Jenny Garrett OBE, alumna of the Business Administration BA (now Business Management BA) course presented on the What it Takes to be an Influential Communicator event, as part of the What it Takes event series.
Garrett is an award-winning career coach, author and leadership trainer. She and her team support women and people from Black, Asian and Ethnic minority backgrounds to progress at work. She was awarded OBE in the Queen’s New Year Honours in 2021 for services to Entrepreneurship and Women in Business.
Talking about the event, David Brooks, Alumni Relations Officer, said: “It was fantastic to welcome Jenny back to Westminster for an insightful talk about our different communication styles. There was a lot for students and graduates to take away, reflect on and apply throughout their careers when interacting with people. We really appreciate Jenny generously giving her time once again to support the Westminster community.”
At the event, Garrett talked about how to improve and adapt one’s communication approach to influence others. During the interactive session students and recent graduates could enhance their understanding of unique communication preferences, explore how cultural values can impact connecting with others and how to bridge through them. Referring to Carl Jung’s colour theory of personalities, Garrett encouraged the participants to develop their interpersonal skills to create better personal and professional relationships. At the end of the event, a Q&A session also took place.
About 120 students and recent graduates attended, with participants saying that the session was helpful to express their thoughts more effectively. Many were inspired by Garrett’s excellent communication techniques, that helped her move forward in her career. Others were amazed by the way the event was organised, including the introductions, the presentation, and the real-life examples used.
One participant said: “Jenny has been so lovely and helpful throughout the event; you could really see how much she enjoys helping and educating others.”
Another added: “I found the session quite stimulating; Carl Jung's colour theory made the presentation engaging and propelled me to think correctly about where exactly I belonged in that array. It was a fantastic moment for me to exercise some introspection.”
Watch the What it Takes to be an Influential Communicator event recording on YouTube.
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