Friday Footnote # 134

Each week we share loads of content amongst Team ION and with our network. Content that inspires us, which we find helpful, or just makes us smile. We thought we would start sharing these insights every Friday. Welcome to Friday Footnote.

Looking Back, Looking Forward 

In nearly 14 years, we have supported nearly 2000 individuals to become extraordinary leaders. On Tuesday 27th June our Swansea team are hosting the Looking Back, Looking Forward event at the Swansea University Great Hall on the Bay Campus.

The invitations to all of our alumni - LEAD Wales and ION leadership - as well as our friends and industry partners, have all gone out. We've had a few reports of invitations getting lost in Junk Email folders etc, so we will be getting in touch with everyone again over the next few days. If you haven't received an invitation yet, and are interested in attending, please contact Adam or Sibil on ionleadership@swansea.ac.uk.  

We have an exciting agenda for the day including:

• Alumni Q&A panel discussion, including; Rachael Flanagan of Mrs Bucket, Shaun Welsh of Trojan Group, Bhupinder Sidhu of Business Butler, Stephanie Griffiths of Chwarae Teg

• An opportunity to take part in an ION leadership interactive experiential activity, which will change the way you think about how you lead in your business

• Swansea University Director of Research, Engagement & innovation Services, Ceri Jones, and ION leadership Programme Lead Suzanne Parry Jones, sharing their thoughts on 14 years of LEAD Wales/ION leadership

• Opportunities to find out more about how you, and your business, can be supported by Swansea University, and its many programmes / initiatives, including Swansea Employability Academy and Executive Education at the School of Management.

There will also be plenty of opportunities throughout the day to network with your fellow alumni, former team members and industry and university partners. So if you are an alumini - why not get your cohort back together? 

If you are interested in finding out more, and joining us on the 27th, you can sign up here. 

Keep an eye on our social media channels, and your email inbox, over the next few days and weeks, for further updates. 

Change is the only constant

This week saw us return to the Swansea University School of Management for our latest leadership masterclass with team leaders from Tokio Marine HCC. This weeks session, led by Jane Baker from our delivery team, focused on Planning & Implementing Change, with the delegates covering; reasons for change, elements needed for successful change, understanding and identifying change in their organisation using a SWOT and PESTLE analysis and identifying how to determine the forces for and against change. 

This was the first of a 2-part masterclass covering the subject of change, with the delegates next time discussing managing change, being a change leader, and understanding resistance to change and the emotional cycle. 

If you are interested in finding out more about how we can work with you and your business to develop the people within your team or organisation, get in touch with Adam Fairbank on ionleadership@swansea.ac.uk. 

The Centre for People and Organisation Annual Symposium

On Tuesday the 20th June, The Centre for People and Organisation are hosting their annual symposium, this year looking at (Re)defining Inclusivity: Working lives in a post-covid world. 

Professor Debbie Foster will share her work on the lived experiences of disabled people in the labour market and on the careers of disabled people as a marginalised group in professional occupations. 

As in previous years, the symposium will also share the latest research and practice from academics and practitioners, as well as PhD students. The event will provide a platform for debate and discussion on the opportunities and challenges of what it means to be an inclusive workplace in a post-covid world.

You can find out more, and book to attend, here.

'On location' with our alumni

This week we have been 'on location' with some of our alumni, filming content for our upcoming event at the end of June (see above). 

On Monday we visited Danni Watts-Jones and Jess Kidwell (and Harri the dog!) at DWJ Wealth Management to discuss their ION experiences. It was fantastic to hear how both of them had such a positive experience on the programme, and how the fact that the 2 of them both completing our programmes (albeit different levels) together has had such a positiver impact on the business. 

On Wednesday we visited both Zoe Antrobus at 4theregion, and Rhiannon Boyce-Coles at Swansea Arena, to continute the conversation around their ION leadership experience. We finish the filming off next week in Porth with Angela Worgan from Abbey Glass. 

All of the films will be played at our event on the 27th June. If you can't join us, keep an eye on our social channels, and YouTube channel after the event where we will be releasing the films.

Inspiration

• Innovation doesn't have to be disruptive (Harvard Business Review) 
• 5 steps to fix any problem at work (TED) 
• Hydrogen buses are being trialled in Neath Port Talbot and Swansea (Wales 247)
• Take a skills-based approach to culture change (MIT Sloan Management Review)
• Multi-million pound project set to celebrate Swansea's heritage (Swansea Bay News) 

Become an extraordinary leader with ION

For over 11 years we have supported leaders at all levels to become extraordinary leaders. Whether you are just starting your leadership journey, or want to freshen up your skills and learn how best to implement the latest thinking, strategies and best practice into your business, we are here to help. 

Get in touch with Adam on ionleadership@swansea.ac.uk to arrange a chat to find out how we can work with you to develop extraordinary leaders in your organisation.

#FridayFootnote will be taking a short break next week, but we will be back in a few weeks time.  

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