recent years due to the
overwhelming global financial crisis that snuck into businesses as well as households. Despite
the fact that the situation is getting better slowly, there is still a need to be cautious and to
possess knowledge of handling redundancies. According to Lkshields.ie (2012) ‘it is advisable
for employers to consult with employees when the proposal to make redundancies is in its
formative stage, before any decisions have been made at management or board level in relation
to such proposals’. Employees should have an opportunity to put forward considerations of
how to avoid redundancies. As well as that, once a person is made redundant it is the
managements’ responsibility to assist the former employee as much as they can in achieving
new employment prospects. These are some steps that could be taken by organisations as
explained by tpub.com (n. d.):
 Federally and state funded company retraining programs
 Job search assistance
 Temporary work space
 Workshops on interview skills and resume preparation
 Access to computers, telephones, and job search library
‘In a job market where employers are spoilt for choice, working with an outplacement company
can make the fundamental difference between getting the job offer you want or failing to even
get on the shortlist’ (Telegraph.co.uk, 2013). Indeed, therefore it is advantageous to utilize the
resources available for one self in the organization.
Change is another important factor in organizations. An example would be of companies that
have chosen a strategy of joint venture with another company. As well as that, relocation,
reorganization etc. From the view of regular employee this type of change might be perceived
as a threat to their employment. Therefore, it is highly important to understand the importance
of functional change implementation, to communicate the upcoming change to the staff and to
help them perceive it as essential, for the better good of the firm.

48. 48 | P a g e
Career – was the last topic covered by Derek. Yvonne and Derek collaboratively made me
understand that in order to achieve goals set by one self, structure is needed. Derek emphasized
the importance of creating a career plan. Typically a five-year rotating plan, that indicates the
goals to be achieved. Yvonne, therefore elaborated on that, by providing us with tips of how to
succeed in a company.
Both events were informative, but also basic in a sense that I was aware of these aspects
already. However, they reminded me of the importance of applying the knowledge you have.
They also showed me that, in order to succeed in any career path chosen, structure is essential.
I have set out be a continuous learner, to role with times and be on top of events that might
alter the organization I am in. I understand, now the importance of networking, of creating
wider connections for self. Communication, in my view is a key. Through, listening and
understanding co-workers and management better decisions can be made. Ergo, I believe that
these personal opportunities of development have done, what they set out to-remind of the
important aspects in organisation, that we often overlook.
Proof of attendance:
The attendance was taken at both events.

49. 49 | P a g e
Title of the event: The Leaders of Tomorrow Award
Date: 26/11/2012
The organizer: Accenture and Irish Times
Location: online
In the late November me and my course mate decided to enter the Leaders of Tomorrow
competition. Accenture, in association with The Irish Times have established the Leaders of
Tomorrow Award. Participants in the Accenture Leaders of Tomorrow Award 2013 had a
chance to submit an idea that was developed throughout the competition into a viable
business concept. The successful finalists take part in a series of leadership development days
around the theme of Entrepreneurship, Leadership and Innovation which include guest
speakers and one-to one mentoring. The final round involves presenting the idea to a panel of
Irish business leaders. The overall winners take part in the Accenture Leadership Experience
Tour to some of Accenture's global innovation centres followed by an Incubation Internship
with Accenture to develop the business idea. With only the idea behind us we applied. The
idea was inspired by the Sustainability conference we have attended earlier in the year. It
included restructuring the existing infrastructure of public transportation in Dublin. The
alternative to it we thought could be the electric buses, that would run on the Lithium ion
batteries with the help of the newly developed durathon battery by GE. The joint advantage
of the two would allow for less waste of energy as it would hold a much larger charge, ergo
using energy strictly for the running of the vehicle and reducing the waste of energy.
The initial idea submission was successful and so we went through to the second round which
then required us to develop a business pitch. We were given certain guidelines to follow in
order to deliver a structured and well researched pitch. We started researching the topic and
eventually came up with a thorough pitch that we thought was covering every aspect of our
idea. We started by briefly explaining what the business will be all about:
‘“Green Bus Dublin” service will provide purely electrically run buses to replace the existing
infrastructure of compressed natural gas run vehicles and thus introduce a more sustainable
way of commuting around the city and expectantly lead to eventual expansion around the

