5 minute read
Working Cultures in a virtual world
WORKING CULTURES IN A VIRTUAL WORLD
International travel may have been put on hold in 2020, but thanks to support from our alumni community and the launch of a new programme, Westminster Working Cultures is now bigger, more diverse and supporting more students than ever before.
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Above: WWC UK participant, Samiya Rahman
Established in 2017, the Westminster Working Cultures (WWC) programme is a unique opportunity for undergraduates to enhance their employability by gaining insight into how businesses operate in different countries and cultures around the world.
By engaging with our alumni and partners through talks, workshops and networking events, students learn about new professional landscapes, and are inspired to broaden their outlook of what they can achieve as graduates of Westminster. Typically on the programme, up to 20 students will fly to a global world city and spend a week exploring the working environments of a particular destination such as Hong Kong, Berlin or Washington, D.C.
Now we are delighted to have launched WWC UK. This five-day virtual programme of inspirational talks, interactive workshops and social events gives students the chance to meet our alumni and discover more about the professional working environments of the UK, from wherever they are in the world.
We spoke to three of the students who took part in WWC UK in September, to ask what impact the programme had on their experience as a student.
“I signed up to the programme to develop my employability skills and learn more about the working world,” explains Bibi (Biomedical Sciences BSc, 2021). “I wanted to learn something new that hadn’t already been said about life after graduation – but WWC was so much more than that.
“Before taking part, I was very introverted and hated networking because I didn’t really know how to start a conversation and keep it going. But I had so many chances to speak to other people over the week – it was kind of like we built a community. So it really helped me learn how to communicate and build my confidence, and the chance to meet new people was great – especially in a year when it was otherwise impossible to do that.
“I also learnt not to be afraid to fail. Some of the speakers went from Westminster straight into their chosen career, but others took very different routes. So I learnt that everyone has a journey that starts from somewhere and that I have time to get to where I want to go – I found this so reassuring.”
As well as hearing about the personal and professional journeys of our alumni and developing soft skills through taking part in WWC, students on the programme are also taught practical tips to enhance their careers prospects.
“One of the key things I learnt was how to brand myself and use LinkedIn properly,” says Mohamed (Business Management BA, 2022). “I didn’t understand that this platform is a professional CV that you can use to network with people. I’ve since become an advocate of LinkedIn and really used it to my full advantage. I’ve also reached out to the speakers through LinkedIn – they’ve been really helpful and are always very happy to give advice.
“If you’d asked me what I wanted to do before the programme, I would have said business, with the hope of one day becoming my own business owner. But now I’m much more openminded to different industries and different possibilities.
“Because some of the speakers are alumni, it really gives you the belief that you can go on to succeed in whatever field you choose. These people have been in our shoes, so if they can do it and be successful, so can we.”
Over the course of the week, thanks to the incredible breadth of professions that our successful Westminster alumni work in, students heard from speakers from a range of different industries; ensuring there were talks applicable to each of them. “I don’t see myself working in one industry for the rest of my life, so it was really good to hear from people in different sectors,” says Samiya, who is in her final year of an Accounting degree, and is also interested in having her own creative business.
She says she found one talk by Lorenzo Evans (Chief Operating Officer and Director of Finance at Washington Performing Arts in Washington, D.C), particularly inspiring.
“He works in finance and began in the creative industry,” she explains. “Like him, I feel I have both creative and systematic skills – so this was really relatable. His motto was ‘walk with people and not ahead of them’, which was such a humbling thing to say. It really touched me, and made me value all the supportive people I have around me.
“When I’ve spoken to professionals before, I haven’t felt comfortable asking about their personal lives. But the speakers were really open about their personal development, which helped make their accomplishments seem achievable for us.”
Having gained so much from WWC, Bibi, Mohamed and Samiya are now ambassadors for the programme. “You just can’t keep something this good to yourself!” says Mohamed. “So in our role as ambassadors, we raise awareness and try and encourage the next set of students to take part.”
“I especially try to promote the programme to students on my course,” adds Bibi. “As Biomed students, they don’t see how it could really benefit them. So I help spread the word that it really develops you as a person. I’m so grateful that I had this opportunity – I believe that if I hadn’t taken part in the programme and become an ambassador, I wouldn’t be the person I am today.”
Samiya agrees. “This is the best opportunity any undergraduate can get,” she says. “It opens so many doors. If you want to stand out, build on your skills and meet new people, there is no better way.”
JOIN US
The Westminster Working Cultures programme is ever-expanding, and we are always keen to welcome new speakers on board. If you could inspire our students with a talk about your career journey, we would love to hear from you! Get in touch with the team: workingcultures@westminster.ac.uk