The online alumni event series ‘What It Takes’ returned to Westminster with advice on how to turn virtual networks into opportunities.
The ‘What It Takes’ series is targeted at current students and recent graduates, and features a range of exciting and innovative alumni speakers sharing their experience on an array of topics. The event also focuses on employability, personal and professional development. On 4 November, ‘What It Takes’ featured a speaker that discussed the importance of professional networks, and how it can be vital to success as a student, professional or entrepreneur.
Alumnus Rituja Rao, a 2018 Journalism BA graduate at Westminster, is an award-winning IT Consultant and emerging thought leader in the UK tech industry, with a background in financial services and digital transformation. She is currently a Management Consultant specialising in Tech Delivery at Capco, a global business and technology consultancy.
The talk included ways to find a platform that works for you, and how to meet people online and stay connected. She also provided an insight into how to define your personal brand and find your own niche, as well as ways to leverage your personal network to enhance your job search, or take your business to the next level.
Rituja is also an industry speaker, passionate about graduate careers in tech regardless of STEM degrees, diversity and inclusion and career management. She is also a strong advocate of skills diversity in tech organisations, and currently mentors other young people, empowering girls to pursue a career in tech. Ritjua is also the winner of the Future Stars of Tech: IT Manager award 2020 and TechWomen100 Awards by We Are The City.
Approximately 130 students and graduates attended the event, and left some of the following comments:
“The way Rituja explained everything was nice and clear. I learnt so much about taking virtual connections to the next level. The most important thing I learnt about is how to create our own personal brands. I now feel like I know what I need to do!”
“Thanks so much! This really helped with my confidence.”
“Thank you for reminding me to get on track for personal branding.”
The next What It Takes event will be ‘What it Takes to get into Research and Innovation’ on 16 November.