50. 50 | P a g e
country. The obvious advantages of the green buses will include less noise, no pollution and
of course the preservation of the scarce resources of our planet. Several countries around the
world have already expressed the need for electrical bus services so the demand is growing.
Countries such as USA, Canada, Russia, Germany, UK, India have been using electrical
buses or/and trains for quite few years. Ireland as an epicentre of global trade and
international relations is a perfect candidate to implement these innovative means of public
transportation. Leading to further advocacy of sustainability ideals around the world as well
as setting of a path to a cleaner, brighter future. Energy conservation, environmental
protection and sustainable development are the key global issues right now. According to the
keynote speech by Robert Latimer from Rutgers University in the Sustainability conference
Dublin 2012 it is our responsibility to reach for a future where we are Too Big to Fail!’
As can be seen our main focus was to create a more sustainable alternative to the way we
commute around the city and consequently all around the country. In developing our pitch we
researched the recent publications and forecasts to the potential future of the electric buses.
There were many alternatives from hybrid electric, plug-in hybrid, fuel cell lithium ion
batteries, capacitor usage as the energy storing device, wireless charge electric buses etc. The
information we gained allowed us to think like entrepreneurs in terms of critically evaluating
the costs and time needed in development of the idea. All of it was very valuable to us, as the
drive of developing the pitch came from the passion we had not only about starting up our
own business, but also because we felt we were given a chance to make a difference. We
continued on explaining the main features of our product and the customers whose needs we
will be satisfying.
‘According to Pike Research Fuel cells and battery electric buses are still in the development
stage, with the cost of needed batteries and ultra-capacitors still as a barrier to wider usage.
The growing interest in electric buses is expected to create an increased demand for the
lithium ion batteries, one of the ways that electric buses can be powered. Pike Research
estimates that this demand will grow 42 percent annually over the next six years. The electric
buses that will replace the Dublin Bus service will have quite similar appearance to the
example ones. The battery will be placed on the roof and the bottom of the bus (a bigger
battery) allowing for quick and easy charge. The charge on the top battery will only take 3-4
minutes while the bus is stopped and the bigger battery will be charged once the bus is back
into the station. The capacity of the double Decker Dublin Bus (RV) reaches up to 98

51. 51 | P a g e
passengers. The capacity of the Green Bus will reach up to 81 seats depending on the model.
The buses will be able to travel 155 miles on a single charge on city streets, and feature an
energy consumption rate of less than 130kwh per 62 miles.’
‘With the cost of fossil fuel spiking and the battery technology improving, electric drive
buses are a long-term prospect that benefits everyone. Transit authorities could eventually see
lower fuel costs, while customers and the general public enjoy quieter vehicles and breathe
easier thanks to lower emissions. Pike Research, which analyses clean technology markets,
estimates that the global market for electric drive buses will grow more than 25 percent
annually over the next six years. This will inevitably reach Ireland as well as the demand
already exists!’
As we discovered Dublin bus occupies only a small part of the Public Bus services in Ireland
(including Railink, School Link, Airlink, Nitelink, Dart and Bus services) the implementation
on the electric bus service we thought would be the stepping stone into the overall change in
the bus service around Dublin and around the rest of Ireland eventually. We believe that by
providing pollution free transportation we will give people a choice that is scarcely needed.
Through researching several blogs around Ireland on this topic we discovered that a great
deal of individuals are dissatisfied with Bus Eireann services. However, because they are the
only bus company that provides such transportation service, a customer is forced to use this
particular product. Our Green Bus service will create the freedom of choice for the customer.
A little while ago, for our NGM class we were asked to watch a movie and select main
leaders we identify from it. Then we had to identify the competencies that the leaders possess
and analyse those. Upon the completion of this competition I read through the things we as a
team wrote on the leaders that we selected. I realised that I was only seeing the surface of the

52. 52 | P a g e
perceived leadership in these film characters. I did not actually realised what it meant to be a
leader. I cannot strongly say that I’m a leader now, but what I can say is that I have been able
to identify in myself the qualities of leadership that I needed to develop when carrying out
this project. It made me think as a leader. According to Friedrich Nietzsche (n.d.) ‘to do great
things is difficult; but to command great things is more difficult.’ This is a description of a
great leader that I can now relate to, in terms of slowly getting where I want to be. I see
myself as a person who is capable of doing great things and through this competition I have
realized that. If I was to have a chance to rewrite the piece on leader competencies I would
include things such as: patience, integrity, empathy, ability to listen and compromise,
tolerance, motivation of self and others as well as the ability to follow through with ideas
I will use this experience in interviews in the future, to display how I have evolved to
understand these competences. In a workplace these and others that I have gained through
this year will be a guiding factor for me. I wish to be a strong leader in the future. This
opportunity, I believe, was one of the most valuable personal opportunities of development to
date as I was put in a situation where I had to make things happen for myself (through writing
this piece of work and anticipating of the outcome) as well as that it allowed me to motivate
other (making my teammate realise the potential we had in this to start with, and through
compromising of numerous decisions). Other POD’s that have benefited me included:
working in groups workshop, communications workshop, presentation skills workshop.
These collaboratively allowed me to think in different terms. To see what it’s really like
working in teams with others for a period of time, to understand my weaknesses as an orator
and my communications roadblocks. Through research and application of these I can see
change in me towards becoming a stronger, better person, and more suited for challenging job
opportunities that lie ahead.
Proof of participation:
http://rutaramanauskaite2.wordpress.com/2012/11/26/irish-times-and-accenture-the-leaders-
of-tomorrow-1-pod/

53. 53 | P a g e