Categories
Career planning

My experience of taking part in the Future-Ready Skills for Leader’s Programme

Queen’s University Belfast Masters student, Malavika Mahendranath, talks us through her highlights of the Future-Ready Skills for Leaders programme. Take it away Malavika…

I am more than excited to share my reflections on an incredible journey I embarked upon during the “Future-Ready Skills for Leaders 2024” competitive session in the month of March.

Over three intense and insightful days, my team and I ventured into the challenging yet exhilarating process of designing a business plan, bringing an educational app, “Mentora,” from concept to showcase at the Innovation Fair.

Our mission was to create an app that revolutionizes personalized learning. With activities spanning team formation, developing value propositions, budgeting, and marketing, our goal was to address the educational needs of a diverse learner base.

As part of this dynamic team, I delved into various roles – from brainstorming app features to strategizing our marketing approach. The experience was a profound learning curve, reinforcing the significance of collaborative decision-making and leveraging diverse team strengths.

Our success was not without challenges. Diverse perspectives often meant diverse opinions, but through open dialogue and consensus, we navigated these waters, turning potential conflicts into opportunities for growth and innovation.

The positive reception of “Mentora” at the Innovation Fair was a testament to our hard work and strategic planning. It was rewarding to see our vision resonate with others, validating our efforts and the potential impact of our project.



This journey highlighted my strengths in communication and leadership, while also revealing areas for improvement, such as contingency planning. I’ve learned the importance of adaptability and the value of having a Plan B (and C)

Reflecting on this experience, I’m motivated to further develop my strategic planning and conflict resolution skills. Embracing continuous learning, I aim to apply these insights to future projects, ensuring readiness for whatever challenges come next.

A huge thank you to my teammates, my team facilitators, the guest speakers and Queen’s University Careers service, including Emma Lennox and Becky Law. It was also amazing to be a part of a competitive program with familiar faces.

This experience was not just about developing a product but about shaping future leaders. Here’s to continuous growth and making a difference, one project at a time!





Categories
Careers programmes

Future-Ready Skills for Leaders returns for another fantastic round

2024 saw the return of our popular Future-Ready Skills for Leaders Programme in Careers, Employability & Skills.

Around 50 students took part in this year’s programme, which offers ann opportunity for any student of any discipline or level to build commercial awareness and develop teamwork, management, leadership and presentation/negotiation skills.

Participants worked in teams, through a series fast moving but fun business games and challenges to win prizes. Each team was mentored by an Employer representative.

There were some fantastic business ideas, design skills and prototypes on display, and the teams sold their products well to our team of judges at the Innovation Fair.

Thanks to all the students who took part, and to all the Employers for their help with bringing the business ideas to life this week.

It was a fun three days, with some great opportunities for networking and some new friendships formed. 

We are also happy to announce we came second, (highly commended), at the AHECS Employability Awards in Dublin in the ‘Supporting Student / Graduate Employability’ award category for the Future-Ready Skills for Leaders programme.

Big congratulations to our Careers Consultant Emma Lennox who was managing the programme. The Careers team really enjoyed the awards and communicating the benefits of the programme to other Careers professionals in various educational institutes.

Check out Queen’s University Belfast Masters student Malavika Mahendranat’s blog about their experiences of the three day programme.

Hear what some of our other students had to say about their experiences on the programme:

These few days have been honestly indescribable for me. I had the opportunity to participate in a series of business games and challenges which helped me to develop my teamwork, leadership, and strategic thinking skills. The program was designed to be dynamic and engaging, constantly challenging us to think on our feet and collaborate effectively under pressure. I was also impressed by the diversity of the participants, who came from a variety of disciplines and backgrounds like undergraduates, postgraduates, and PhD students. Overall, it was an unbelievable experience that left a lasting impact on me.

Aaditya Joshi, Queen’s University Belfast student.

As a Humanities postgraduate who does not usually venture into the realm of business events, the FRS-Leaders Program was one phenomenal way for me to begin exploring the unknown, get outside my comfort zone, and to inculcate important values necessary to improve one’s quality of life.

I loved meeting, laughing, creating and collaborating with all of you! Thanks a tonne, Careers Queen’s University Belfast !

Ashwin Somanath, Queen’s University Belfast, Postgraduate Student

I had so much fun completing the Future- Ready skills for leaders programme over the last 3 days! I really enjoyed the challenges , developing my skills and getting to meet new people! A big thank you to everyone involved

Sophie Wylie, Queen’s University Belfast student

I must extend my gratitude to Emma Lennox, (Queen’s Careers Service), for her outstanding training sessions. I always enjoy her program, and I can feel tons of effort behind designing the session, inviting speakers and judges, and preparing those materials. I also learned a lot from Patricia Durkin, (Queen’s Careers Service), about generating a business idea from scratch. We are so solution-driven, and Patricia guided us to consider problems, which was crucial for business and leadership.

Looking forward to working with you in the near future

Yanglu Alex Wang, Queen’s University Belfast, PhD Researcher

Some of my key insights of the Future-Ready Skills for Leaders programme include:
– Leadership is about diverse styles, from leading by example to empowering others.
– Mistakes are part of the journey; resilience and perseverance are key.
– Empathy, anticipation, and confidence are vital for effective leadership.
– Continuous learning is essential; staying curious and seeking knowledge keeps you ahead.
– Engaging in hands-on learning enhances practical problem-solving abilities.

Uma Ravi, Master’s Student, Queen’s University Belfast.

Find out more about the Future-Ready Skills for Leaders programme.