The University of Westminster has recently hosted its second and final What it Takes summer event as part of a mini-series covering career development topics aimed at alumni who graduated in 2020 or earlier.
The established, award-winning series is usually targeted at current Westminster students and recent graduates during term-time, but this time the Alumni Relations Office at the University of Westminster helped graduates at more advanced stages in their career journeys.
The What it Takes to be a Brilliant Boss event took place online on 8 August with 100 Westminster alumni and colleagues in attendance. Graduates had the opportunity to listen to keynote speaker and Westminster alumnus Tom Armitage give a practical and engaging talk with lots of top tips and advice on how to build effective management skills.
Armitage graduated with an MA in Personnel and Development in 2011 and currently is Head of Talent and Performance at The Telegraph where he oversees the talent and learning strategy for 1,100 employees, promoting a culture of continuous growth and performance excellence. During the talk, Armitage discussed the magic ingredients of good people management, how to build trust with your team and the importance of communicating clearly and handling challenging conversations.
A Q&A session was held after the talk, led by event host Iram Sial, Careers Consultant for the Careers and Employability Service at the University of Westminster.
The What it Takes event series features exciting and innovative alumni speakers who share their experiences and offer advice on a range of topics, including employability and personal and professional development.
About the event one audience member said: "Tom was very clear and concise. He gave very practical examples which were extremely helpful!"
Another added: "Tom was very knowledgeable of the subject matter. He was articulate, engaging and a good presenter!"
This event directly contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth. Since 2019, the University of Westminster has used the SDGs holistically to frame strategic decisions to help students and colleagues fulfil their potential and contribute to a more sustainable, equitable and healthier society.
Watch the event recording on the Alumni YouTube channel.
Find out more about the What it Takes event series at the University of Westminster.
