“What are your dreams? Are they about doing what you do? Are they about conquering personal challenges?” These were among the questions posed to delegates by Angela Burton, Absa's executive director of marketing and communications, at the Village Pro event held in Johannesburg this week.
VillagePro, hosted by Student Village in association with Absa, is a networking organisation for young professionals aimed at empowering them to fully develop their potential during their first three years in the workplace. Graduates gather at VillagePro events every two months where they are addressed by an array of top speakers on topics including how to build their own personal brands, and managing the generation gap.
This event, themed “Dreams do come true”, focused on assisting graduates to identify and define their dreams, so as to help them find fulfillment by following a career path that speaks to their personal passion.
Burton urged the delegates to become actively involved in defining and developing their dreams, and so take responsibility for their futures. “You cannot ever expect that someone else will make your dream come true for you,” she said. “You have to plan. Set your dreams and goals across you as a whole human being.”
Thomas Wood, Shells' HR operations manager, also spoke at the event. “It is difficult over a long period of time to be passionate all the time. It is important to keep your goals in mind,” he said, adding that “it takes a while to achieve a dream that's worthwhile.” Shell recently came on board as a VillagePro member company.
Wood urged those present to not just develop a plan aimed at ensuring they followed their dreams, but to keep track of their progress. He also advised them to find themselves a coach to help them along the way.
Among delegates attending the event was Rumbidzai Makina, a graduate from IBM. “Great function, great diversity in the speakers, had a great time - lots of food for thought,” she said.
“Rumbidzai is among many delegates who regularly attend the VillagePro events and her feedback is echoed by her peers and colleagues. This networking platform for young professionals shows time and time again how hungry young talent are for the kind of advice and practical examples they need to build their competencies in the workplace and be all they can be,” said Student Village director Marc Kornberger.
“These events inspire and empower young people to look at themselves, what kind of future they want to build, and how to get there. VillagePro was launched by Student Village as a result of the ongoing feedback we get from graduate recruiters around the lack of soft skills among new entrants to the workplace. It's working - brilliantly,” he said.
Visit our PRESS OFFICE: Established in 2000, Student Village has developed itself into South Africa's leader in Youth Marketing solutions as well as the premier service provider within the Tertiary Market.- more....
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